Vicky Pattison said she is struggling with rehearsals for this year’s Strictly Come Dancing and fears she will be “rubbish” when she makes her debut on the dancefloor.
The 37-year-old former I’m A Celebrity...Get Me Out Of Here! winner, who was announced among 15 celebrities taking part in the new series, told The Sun she was already feeling the pressure and “living on her nerves”. "I'd take kangaroo balls over glitter balls any day," she said, adding she is "really done in" and finding it hard to pick up choreography.
Pattison said she was not a dancer or an athlete, and that her nerves were making rehearsals “gruelling”. She voiced concern about going out first and falling over, and said she now understands why some contestants, such as Pete Wicks last series, turned to smoking to cope with anxiety. She also praised her husband, Ercan Ramadan, for being "supportive, kind, and excited" for her and said their differing personalities helped their relationship.
Strictly is due to launch on Sunday, Sept. 20, and BBC producers have been keeping pairs under wraps. That secrecy was disrupted this week when alleged celebrity-professional pairings appeared online, prompting discussion among viewers on social media about the line-up. The leak came after a number of contestants had filmed a pre-recorded opening number with their professional partners.
Names confirmed by the BBC for the 2025 line-up include Olympic sprinter Harry Aikines-Aryeetey, Doctor Who actress Alex Kingston, drag performer La Voix, reality stars Thomas Skinner, Dani Dyer and Vicky Pattison, former footballers Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and Karen Carney, model and disability ambassador Ellie Goldstein, former rugby player Chris Robshaw, soap actor Balvinder Sopal, Coronation Street actor Lewis Cope, and presenters Ross King and Stefan Dennis among others. Contestants have spoken publicly about their excitement and nerves; several gave short statements on being honoured to take part and looking forward to learning to dance.
A figure known in tabloid coverage as the "Strictly super-spoiler" has maintained a long-running habit of publishing results and pairings online. David Thorp, identified in past reporting, has said he does not present the information to spoil viewers’ enjoyment but believes there is an appetite for early results. He told the Daily Mail that he learns outcomes from a range of audience members and other sources and suggested the BBC could reduce the risk of leaks by staging more live shows.
The leak drew reaction on X, with users describing the pairings as "interesting" and expressing mixed feelings about spoilers. The Daily Mail and other outlets chose not to publish the leaked pairing list to preserve the broadcast surprise. The BBC did not immediately comment when contacted.
Producers of the long-running entertainment show have previously recorded results shows in advance, a practice that has periodically fuelled complaints about spoilers. Strictly’s format pairs celebrities with professional dancers to compete for the Glitterball Trophy, and the show’s mix of live and pre-recorded segments has been adjusted over the years.
Pattison, who won the 2015 series of I’m A Celebrity, said her current experience was different from entering the jungle and that she had not expected to feel so overwhelmed. The series returns amid heightened viewer interest in both the celebrity cast and the professional partnerships often central to the programme’s weekly narratives.
Producers will reveal full pairings to viewers during the launch show next weekend, when the contestants will perform in front of the studio audience and judges. The new series will be watched for both the performances and how celebrities adapt to the physical and emotional demands of dance training under tight timelines.
The show’s 2024 winners, comedian Chris McCausland and professional Dianne Buswell, retained public attention and set high expectations for subsequent contestants. Pattison’s comments underline the range of preparation competitors bring to the ballroom and the personal pressures experienced behind the scenes as Strictly prepares for its latest run.