Judge Rinder and Oksana Platero rehearse their rumba ahead of Strictly Come Dancing quarter finals
JUDGE Rinder and his Strictly Come Dancing partner Oksana Platero have been upping their game as they get ready to face their biggest challenge yet on Saturday night's show.
The 38-year-old TV barrister, real name Robert Rinder, and his 28-year-old dance partner will be performing the rumba on Saturday's live show to the classic tune Lean on Me.
If the Judge is to survive another week, one of the main things he needs to overcome is his famously animated facial features - which he has struggled to control week after week after failing to contain his excitement at being on the show.
In a bid to do this, he exclusively told The Sun that he has roped in his Doctor Strange friend, Benedict Cumberbatch, for tips.
He said: "He’s hoping to come to one of the live shows if I stay in, because he’s on a European tour for Doctor Strange.
“But I’ve been seeing him and showing my dance and he’s been helping me get into character with acting. He really helped with the paso doble I performed.”
Benedict previously said of his dancing: “He’s so good in it, I’m really proud of him.
“The first time he burst out with Oksana [Platero]… it think with the nation and the judges, our jaws were on the floor. It was amazing.”
Rinder also has a much-loved support team on his side as well - including his grandparents, who stole the show two weeks ago after attending the show to cheer on the star.
After performing a foxtrot, the star gestured to them: “It means the world to me that they’re here…. Whatever’s going on in the world we’re here having this fun because that generation were here for us.”
Just six of the original couples remain in the competition after Greg and Natalie crashed out in Blackpool week, and this week they have an added hurdle to overcome: the Cha Cha Challenge.
All six remaining duos will dance the Cha Cha simultaneously, with the judges voting each of them off until they have a winner. Any points earned from the judges will then be added to their overall score.
Despite delivering a spirited performance in Blackpool’s iconic Tower Ballroom, last week Greg Rutherford and his partner Natalie Lowe became the ninth couple to depart the competition.
According to SunBets, Judge Rinder remains the rank outsider to take home the glitterball - so he has his work cut out for him.
However, this year's 'comic' participant Ed Balls has seen his odds to 10/1 slashed in light of his ongoing public popularity.
Catch Strictly Come Dancing, Saturday and Sunday on BBC1.
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