Strictly finalist Bill Bailey has inspired Gavin and Stacey star Rob Brydon to appear on the next series – as the comic admits he wanted to break ‘dad dancing’ stereotypes
Bill Bailey has inspired Gavin and Stacey actor Rob Brydon to appear on the next series of Strictly Come Dancing.
The comedian, 55, hoped to break ‘dad dancing’ stereotypes by showing ‘blokes of his age’ that you can be taken seriously in the competition despite being in your mid 50s.
Professional dancer Oti Mabuse, 30, said she prepared the ‘simplest’ routine for Bill’s first appearance on the BBC show – but quickly realised her celeb partner was capable of far trickier steps.
‘That’s wonderful’: Bill Bailey has inspired Gavin and Stacey actor Rob Brydon to appear on the next series of Strictly Come Dancing
She said: ‘When you come back as a reigning pro, you get someone that you can show a bit more personality…
‘The first day we went into a rehearsal and I did the simplest Cha Cha and he got it and I went “oh I might be in trouble, this might be a long season” and I kept pushing and pushing and he did it. I didn’t expect it.
‘I spoke to the comedian Rob Brydon and he’s a big, big Strictly fan and he said for the first time when he watched it and saw Bill he thought “oh my goodness, if I did Strictly, there is a possibility that I could go far.”
‘Because he’s a respectable man and character in English society, if he ever came onto Strictly that would be something that he would want to do, be taken seriously and really give it his all and hopefully make it far.’
Idolised: The comedian, 55, hoped to break ‘dad dancing’ stereotypes by showing ‘blokes of his age’ that you can be taken seriously in the competition despite being in your mid 50s
‘He’s a big, big Strictly fan’: Oti Mabuse said comedian Rob Brydon hopes to follow in Bill’s footsteps next year by achieving high scores and being taken seriously in the competition
Bill added: ‘If that is the consequence of me being on this show then that’s wonderful.
‘Blokes sometimes feel a bit self-conscious, particularly blokes of my age, they feel they’re going to be called the dad dancer and I think if me showing I can get out there and look a little bit more than somebody shuffling about then why not?
‘I would love to carry on dancing. It’s so much fun it is accelerating and liberating.’
Viewers have complimented Bill over his recent weight loss after eight weeks of dance training has left him with a slimmer physique.
‘I try and stay reasonably fit generally’: Viewers have complimented Bill over his recent weight loss after eight weeks of dance training has left him with a slimmer physique
Bill said: ‘I try and stay reasonably fit generally. I wasn’t going into it without any sort of fitness.
‘It was nothing like the intensity of dance training but enough so when we started it wasn’t so much of a shock. It is extremely tough.
‘I have nothing but respect for dancers and the amount of work they put in. I’ve met athletes and sports people and you can see they’re fit and toned but when you meet dancers the way they carry themselves – the grace and poise, that’s what takes years and years to achieve.
‘Trying to get to that in a few days is hard. But I’ve loved it I have absolutely loved it.’
Bill, who will be the oldest Strictly champ if he wins the series on Saturday, is performing his Couple’s Choice routine to Rapper’s Delight by The Sugarhill Gang for the grand final.
‘It’s been such a joyous experience’: Bill will be the oldest Strictly champ if he wins the series on Saturday and hopes to impress the judges again with his Couple’s Choice routine
Speaking about the dance, he said: ‘It’s been such a joyous experience and that dance particularly was a bit of a moment as well, it was a song from my youth that I’ve loved for years and years.
‘Being able to dance to it in such a way was just liberating. It was the essence of what I wanted to do on this show. Doing it again will be great and we will make it even more refined.’
Oti added: ‘It’s nice to do dances like that and because it’s our choice and it’s the last one we get to do there’s literally no pressure.
‘It gets to be that last dance you ever get to do on Strictly and you just do the best you can do because it’s not in your control but you remember in your heart, this is the last time I get to be on Strictly in 2020, dancing in front of people at home and that’s a beautiful thing.’