Rickie Haywood-Williams almost quit the upcoming Strictly Come Dancing Christmas special after just one rehearsal.
The 42-year-old radio DJ was so ‘terrified’ at the prospect of successfully learning a routine in time for the show after watching his first practice that he considered pulling out of the competition before it even started.
Rickie’s professional dance partner, BBC Radio 1 presenter Luba Mushtuk, 33, said that while Rickie would describe himself as “not a good dancer” he “has a natural rhythm” but his encouraging words they failed to convince Rickie at first.
In a panic: Rickie Haywood-Williams, 42, nearly quits the upcoming Strictly Come Dancing Christmas special after just one rehearsal (pictured with fellow pro Luba Mushtuk)
She explained: ‘At first, I was terrified. Then his confidence grew but he still wasn’t 100% sure.
“We watched a video of our first rehearsals of what we’ve achieved now, it’s massive progress.”
Rickie chimed in: “Which surprises me because after I saw our first rehearsal, I thought, ‘How do I get out of this? Is it too late to quit?” but as Luba says, that progression has really made all the difference.
End of the Road: The radio DJ was so ‘terrified’ at the prospect of successfully learning a routine in time for the show that he considered pulling out of the competition before it started.
‘She is a great teacher, very patient and very funny. She makes me laugh because I can tell when she’s getting frustrated with me, but she just makes me laugh. I get it, because it takes me forever to learn really simple steps.’
Luba added: ‘It’s a lot of fun because the difficult steps are okay, but the simple steps will take us an hour in one step.
“I had the best time during rehearsals because we really loved it and just meeting a beautiful human being like you, it’s been amazing.”
Words of encouragement: Rickie’s professional dance partner, Luba Mushtuk, 33, says that while Rickie would describe himself as “not a good dancer,” he “has a natural rhythm.”
The couple will star alongside singer Nicola Roberts, Chris Ramsey’s podcaster wife Rosie Ramsey, actor Larry Lamb, actress Alexandra Mardell and actor George Webster in the one-off special, which will air on Christmas Day.
And Rickie spoke very honestly about his wooden moves when he started rehearsing.
He said: ‘I’ve never done Salsa before, Luba can confirm that and when we first did it when she first showed me the Salsa steps I was like a robot that needed oil, and now I know there’s a little more . movement!’
Hopeful: Of the four judges, Shirley Ballas, Anton Du Beke, Craig Revel Horwood and Motsi Mabuse, Rickie hopes to impress Anton the most after they worked together previously.
Luba said: ‘The progress from the beginning to now is enormous. I love that he always gives himself grades because it makes him an amazing student, he is always hungry to learn. So I’m very happy, I couldn’t have a better partner.’
All four of the main show’s regular judges – Shirley Ballas, Anton Du Beke, Craig Revel Horwood and Motsi Mabuse – will be sitting on the panel for this year’s Christmas Special and there is one person in particular Rickie is hoping to impress.
He said: ‘As long as Luba is happy, I am happy. But on the judging panel, I want to impress Anton, just because I worked with him before on a TV show called House of Games and we teamed up and worked together and I ended up winning the show.
Born to perform: The Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special will air on BBC One and BBC iPlayer on Christmas Day at 5:10pm
Luba added: ‘I mean, all of them. They are there to help you be better. Luckily at Christmas, they are always much nicer. All of them. They are like happy. I think it’s a Christmas spirit or something.
“So I love doing the Christmas special because they’re always so nice and nice and they let you know that our partners feel really good about it.”
Last year, singer Anne-Marie and professional dancer Graziano Di Prima were crowned the winners of the 2021 Strictly Come Dancing Christmas special.
The Strictly 2022 series ended last week with Hamza Yassin and his partner Jowita Przystal hoisting the glitter ball trophy following a public vote.
The Strictly Come Dancing Christmas special will air on BBC One and BBC iPlayer on Christmas Day at 5:10pm