The Strictly Come Dancing final is now only a fortnight away so the pressure is on the celebrities to impress both the judges and the viewers to ensure they have a shot at winning that glitterball trophy.
Magician’s assistant Debbie McGee is reportedly feeling the strain more than anyone after finding herself in the dance-off in Blackpool despite being an early favourite to become champion.
According to The Sun, Debbie had a “backstage meltdown” this week as her professional partner Giovanni Pernice keeps pushing her to show her full potential in this weekend’s quarter final.
A source told the paper’s showbiz columnist Dan Wootton that 59-year-old Debbie is struggling to keep up with the “punishing sessions” organised by Giovanni, 27.
The source said: “Debbie is struggling and it all got too much for her.
“She’s finding practice increasingly difficult to get through and Gio isn’t going easy on her.
“He’s desperate to win and is pushing Debbie but some days she’s exhausted. Perhaps he forgets sometimes that Debbie is a lot older than her competitors.”
Debbie, the wife of the late magician and previous Strictly contestant Paul Daniels, has already had to battle through injury to perform each weekend.
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She’s suffered from back problems and is now also juggling practising her Strictly dance routines alongside preparing to star in panto in York later this month.
The stars have also been put under extra strain by having to learn more than one routine as the weeks progress. Last week they had to prepare for a Paso Doble danceathlon alongside their personal dance.
Debbie previously admitted on This Morning that she does feel her years when trying to prepare for each show.
The former ballet dancer said of her time on Strictly so far: “It’s fantastic and I’m having an incredible time but it’s not an easy time. It’s really tough.
“Maybe because I’m older, you get more tired. I really struggled on Monday. I was totally and utterly exhausted from Blackpool and the emotion of being in the dance-off, then the relief we’d got through.”
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Now eleven weeks into the competition, the celebs are getting even more emotionally and physically exhausted but no-one will want to leave this close to making the final.
This weekend the theme will be musicals, with Debbie and Giovanni planning an American Smooth to Memory from Cats, which she’ll hope will win her another 40 score.
Best get an early night tonight then, Debbie!