Gabby is Strictly stylish

Women's Editor

meets up with TV presenter Gabby Logan as she launches her stylish new fashion range.

There may not be as many sequins in her new fashion range as there will be in her dazzling Strictly Come Dancing dresses, but it didn't stop TV presenter Gabby Logan cheekily canvassing for votes when she kicked off her stylish collection in the West Midlands.

The TV and radio star, who is one half of Strictly Come Dancing's first married couple, has put her name to a new collection from Betty Barclay and was in Birmingham yesterday afternoon to unveil it to shoppers.

And while at the city's House of Fraser store she took the opportunity to canvass for votes for her forthcoming appearance in the new series of the Saturday night dancing show.

Gabby is hoping to rumba her way past Scottish rugby star husband Kenny - but she assures viewers of the hit programme it won't be murder on dancefloor.

The 34-year-old mother of young twins says the couple are currently in sympathy with one another as they take part in the gruelling training programme for the show.

"We do have a lot of empathy for one another," said Gabby.

"We've been training for the past month and Kenny brings his emotion and frustration home.

"But from what I've seen he's graceful and good at it."

And what of the dancing contestants? How does she rate them?

"Well it's difficult to say as we haven't started on the show yet."

But Gabby, who returned to our TV screens recently as host of sports news programme Inside Sport, believes former footballer John Barnes could pile on the pressure.

"He's a good mover," she says.

And how does she feel about her husband getting up close and personal with a professional dancer and vice versa?

"We all get close, groin to groin," she smiles. But it's purely work. There's no jealousy there," she said.

And how competitive is Gabby? Is she in it to win it? Well I want to wear as many dresses as possible," she laughs.

The TV presenter wanted to take part in last year's show but her then bosses at ITV wouldn't let her. They said I could take part in Dancing On Ice but I didn't want to skate. "Now I'm with BBC I'm doing the show. I think it has a fantastic format," she added.

"I've only worked on two dances so far and there's a lot more to learn.

"But I love the training. It's a challenge, both physically and mentally." She has recently been busy with her new clothing range. Her Autumn collection from Betty Barclay, which is on sale at House of Fraser in Birmingham and Wolverhampton's Beatties, features seven outfits.

They include a little black ensemble of a polo neck and tulip skirt, a black and lace 50s style tea dress and a pair of well cut tweed trousers teamed up with a chunky grey jumper and scarf. While showing shoppers her outfits she also made a point of asking for their support for the show.

"I'm loving it but I still need votes," she said.

"My husband has got the whole of Scotland voting for him, but I've got to share England with the rest of the contestants," she laughed.

Not competitive eh? We'll soon see when Strictly Come Dancing returns to our screens on October 6.