Bill Bailey: I can't believe I can do 'Strictly' dances

Bill Bailey (PA)
Bill Bailey (PA)

Bill Bailey has admitted he can’t quite believe he can manage the dances on Strictly so well.

The comedian has been steadily pulling ahead of the pack with his dazzling performances, and has gone from being a bit of an underdog to a frontrunner to win the BBC show.

And he revealed that nobody is as shocked as he is.

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“It’s extraordinary,” Bailey told The Guardian. “People would assume I wouldn’t be able to even keep up with the training, but I’ve surprised myself.

“I do a routine, watch it back and think, ‘What happened there?’ I can’t quite believe I’m able to do it.”

Picture Shows:  Oti Mabuse, Bill Bailey - (C) BBC - Photographer: Guy Levy
Oti Mabuse and Bill Bailey (BBC - Photographer: Guy Levy)

Bailey, 55, said he first tried dancing as a child as his mum – who passed away 15 years ago – was a big fan of ballroom dancing and wanted him to give it a try.

While things didn’t click first time around, it’s clear it is all falling into place now.

“I thought, ‘I can’t do this’… and then a mere four and a half decades later, here I am!” said the star.

Bailey has previously hinted that he is taking a proper shot at being the one to win and lift the coveted Glitterball trophy, recently saying that he didn’t want to be this year’s comedy act.

The star – who is partnered with professional dancer Oti Mabuse - said on Strictly spin-off show It Takes Two that people might expect him to be funny with “jokey stuff” but that he was taking it seriously.

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Bailey remains in the competition alongside JJ Chalmers, Caroline Quentin, Clara Amfo, Jamie Laing, HRVY, Maisie Smith and Ranvir Singh.

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