Strictly Come Dancing’s Jamie Laing admits he feels ‘pressure’ to do well after his replacement Kelvin Fletcher’s victory last year
He was forced to drop out of last year’s series after sustaining an injury and was replaced on the show by Kelvin Fletcher.
And Jamie Laing has revealed he now feels ‘pressure’ to do well on Strictly Come Dancing after former Emmerdale hunk Kelvin went on to win the competition.
The Made In Chelsea star, 31, who this year has been given another shot at winning the glitterball trophy, admitted that the actor’s epic victory with Oti Mabuse has been playing on his mind.
Under pressure: Jamie Laing has revealed he now feels ‘pressure’ to do well on Strictly Come Dancing after his replacement Kelvin Fletcher went on to win the competition
Speaking ahead of the show launch later this month, he said: ‘His hips were just like a snake that went round. I think he has really put the pressure on to do well.’
However, he added: ‘But also I feel like everyone should thank me because I gave Strictly Kelvin Fletcher, because I was knocked out, so I feel like it’s a good thing.’
The reality star was left gutted last year after being forced to pull out after hurting his leg during the launch show, before he’d even had a chance to compete.
And he’s hoping this time round he’ll fare much better as he told how it’ll be ‘pretty upsetting’ if he’s voted out in week one.
Victory: The Made In Chelsea star, 31, admitted that the actor’s epic victory with Oti Mabuse has been playing on his mind (Oti and Kelvin pictured in 2019)
It’s not only being the first to be eliminated that worries him, but the thought of being injured again.
The media personality added that it’ll be ’embarrassing’ if he’s hurt again and insisted he ‘can’t let that happen.’
Meanwhile, Jamie has his fingers crossed that he’ll be paired up with reigning champion Oti Mabuse – who was his partner before he had to drop out.
He exclaimed: ‘Oti is incredible. If I got given Oti again this year that would be incredible!’
Reigning champion: ‘His hips were just like a snake that went round. I think he has really put the pressure on to do well’
Not happening: The media personality added that it’ll be ’embarrassing’ if he’s hurt again and insisted he ‘can’t let that happen’
It comes as Jamie previously declared that the infamous Strictly curse won’t come between him and girlfriend Sophie Habboo, 26.
He said of the curse – which has struck down couples throughout the show’s 16 years on the air, seeing celebs get together with their pro partners, dancers split from their real-life spouses and celebrities’ marriages not survive the course of the show – that he is being asked repeatedly about it.
‘I am being asked all the time about the Strictly curse and do you know poor Sophie had no clue about this whole curse thing,’ Jamie said. ‘She had no idea that everyone couples up when they do Strictly Come Dancing.
In demand: Meanwhile, Jamie has his fingers crossed that he’ll be paired up with reigning champion Oti Mabuse – who was his partner before he had to drop out
‘But, hey listen, I don’t think I am a bad guy so I don’t think it will be too bad in the end.
‘I am not going to kiss my dancer. It is not like I am going to be some magnet, you know? I don’t think the dancer is going to come anywhere near me.’
Strictly Come Dancing kicks off on Saturday 17th October on BBC One.
Not worried! Jamie recently insisted that the infamous Strictly curse won’t come between him and his long-term girlfriend Sophie Habboo