Angela Scanlon, who danced her way through the 2023 series of Strictly Come Dancing with professional partner Carlos Gu, has some sage advice for stars like Thomas Skinner who are making headlines. The 41-year-old presenter made it to Week 10 without being embroiled in any Strictly scandals and she’s now sharing her tips on how to navigate the intense scrutiny that comes with the show.
Speaking to OK!, Angela said: “It’s a noisy show – people are interested in it,” adding, “They care about it deeply, and my advice, for what it’s worth, is to just keep your head down and focus on the dancing. Do your very best and try to block out as much of the noise as possible. People will have opinions – good, bad and indifferent – and it doesn’t matter.”
She continued: “Most of the people who are involved will have had it from one side or another at one point, and they by and large know how to handle it, but I’d just say, ‘Focus on your jive, babe.'”.
One celeb who’s already experienced the pressure of Strictly is former Apprentice star Skinner. The 34 year old entrepreneur recently admitted to having an affair with an aesthetician shortly after his wedding to Sinéad Chambers.
Additionally, The Mirror reported that he failed to repay a £50,000 Covid bounce back loan for his mattress company Bosh Beds. This year’s line-up has sparked debate, with some viewers criticising Skinner’s pro-Trump social media posts and others questioning Emmerdale actor Lewis Cope’s prior dance training.
However, Angela believes BBC producers have “done a great job” with this year’s contestants.
“I think there’s always speculation around the line-up, every year,” she explains. “People are either too famous or not famous enough or they’re from reality TV. People have things to say, but I think mostly you’ll find brilliant personalities and a really gorgeous cross-section of people from lots of different walks of life – different opinions, different life experiences, different age groups. It feels like a very varied bunch. I think they’ve done a great job.”
Angela is supporting both her former professional partner Carlos Gu, who is paired with breakout star Karen Carney, and her podcast co-presenter Vicky Pattison. The television personality confesses she wasn’t sure how much to reveal to Vicky, who is partnered with Kai Widdrington, regarding the show’s demanding physical and emotional aspects.
“It’s a bit like how people talk about childbirth,” she remarks. “How much is too much to share? Sometimes you’re projecting your own experience on to somebody, but they may have a completely different capacity and approach and response to the same experience.
“She’s got a different partner. It’s hard to imagine what her experience will be. I just said, ‘Prep your feet, get into them bloody heels early so you get used to them. Get your feet ready for a battering.’ When you’re in the middle of it, it can feel quite overwhelming but I’m trying to remind her to stay in it and enjoy it. It’s a juicy experience and you want to be enjoying every single bit of it.”
Angela will be tuning in to watch the programme alongside her daughters Ruby Ellen, seven, and Marnie Fae, three, whom she shares with husband Roy Horgan, a tech entrepreneur.
“I watched the launch show with my girls and we put the fire on, had a little Maple Hazel hot chocolate, popcorn, blankets on,” she reveals. “It does feel like we’re on the home stretch to Christmas.”
However, Angela confesses she does long for the routine that came with appearing on Strictly. “I have a very varied working week,” she explains.
“Part of the reason I got into this gig [showbiz] was because I was unemployable in a ‘real’ job and Strictly was almost the closest I had come to that for a long time.
“That aspect of knowing I was going into a training room with a blank slate on a Monday morning and creating something or learning. It was hard in parts – you’re mentally drained and your a**e is sore, your blisters are bleeding. But it’s also an amazing privilege to get to do that with somebody who has danced at the top of their game.”
Angela’s era of sparkly leotards might be over, but her wardrobe remains as daring as ever. She flaunts the more contentious aspects of her fashion choices – from ruffled underskirts to baggy T-shirts – via her Instagram series showcasing items she adores that her “husband hates”.
“I like a man-repelling outfit, I always have,” she says. “I’ve never really been that interested in dressing like a pretty lady. I’ve said before, I dress for the girls and the gays and if I get a nod of approval from them, I’m done.”
She reveals her husband never truly despises what hangs in her wardrobe, though. “My wardrobe is rich pickings for things that he has rolled his eyes at before,” she says. “He did say I went through a phase in the summer where I was wearing long Bermuda shorts and oversized T-shirts. I feel like I’m adding fuel to the fire but generally I think he’s oblivious.”
Angela Scanlon has partnered with Costa Coffee to celebrate autumn rituals with the return of its Maple Hazel drinks range. Available now in stores and Costa express machines nationwide.