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Katie Piper: 'I was too busy for the Strictly curse!' (Exclusive)

Piper competed in 2018’s Strictly Come Dancing with pro dancer partner Gorka Marquez. (PA Images)
Piper competed in 2018’s Strictly Come Dancing with pro dancer partner Gorka Marquez. (PA Images)

Katie Piper is one of the few Strictly stars from last year who wasn’t linked to any alleged scandals or controversies.

The 35-year-old television personality competed for four weeks with dance partner Gorka Maquez and she told us she was simply too busy rehearsing to get involved in any of the drama or indeed the infamous Strictly curse.

“I was too busy! I was reading about what was going on [with some of the other contestants] in the Daily Mail app. But we only saw each other on Saturday nights. We were training with our pros throughout the week so I only saw everyone when we were on camera on the balcony.

“And you don’t really get a chance to speak to them because you’re all nervous because you’re about to dance!” Piper explained.

But she said that the Strictly did help boost her confidence, a topic which she explores in her book Confidence: The Journal: Your Year of Positive Thinking.

“I was only in it for four weeks so it wasn’t a long journey for me but I definitely did get a lot of enjoyment and a bit of a confidence boost during that time,” she told us.

Comparing Strictly to being like a part of a ‘big West End musical’ she joked that she didn’t see any more stage work in her future.

“As Craig [Strictly judge Craig Harwood] said – I don’t think I quite have the musicality!”

And while she told us she is watching Dancing on Ice, she has no immediate plans to compete in any other reality series.

“It’s not something I’m considering right now, especially as I’ve just done Strictly.

“I thought Gemma Collins has been really good! She put her heart into it. I love the lady ‘Frenchie’ [Didi Conn] from Grease, she was fantastic, I thought if I can do that at 67 I would be so happy!”

As for what’s next, Piper has multiple projects in the pipeline. Her podcast Extraordinary People has proven to be a success, and she has just launched a healthy living program The Healthy Happy Mum Plan with Terri Ann-Nunns.

Piper with Terri-Ann Nunns. (Credit: Dan Kennedy)
Piper with Terri-Ann Nunns. (Credit: Dan Kennedy)

She emphasised that it’s a lifestyle plan rather than a ‘get thin quick’ diet.

“It’s not all about losing weight and looking thin. It’s about getting motivated and staying disciplined. You need to have your mind and body engaged and involved and that is what will help you achieve your goals and keep engaged.”

She also let us in on an exciting new TV project, a Channel 4 series that sees her work with night shift police in Peterborough.

“Just before starting Strictly I started a new channel 4 show about the police. It’s a documentary filmed over three months following police up in Peterborough every night.

“We followed real crimes, quite hard hitting. Haven’t got a TX date but will probably be end of January or beginning of Feb. Totally different from doing the cha cha cha!”


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