Strictly Come Dancing’s Mollie King reveals how she was paired with the perfect dance partner by the show’s ‘speed dating challenge’ and says she hopes her partner has a ‘nice firm grip’
USUALLY the celebrity contestants on Strictly Come Dancing only get to dance with one of the professional stars.
But this year bosses on the BBC1 show introduced a speed dancing challenge to help pair the celebs with their perfect dance partner.
And it means MOLLIE KING has road-tested all of the hunky pros ahead of the official pairings being decided — and already has her eye on a couple of favourites.
On a visit to Bizarre HQ for her first interview since signing up for Strictly, THE SATURDAYS singer explains: “We did this thing called speed dancing, which they haven’t done before.
“All the girls stand in a circle and each time a different professional boy would come and rotate and dance with you.
“I loved every minute of it. I liked the ones who held you firm.
"They were PASHA KOVALEV, GORKA MARQUEZ, GIOVANNI PERNICE and BRENDAN COLE — he has firm hold and is a real joker.”
It sounds like musical speed-dating, but it will soon be time to get serious and Mollie is determined to go far.
Despite spending seven years as part of the biggest British girl group of the time, Mollie insists she has never had formal dance training.
She says: “I’ve never been to stage school or had a dance class. My mum took me to a ballet class when I was three or four and the teacher said, ‘Mrs King you’re wasting your money, she has no grace.’
“OTI MABUSE had to teach me how to point my toe and I was wishing my parents had kept me in the ballet classes.
“I’m not a trained dancer, so all I know is that I’ve got to work my socks off.
LET'S GET READY TO RUMBA! Get the lowdown on all the celebs signed up for Strictly 2017, and when the show starts
“I wouldn’t want to be one of the ones who goes out in the first week. I’d just be so gutted.
“I’m going to view it like a full-time job.
“I’m a hard worker anyway and I wouldn’t like to be going on prime-time Saturday night TV looking like a complete wally.
“Even if I look like a complete fool doing the Charleston, which at the moment is likely, if I’ve done the whole week of rehearsing then what more can I do?”
The chart-topper is the second member of the band to slip into the Strictly sequins after FRANKIE BRIDGE, who finished runner-up in 2014.
But Mollie believes she will have to work even harder to meet the standard set by her bandmate.
She tells me: “I wasn’t at all surprised Frankie did well, she was always first to pick up the routines in The Saturdays — and thef irst one to help me.
“Myself and UNA FODEN were always the slowest to pick up the routine.
“It wasn’t anything like what I’m about to get into, so I need a partner who is willing to work hard with me.
“I really need to find my inner BEYONCE. I need to practice. When I go out with friends I just point my finger in the air on the dancefloor, it’s hugely embarrassing.”
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The singer’s last high-profile relationship was with British model DAVID GANDY, but she insists that situation is well and truly over.
And, of course, countless contestants have ended up getting together with their professional partners on the show. But she is not going out of her way to find a boyfriend on the BBC1 show.
She says: “There is obviously a track record of people finding love on Strictly, but I’ve got too much to focus on.
“I’m not really that girl who’s looking for a relationship, so I wouldn’t be looking for it any more on Strictly than I would if I was on a night out with my girlfriends.
“I just want to enjoy the whole razzle dazzle of it and hopefully learn to dance a bit more sexier.”
That said, during filming for the launch show earlier this week, which goes out next Saturday, she was pictured getting close to fellow contestant, Holby City actor JOE McFADDEN.
And she confessed the rest of the Strictly cast have already been joking about a possible relationship.
She admits: “We’ve already got two Strictly WhatsApp groups on the go. Somebody sent that pic of me and Joe and said, ‘Guys, you didn’t tell us there was a romance.’
“I said, ‘Joe, you didn’t tell me either, what’s happening?’ We were in hysterics. It was hilarious that everyone was saying we were flirting.
“When we came off stage we both thought we hadn’t done enough and we should have done more moves, but the pictures looked like we are having a really intense conversation.
“It’s nothing, but he is completely lovely.”
Whatever happens, she has a positive attitude about the experience.
She says: “What’s not to love?
“You get a cheeky spray tan and glitzed up ready to razzle dazzle.”
Mollie’s going to have a ball.
Set for a good hair day
JUST before she starts her Strictly training, Mollie is going back to the day job.
Today she releases single Hair Down and it’s an unashamed pop banger.
She enlisted songwriters Xenomania – behind The Saturdays’ All Fired Up and What Are You Waiting For – to pen the track and work on her debut solo album. The results don’t disappoint.
Mollie explains: “I said, ‘I really want to put out a super pop record. I just want to be the kind of pop star I’ve grown up loving and adoring, like KYLIE MINOGUE and BRITNEY SPEARS.
“We recorded eight songs. Hair Down came out of it and it was so catchy.
“It’s totally feel-good. It’s the sort of song you dance to with your friends or listen to with friends on a road trip.”
In 2015 Mollie signed a solo deal with Island Records and after two years’ hard work in the studio, is hoping to release her first collection next year.
She says: “The album is about three-quarters of the way through – it’s mostly feelgood and pop.”
It has been worth the wait.
Read on for more of Dan Wootton's Bizarre column
Nadine pins down film role
NADINE COYLE has just signed a record deal with Virgin EMI and is set to release her comeback single Go To Work in just a week’s time – but she isn’t putting all her eggs into one basket.
The former GIRLS ALOUD star is realising her dreams of becoming an actress, taking a role in the film Pin Cushion.
The movie is being shown as a critics’ choice in Italy this week, at the Venice Film Festival.
Bey 'n' Jay tried to help Amy
HER tragic death six years ago still haunts music fans – but for AMY WINEHOUSE’s pal JAY Z the memories are more painful.
He yesterday told how he and wife BEYONCE tried to persuade Amy to get treatment and even offered to put her up.
Recalling their relationship, Jay said: “I was like, ‘Stay with us.’ The first time we hung out, I told her, ‘Stay with us.’
“She was telling us, she was writing the songs to our face: ‘They’re trying to make me go to rehab, I’m not going’. Like, what? You have to go!”
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Nic's all over it...
NICOLE SCHERZINGER launched her latest venture in typical understated fashion.
The X Factor judge wore a leather jacket with “I want it all” scrawled on the back, as she unveiled her debut fragrance Chosen at top London hotel The Dorchester, yesterday.
At the bash guests were promised champagne – perhaps her message was aimed at the waiters.
Biz meter: music
Comeback
SAM SMITH tweets that he’ll be back soon, saying: “Thank you for being so patient. The wait is nearly over. Something is coming very very very very soon. I am scared and excited at the same time. I’ve poured my heart and soul into this record.”
Can’t wait to hear it.
Tour
HE’S been busy on the festival circuit but LIAM GALLAGHER clearly can’t get enough of life on the road.
The rocker has announced a UK and Ireland arena tour performing material from his upcoming solo album As You Were.
I’m sure there’ll be some OASIS classics in there too.
Gig
IT’S been ten years since BBC Music Introducing launched and to celebrate, GEORGE EZRA, BLOSSOMS, NAO and SLAVES are performing a gig at London’s O2 Academy Brixton on October 4. DJs ANNIE MAC, STEVE LAMACQ, PHIL TAGGART and HUW STEPHENS will host.
Single
JESSIE WARE follows up her music comeback with new single Selfish Love.
She said: “Selfish Love is a track that reminds me why I enjoy singing so much. Even though it’s coming at the end of the summer, I hope you play it in the heat.” Let’s hope it stays sunny enough for us to do just that.