Page 54 - Heat - UK (January 2020)
P. 54
The whole
gang onstage
theirwaltzandfoxtrot... I’llbringoneofmyteddies
aftertakingaselfie,ofcourse. fromhometocuddleand
Off they go, passing pro Janette pretend he’s withme.”
Manrara, who’s contagiously The group have Peace out,Dianne
excited – and slightly nervous – a busy time ahead, Buswell and
Stacey Dooley
about stepping in for Oti Mabuse with back-to-back
to partner reigning champ Kelvin. matinées and
“Listen, this is my best chance evening shows
yet to win a Glitter Ball trophy,” in nine different 50 seconds
she laughs, eyeing up the title of arenas. It’s goingto Maninthe late. Last year,
mirror:AJ
tour winner. Side note: the group be full-on: onebus Pritchard Johannes always
#52 travels with one trophy, which for the celebsand made me late.”
pros, includingshow
isawardedeverynighttoan
audience-votedcouple.Atthe host and last year’s Massive
endofthetour,thecouplewith winner, StaceyDooley; Pranker
themostwinstakesithome. another five forthecrew, So far, pretty tame.
“Beforewestarted,Otisentme which includesatroupeof But don’t worry, we know
therehearsalvideosfortheir make-up, hairandwardrobe there must be mischief behind
sambaandshowdance,”Janette artists. They’llbestayingatthe the scenes. Luckily, general
same hotel everystopalongthe everyone’s dead, sometimeswe consensus points to one infamous
‘it’s like being way. Sadly, musicaldirectorDave realise it’s been four hoursand prankster. “Neil is always
back at school’ Arch will not be there, but his we’re already in another city. switching people’s shoes and
It’s really fun and we’ve gota
jackets, and knocking on their
“wonderful, wonderful orchestra”
AJ Pritchard will be, plus Strictly’s much-loved great cast this year – everyone’s doors,” reveals Katya. The man
singers. The big question is, so involved.” Apparently, poker’s in question has a simple strategy.
says.“I’vebeeninmyPJsinmy how raucous does it get? the go-to card game, FYI. “I go for whoever doesn’t like it the
livingroomeverynight,learning “What happens on the Strictly But what happens when they most, so I’m going to find that out,”
thesteps.Kelvinworkedsohard tour bus stays on the Strictlytour disembark? Does the post-show says Neil. “Saffron’s a quiet one,
onStrictly–Ijustwanthim bus,” Jeanette teases, but we’re carnage make Liam Gallagher so she’ll be good. I could draw
to enjoy his victory on the tour. not giving up – enter Alex Scott’s whimper? Or do they, at the on her face while she’s sleeping.
I think he must have danced in a partner Neil Jones. “We normally very least, plan for one epicnight I used to switch people’s
previous life – he’s phenomenal.” get told that it’s the party onesin out? “I hope so. We need a party costumes: watching Ed Balls
the back, so the driver can have planner!” says Emma Barton, trying to get into Danny Mac’s
Back of the Bus some peace and quiet,” he tellsus. speaking like a true rock star. costume was hilarious. On the pro
Janette’s done the tour for a few “When you first get on, youstart Her tour partner, GrazianoDi tour, I ordered one of everything
years now, but this will be the first seeing that everyone has their Prima, says he’s more looking off the room service breakfast
time she’s not joined by husband place. If there’s a party going forward to the occasional dayoff menu and had it delivered to
and fellow Strictly pro Aljaž on, I’ll go with it. But I do have “when you can wake up lateand Dianne [Buswell] at 5AM.”
Skorjanec. “I’ll miss him,” she moments when I need somerest.” have a massage. We do about50 Speaking of food, we’ve
confesses. “We do everything “It does feel like you’re back lifts, so we need it!” But he has never heard such excitement
together. But he’s had a really busy at school,” AJ adds. “It depends a warning for the celebritycohort: about on-tour eats – every
year, so he needed the downtime. on the mood. Some journeys, “They tell you off if you’re even couple, without fail, tells us
www.heatworld.com25-31January2020
