Tameka Empson didn’t last long on Celebrity Traitors – but she’s gripped from home in the run-up to the final, as she reveals who she thinks could go all the way
Celebrity Traitors star Tameka Empson may have been one of the first stars to be eliminated from the BBC ’s hit psychological competition, but she can’t wait for the nail-biting finale at host Claudia Winkleman’s Scottish castle on Thursday night.
The EastEnders actress, 48, who has played Kim Fox on Albert Square since 2009, is rooting for one person in particular – former England rugby ace Joe Marler, 35, who has swiftly become a fan favourite.
“I honestly don’t know who could win, but Joe… Joe’s doing really well, you know. He could win this”, said Tameka, speaking to the Mirror at the Women in Comedy Print Awards at London’s Grouch Club on Tuesday night.
“He wasn’t that well known when he came in, and he was very quiet but I always absolutely loved him. He gave me a big hug and honestly, I can still feel that hug now.”
Though she was eliminated early on, the mother-of-two admitted she’s been avidly watching all the twists and turns from home. “I’m watching literally every episode, but not being in it any more? Yeah, it’s a bit raw! But we’re like a family, we’re all in the WhatsApp group – where’s Claudia, eh?!”
Tameka, who received a Game Changer Award at the event, founded by Absolutely Fabulous legend Helen Lederer – added, “Cat Burns is good, but Joe might get onto Cat as well. And bless Alan Carr. Last week he couldn’t even hold a straight face to say he was a Faithful. I was like, “Alan, you’ve gotta go!”
Meanwhile, Tameka – who appeared on Strictly in 2016 with pro partner Gorka Marquez – admitted she was still reeling from the bombshell news of Claudia and Tess Daly’s imminent departure from the show, after the current series.
“I was so shocked, like a lot of people. Like, what do you mean! But the chemistry between them, and the fact that they’re bowing out together is quite poetic, too”, she said.
“I remember when Claudia came in to co-host and thinking OMG, this is it! This chemistry is perfection. When I was on the show, I just loved fooling around with Claudia backstage. I would love to work with Claudia. Whatever she does after this, I wish her all the best – and Tess, too.”
Reminiscing about her own stint on the sparkly show, she said, “I still remember my paso doble from back then. What a show. Gorka the Corker, I named my partner. I was his first, I always liked to tell him. He’s a very lovely guy.”
And speaking of receiving a gong at the Comedy Women In Print Awards, she revealed, “It’s amazing to be in a room with such incredible women. I never decided I want to do what I do. It was just very natural, it just happened really, mimicking my mum. She was always funny.
“I went to the Anna Scher Theatre School in Islington since the age of seven, with the likes of Sid Owen, Patsy Palmer, Jake Wood…Jake’s got the snake hips you know, there’s something about him – he’s got swagger! And yeah, it just went from there.”
On the importance of comedy, she confessed that it’s a tool she uses often in life. “I use comedy as stress relief, when the going gets tough. “And sometimes I have to be reminded by my husband that you know what? it’s all going to be OK. He says ‘Take bad tings make joke!’ So yeah comedy is medicine. Absolutely.”
Source: Mirror
Leave a Reply