Since September, TV personality and podcaster Vicky Pattison has been tipped for the final and has conquered her fears on Strictly Come Dancing every Saturday night. Hannah Britt and her for a chat.
She’s jumped out of a helicopter on I’m a Celeb and faced the judges on Celebrity Masterchef. But nothing has filled Vicky Pattison with fear quite like performing live in front of the nation on Strictly Come Dancing. “The pressure, and being out of my comfort zone, is sometimes exhausting,” laughs Vicky, 37, a television personality, radio presenter and author. She’s been partnered with professional dancer Kai Widdrington on this year’s series. “Kai has always been incredibly patient. And I really hope that if the lovely public stays behind me as long as they have so far, I’ll be able to beat these nerves. I am finally starting to put them to one side and begin enjoying the experience, which is so important because I know it will go by so fast and I want to savour every single second. I am so blessed to be part of this wonderful family.”
Clearly, Vicky’s dream was to have Strictly. If you want to look foolish on live TV, especially if you’re someone like me and have no prior dance experience, there’s a lot of graft involved, she says. “I’ve wanted to do it for years, I suppose. But I never wanted to speak with anyone. I was fine waiting my turn because so many amazing people did it. But when I got the call, I thought, “What are you doing this winter/autumn?” I was completely shocked. I had a great time. I cried a little bit.
When Vicky isn’t jiving on our screens of a Saturday, she’s at home with her husband, Ercan Ramadan and their two rescue labradors, Max and Milo. She was recently unveiled as an ambassador for Dyson and Currys to mark the launch of the new V16 Piston Animal (complete with a hair de-tangling feature). “I love nothing more after a long day of training, or working, and coming back home and cuddling up with the lads,” says Vicky. “I feel very lucky. I think everybody, if they’re honest with themselves, wants to be in a healthy, happy relationship and to feel loved and seen. “Our house is chaotic, full of energy, so loving. And that’s just the dogs. They’re the good type of naughty, although they have chewed a pair of designer shoes recently…”
Busy Vicky also presents popular podcast Get A Grip with Strictly alum Angela Scanlon. “She told me in summer to start using surgical spirit to harden up my feet. I wish I’d been more diligent with that one because the blisters are no joke,” says Vicky. Pete Wicks, too, who made it to the final of last year’s series, has offered advice. “He said to me last year, ‘You just forget anybody is there, you can’t see anyone, you just go for it’… but I politely disagree.
I simply want to turn off, feel the music, and be a Latin goddess because I can see the judges’ faces and the crowd. You’re never going to be the best dancer, he said, and that’s true. “But you’re a nice person, so go on there and show everyone your personality and who you are,” he said, “and they’ll fall in love with you like I did.” He is such a nice man.
Vicky burst onto our screens aged 21 in MTV’s Geordie Shore. Speaking on Strictly, in an emotional moment Vicky commented that she was making her family proud. I really try to make my family proud. I try to be patient, kind, work hard, all the kinds of things you’d want your daughter to be. “Im really glad I am getting the opportunity to show that to them.”
Taking part in Strictly has surprised her. “Well, firstly I realised I’m not as fit as I thought I was,” laughs Vicky, who presents the Saturday afternoon show on Heart radio. “But I’m also shocked at how much it all means to me. Everything I do I throw myself in 110%, whether it’s eating kangaroo balls in the jungle or trekking up a mountain for charity. It’s not about public perception but my need to prove to myself that I’m capable.”
Vicky says she’ll be turning her attention to a new show with E4 called “motherhood and what that looks like for us” after finishing Strictly. She shared last year that she had frozen her eggs, which is appropriate. Vicky says, “I feel really blessed to be able to freeze my eggs and give us that little cushion so I can pursue my career and pursue what I love.”
“But I do anticipate having hairy, half-turkish, half-Gordie babies someday in our family.” I’ll require two Dysons. The joke that Ercan is currently under a sex ban is being circulated, which is untrue. Our relationship is very happy and well-balanced; I’m just tired of the dancing!
Source: Mirror
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