ORE ODUBA says tips from his mum could be his Strictly secret weapon – even if they interrupted a romantic anniversary treat.
The BBC sports presenter was taking wife Portia out a few days ago to celebrate being married for a year when mum Fola shared her advice after last week’s dance-off drama.
“We went to the Shard for our anniversary and we were up looking out over London when I got a call from my mum,” Ore, 29, told The Sunday Post.
“I thought I should take it even though we were having our own private moment.
“And she just said: ‘Yeah, that figure of eight with your hips was why you were in the dance-off, wasn’t it? You’re going to need to work on that for next week!’”
Ore, who got his broadcasting breakthrough at The Network scheme at the Edinburgh Television Festival, was in the bottom two last week and survived against Laura Whitmore.
He said it only made himself and pro partner Jo Clifton, 33, come back even harder for last night’s notoriously-difficult rumba to John Legend’s Ordinary People.
Despite a social media backlash against former Shadow Chancellor Ed Balls, who did an energetic salsa to Gangnam Style, Ore insisted Ed shouldn’t quit to save better dancers.
“Ed is one of the best characters. If I was watching it, the show would be poorer if he was not there.
“There’s not a single ounce of resentment.”
And Jo thinks Ed could go all the way and win it. “Why not? He’s very entertaining. He puts on a good show all the time, and he actually dances quite well.
“He’s got as much chance as anyone else, to be honest.”
Ore had been topping the leaderboard and was a hot tip to win until last week’s shock.
But he’s been known almost as much for bursting into tears as for his fancy footwork. And he made a vow with Jo and Portia not to have another tear-fest.
“We said to each other: ‘There cannot be another crying’. Surely three strikes and you’re out?”
Ore admits the emotional outbursts came as a total shock.
“I didn’t expect to be so tearful,” he adds. “But now it’s happened, crying is the only reaction I have.”
The seven celebrities who’ve made it to next week’s Blackpool special will be revealed on tonight’s results show, BBC1 7.15pm
READ MORE
Emmerdale is my life but I am up for Strictly, says actress Isabel Hodgins
Countryfile and Strictly star Anita Rani on her 10 career highlights
Enjoy the convenience of having The Sunday Post delivered as a digital ePaper straight to your smartphone, tablet or computer.
Subscribe for only £5.49 a month and enjoy all the benefits of the printed paper as a digital replica.
Subscribe