Source: icwales.co.uk
Gethin gives it a twirl despite his mates’ teasing
Before signing up for Strictly Come Dancing, Gethin Jones was pilloried for “dancing like his dad”, teased about his lack of prowess by his rugby mates and readily admitted taking to the dancefloor was “alien” to him.
The 29-year-old from Cardiff, well used to taking on challenges in his role as a Blue Peter presenter, seemed to be facing his toughest test yet.
But the sporty Welsh TV favourite yesterday revealed how he has thrown himself into training “as intense as for any sport”, spending up to four-and-a-half hours a day preparing for the new series starting this week.
For the past fortnight Jones and his dance partner Camilla Dallerup have been practising religiously to get ready for the Saturday’s first night.
Although accustomed to gruelling sports training – he is a keen footballer, rugby player, tennis player and golfer – Jones said dancing was something he had previously been generally unacquainted with.
He said, “I love challenges, I love having a go at stuff, especially stuff I’m not very good at and dancing is something that’s really alien to me.
“My friends have been teasing me about the fact that I can’t do it, so I’ve said ‘right then I’ll show you’.
“They’ve been watching some of the tapes and laughing because of some of the hip action but you can see deep down they wish they could have a go.
“Obviously there’s a lot of micky taking with my boys, especially the rugby lads but mostly I think they’re just pleased for me.”
He continued, “I thought I’m not going to sit back and say ‘Oh it’s a girly thing’, I’m going to have a go myself.
“It’s a very physical challenge, you have to be very flexible and you need mental strength to put it all together.
“I’ve realised over the last couple of weeks it really is like learning a new skill, and when you get it right it’s a real buzz.
“I did a knee slide for the first time yesterday and I actually burned my jogging bottoms.
“I thought ‘yes, this is brilliant, I feel like a professional dancer!’”
To date Jones’s dance experience has been limited to the odd challenge for Blue Peter.
He said, “This dancing is totally different, just getting your body in the right position is really, really difficult, that’s why it’s become such a big challenge.
“And the standard they expect on Strictly Come Dancing, the standard is rising every year.
“It’s not just going on and doing the moves, it’s going on and performing and that’s what’s really quite frightening to be honest.”
But he’s thoroughly enjoyed his training, much to his surprise.
“I’ve enjoyed it more than I thought,” he said.
“I’m very self critical, I thought I would get down on myself but when those times have come I’ve dealt with it and Camilla is great for that, she’s said ‘don’t try to run before you can walk’.
“I thought my favourite dances would be the fun stuff like the jive and the Latin but we’ve been doing the ballroom, the waltz, recently and I just love it.
“I didn’t think I would but there’s something fluid about it, you and your partner are one, and when you get it right it’s great.
“Although when I don’t get it right poor Camilla gets a kick in the shins.”
Jones is one of two Welsh contestants in the new series, with sports presenter Gabby Logan – daughter of former football star and Wales ex-manager Terry Yorath – also competing.
Other contenders in the surprise television hit’s fifth series include model Kelly Brook, Rod Stewart’s wife Penny Lancaster and former Mis-Teeq singer Alesha Dixon.
But even if he doesn’t make it to the final, the challenge will have been worth it for Jones.
He added, “I’ll be able to dance properly at weddings now, not dance like my dad.”
The new series of Strictly Come Dancing starts on Saturday, at 6pm, on BBC1Wales