Strictly Come Dancing 2026 trailer
Over the years, hundreds of contestants have taken to the dancefloor on Strictly Come Dancing, with many likely experiencing first-time nerves as they step out in front of the cameras. BBC presenter Gethin Jones was no exception when he joined the show for its fifth series in 2007. Paired with professional dancer Camilla Dallerup, who was a professional dancer on Strictly from its launch in 2004 until 2008, Gethin quickly discovered that the competition was unlike anything he had experienced before. At the time, Gethin was best known for presenting the long-running children's television programme Blue Peter, having landed the role two years earlier.
He admitted that he initially felt relatively at ease as, back then, Strictly was filmed at the BBC Television Centre in White City, West London, in the same location where he regularly presented Blue Peter.
However, that confidence soon faded when he realised that performing a cha-cha was a very different challenge from presenting a children's television show.
"I remember doing Strictly for the first time, and it was done in exactly the same studio as Blue Peter, where I was working every day," Gethin told the Daily Express.
"I was doing the same journey in, seeing the same people as you walk in, same environment, same changing rooms, everything."
He continued: "Guess what's different? I was doing a cha-cha-cha and I absolutely s**t myself. I remember genuinely saying to Camilla, when I heard them welcome us, I want to leave.
"I literally wanted to leave. But she grabbed my hand, and the next two and a half minutes of my life were a complete blur."
Despite his initial nerves, Gethin soon began to find his feet on the dancefloor.
"I genuinely thought it was brilliant when I was doing it," he recalled. "I genuinely thought in my head halfway through, I'm nailing this. This could be the first 10 in week one ever."
However, he was in for a rude awakening when judge Craig Revel Horwood held up the four paddle.
"I had to do that weird grimace on your face where you pretend that you're happy, but actually, big time, you're dying," he confessed.
Gethin later admitted that, having watched it back, he could understand why Craig had awarded him such a low score.
"All the steps were in the right place, but my body wasn't feeling it," he laughed. "My body was just like a robot. It was awful."
His cha-cha earned him just 22 points out of a possible 40, but things quickly improved from there. Gethin went on to reach the sem-final, describing his time on Strictly as "the best experience".
However, perhaps the most heartwarming part of Gethin's Strictly journey was the lasting impact it had on his nephew, Alby.
Gethin's sister had welcomed her first child shortly before he joined the show, and 19 years on, he revealed that Alby still reacts whenever he hears the Strictly theeme tune.
"He was so young, and my sister used to dress him in the sequin colour I was wearing that weekend. Strictly was synonymous with him. My sister loved it, and the family loved it. It was just the best series," Gethin added.
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