As the Strictly Come Dancing prepares for the semi-final, one contestant is finding the pressure a bit too much – Debbie McGee reportedly had a ‘breakdown’ as she and dance partner Giovanni Pernice rehearsed.
The radio presenter was apparently left in tears after Giovanni’s practice style got a bit too intense.
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Debbie has been working through a sore back as the show comes closer to its conclusion, and is also knee deep in rehearsals for a pantomime Beauty and the Beast at York’s Grand Opera Hotel.
Her commitment to the production has left her with less time than usual to prepare for Strictly, just when the demands of the show have increased.
The pair have been trying to prepare two routines, when normally they only have one, and their rehearsals take place in the evenings, after Debbie has spent all day working on Beauty and the Beast.
A source spoke to The Sun, and revealed that the pressure has been getting to the pair.
“It’s been Debbie and Giovanni’s toughest week,” the source said. “It all got a bit much. There have been tears. Debbie has had to combine full days of Beauty with intense dance rehearsals in the evening.
“Gio has been pushing her to make sure her performance is the best it can be on Saturday. With this being the week before the final, the pressure is well and truly on.
“She’s absolutely exhausted, but she’s confident she’ll be able to pull it off again on Saturday.”
Debbie is one of the top contenders to take home the Strictly Crown, but she’s been struggling with her back after performing a Salsa in week eight of the competition.
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Win or lose, she’ll have no time at all for a breather after the show ends – her Beauty and the Beast panto opens on the 17th of December – just one day after the Strictly final.
Beauty and the Beast also stars Blue’s Antony Costa and former Coronation Street star Ken Morley.