Tamzin Outhwaite shares hidden connection with BBC Strictly finalist ahead of Christmas Special stint

Tamzin Outhwaite has opened up about her upcoming stint in the world of Strictly Come Dancing after joining the line-up for the Christmas special.

The 54-year-old actress has been paired up with Nikita Kuzmin for the festive edition of the dance contest following his early exit from the flagship series alongside Sam Quek.

She’ll be competing against the likes of drag artist Tayce, comedian Josh Widdecombe, podcaster Vogue Williams, Gladiator Harry Aikines-Aryeetey, and racing car driver Billy Monger.

Last year’s festive winner Jamie Borthwick went on to compete in the main series this year but for Outhwaite, the Christmas special was the perfect opportunity to get a taster of the experience without the rigmarole of signing up for the full run.

“I’ve always wanted to do Strictly because I want to learn to Ballroom and Latin dance but I know that at my age, I don’t think my body would be able to do the amount of weeks that is required,” she told the BBC.

“So I said yes to the Christmas Special because it feels like a little snippet, a Strictly hors d’oeuvre. Like I could just dip in for a couple of weeks.”

While Outhwaite will have had Kuzmin to lean on during her preparations for the Christmas special, it turns out there’s someone else well-versed in the Strictly universe she could turn to as well.

That person happens to be Sarah Hadland who finished as runner-up in this year’s finale behind Chris McCausland and his dance partner Dianne Buswell.

Touching upon their friendship, she said: “I haven’t told anyone yet but I leave Sarah the odd voice note saying, ‘well done, that was brilliant’ and ‘Oh my God, I don’t know how you’re doing it.’

“She’s a great performer, she’s doing amazing,” she continued before she also paid tribute to Kuzmin.

When asked how excited she was to be working with the pro dancer, she said: “Very excited because we call him Prince Charming in the house.

“He just has the hair and face and the body and everything, he looks like Prince Charming.”

Outhwaite isn’t the only star of the Christmas special to speak out ahead of December 25 about the upcoming instalment.

Fellow contestant Williams said of her decision to sign up: “I said yes because it’s just so fun. It’s such a fun, brilliant show.

“I think if you’re asked to do something where you’re able to learn a skill, it’s really cool. You get a professional dancer teaching you how to dance and you’re getting to go out in an amazing costume. Every single part of it, it’s just so exciting to me.

“I love the idea of learning how to dance, especially because I’m not really a good dancer at all. I like challenging myself and this is a very big challenge.

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“I think the problem is people think I look like I can dance. I don’t know why they get that idea but I actually can’t. It’s a really fun thing to be able to try and learn.”

Meanwhile, Aikines-Aryeetey said: “I’ve always wanted to be a part of the Strictly family from a very young age. I’ve always enjoyed watching the athlete contestants and finding new ways to move your body.

“I have so much respect for the pros as they’re athletes in their own right. Learning a new skill is always something that I appreciate too and I’m always up for the challenge.”

And drag artist Tayce addressed the backlash to their appointment in the line-up: “It’s such an honour to be part of this amazing and highly popular show, pushing the envelope and breaking boundaries as the first drag queen to appear on it.

“The response has been overwhelmingly positive, though there’s also been some negativity from trolls, but that’s nothing I can’t handle.”