‘It’s very intimate’: Strictly’s Ranvir Singh, 43, praises ‘sizzling’ partner Giovanni Pernice, 30, and says show has helped ‘break down’ her barriers
Ranvir Singh has heaped praise on her Strictly Come Dancing partner Giovanni Pernice, saying he ‘sizzles’ on the dance floor.
The Good Morning Britain presenter, 43, spoke about her ‘intimate’ routines with the Italian pro, 30, saying they put in the work to make sure their romantic dances are ‘convincing’.
Speaking to The Mirror, Ranvir admitted taking part in the show is ‘surreal’ and it has helped her ‘break down’ some of her barriers.
Partners: Ranvir Singh has heaped praise on her Strictly Come Dancing partner Giovanni Pernice, saying he ‘sizzles’ on the dance floor
She said: ‘Giovanni is so amazing, he doesn’t need me to be sensational. He sizzles all by himself. It doesn’t matter whether I’m in the room or not, he’s sizzling away. The dances are all about being romantic and, of course, we have to make them convincing.
‘You’ve got to be game when you take part in Strictly. You can’t do things halfheartedly. I admit, it doesn’t come easily. You have to break down some of your own barriers and do things that can feel embarrassing at first.’
She added: ‘It’s very intimate. Then your face is right in their face. It’s taken a bit of getting used to.’
Ranvir, who confirmed she had split from her husband Ranjeet Singh just weeks before making her Strictly debut, said the show came at the right time for her.
‘Sizzling’: The Good Morning Britain presenter, 43, said she and Giovanni, 30, work to make sure their ‘romantic’ dances are ‘convincing’
The TV presenter also credited working with Giovanni on the show for helping to restore her body confidence.
Ranvir explained that prior to Strictly, she was a ‘yo-yoer’ with her weight but has now learned to relate to her body in a new way, not thinking about dress sizes or calories in weeks.
However, Strictly isn’t all glamour as Ranvir also admitted she has been wearing slippers under her desk on GMB as the balls of her feet are so sore.
While the star said she always has an ache from the gruelling rehearsals, she has found she thrives under the pressure of having to learn her dances so quickly.
She said: ‘Giovanni is so amazing, he doesn’t need me to be sensational. He sizzles all by himself. It doesn’t matter whether I’m in the room or not, he’s sizzling away’
It comes after Ranvir claimed that she and Italian dancer Giovanni find the idea that they will be hit by the Strictly curse ‘very funny’.
Speaking to The Mirror, Ranvir revealed: ‘We both find the idea that we might get hit by the curse very funny – he is a 30-year-old man!’
Her Strictly rival Jamie Laing also said that he could not see a romance between the duo, as Ranvir has told him that she ‘hates’ Giovanni after a long day of rehearsals.
Ouch: Strictly isn’t all glamour as Ranvir also admitted she has been wearing slippers under her desk on GMB as the balls of her feet are so sore
He continued: ‘He is so competitive and she is so laid back and it makes him furious, it’s hilarious. I just don’t see how the curse can happen.’
Ranvir and Giovanni have notable chemistry, which viewers and the judges have repeatedly commented on. But the star says the intimacy stays on the dancefloor.
Speaking to OK! magazine, she said: ‘If I got hit by the curse, it would be a bloody miracle! Oh my God, that would be hilarious.
‘Do you know most of the dancers were born in 1990 or something? I’m old enough to be their mother! It’s very optimistic and complimentary that anyone would think I would be struck by the curse.’
Unbelievable: Ranvir admitted taking part in the show is ‘surreal’ and she sometimes can’t believe it’s her life