Strictly’s Debbie McGee feels like late husband Paul Daniels is with her when she dances
STRICTLY finalist Debbie McGee is convinced her late husband Paul Daniels is "with her" when she dances - and would be giving her notes each week were he still alive.
The ex magician's assistantis convinced Paul gives her "confidence" to dance by remaining with her in spirit - and reckons he would always "find something" to critique, pushing her to do better than her best.
Debbie, 59, has huge public support ahead of this weekend's final, which will see her face off against Alexandra Burke, Gemma Atkinson and Joe McFadden.
And if Paul had not died of brain cancer in 2016 aged 77, Debs is sure he'd be more ambitious than her about nabbing that Glitterball Trophy.
She told : “Paul would always have wanted me to do better than I was doing.
"I could imagine, if Paul was alive and watching me every week, he would give me notes. There is no doubt about that – he would find something.”
Countering allegations that Debbie's ballet training gives her an unfair advantage, Debbie says that she does get terrible nerves about performing.
And she thinks that the fact Paul is watching over her is what helps her get through.
She went on: “I feel he is with me. When I walk down that studio floor, there is always a moment I think of him. He had so much confidence.
“I kind of say, ‘Come on, darling, give me some of your confidence’. And it takes away my nerves.”
Never work-shy, Debbie is taking on panto as well as her Strictly rehearsals at the moment, and is due to start her performances in York as soon as the final ends.
This means her schedule is jam-packed, admitting: “I’ve only got Christmas Day off. It’s quite normal in panto. I had the same last year.
"Christmas Day will be with the family in Surrey at some point or other, with my younger sister Donna and her family and my mum and possibly my brother and his family.”
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Asked what she wanted most from Santa, she added: “I’d like the Strictly Glitterball in my stocking. It’s the only thing I want.”
But Debbie has a major fight on her hands if reports about her rivalry with the equally strong contender Alexandra Burke are to be believed.
Meanwhile Debbie's on-floor partner Giovanni Pernice has been revealed to be dating a dancer called Luba, dashing any hopes of romance with Debbie herself.
The Strictly grand final kicks off Saturday at 6.30pm on BBC One.
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