Strictly Come Dancing 2024,, BBC Public Service,Ray Burmiston
HELLO,
I am now fully in the joyous world of STRICTLY!
It has been an extraordinary few weeks and I am fully in the embrace of the BBC’s biggest show.
The first broadcast is on Saturday 14th September but for the past six weeks I have been filming VTs, doing great press, lots of photo shoots, I’ve even had bra fittings and meeting my fellow celebs who are all fantastic AND I have danced with all of the pro dancers, they are all supportive and lovely.
I feel safe with this team. We have a psychologist with us all day, an amazing celeb producer, stunning press team…….It’s a long time since I have felt this well looked after. What I mean by this is touring demands a level of complete independence, I do my own make up, carry my costumes etc, here in Strictly world they want us celebs to know they are here to support us 360 degrees.
It is wonderful seeing Veto, Gorka, Nikita and Neil constantly pranking each other. Their teasing is relentless and dear sweet Gorka takes it all in with a dignified smile……then shoots a quip back. Even when we are all in a group dancing you can hear them playfully teasing each other’s moves.
Chris McCausland is doing amazingly. There might be people who quite rightly say “why shouldn’t he do well” and I agree, but observing him amid the noise and chaos of 28 performers he stands holding his power and his confidence….. I have so much respect for him.
Tasha too……Brilliant, yet she has to hear the music through a cacophony of exuberant whoops and shouts.
The girls are fabulous. My soul sister is Jowita……..tiny, effervescent and full of fire…..she reminds me of a young me!
We have been working together for almost a month now. All the pro dancers tell us to eat as much as we can. I can feel my weight going up, I don’t need a lot of food, my energy is in my genes.
When we get to rehearse with our individual partners from the 16th Sept we won’t have catering, this suits me….no temptation, I want to look fab in the amazing costumes through out the series.
For the past three months I have had to second guess how everything would be once in the run of the series……so far all my doubts have been quashed, this is one of the happiest experiences of my life and I LOVE DANCING. We have the most amazing people looking after us. Costumes/ hair/ make up/ talent support and psychologists who check in hourly.
We have been warned that press interest in us will be intense. So far I have had a bit of a giggle.
One headline “ Toyah slept in a coffin and believes we are all made of star dust.” Yes I do, myself and a few hundred thousand scientists and astronomers would agree. We ARE all made of star dust.
I love how this headline kinda shoots itself in the foot.
In my dreams I would like to make it to Halloween. In my wildest dreams I’d like to make it to Blackpool, but there’s some pretty serious competition ………and most are three times younger than me. I am up against a lot of natural talent…….let’s see what happens.
A few days ago I woke up to a robin on my shoulder as I lay on my side in bed. My windows are wide open all year round.
This little fella was so light I didn’t feel his presence at all, but to open my eyes and see him there was delightful. This cheeky chap often comes into the kitchen to pick up crumbs under the table, sometimes he gets stuck in my music room, yet on this particular morning I felt he was just saying hello.
When Robert and I lived at Reddish House in Salisbury, our wonderful gardener Les, who regularly gave the impression he believed animals where only for shooting and eating, took huge pride in the fact when he fed our ducks a robin would sit on his hand or on the side of his feeding bowl as he held it. We once caught Les, unawares, in full conversation with our white house rabbit in the garden, our bunny running around his feet………..yes, Les secretly cared about animals. He was just a tough man on the surface. Birds, Animals are so sacred and extremely intelligent…..and they are made of star dust too.
Rather surprisingly I have met a few people who don’t watch Strictly. Simon Darlow being one. It’s a huge relief that 10 million people do watch it.
May I tempt you to watch every Saturday night from the 14th September and enjoy the good hearted spirit of it all?
It’s the best way to get into autumn and Christmas! SEE YOU OUT THERE.
BE LOUD, BE PROUD, BE HEARD.
BIG LOVE
TOYAH XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
PS look out for a TOYAH AT HOME on Saturday 28 September 😉