Debbie McGee ‘nervous’ to dance with a man following Paul Daniels’ death

Debbie McGee has said she is “nervous” to get up close to a man again on Strictly Come Dancing, following the death of her husband Paul Daniels.

The magician’s assistant, 58, described herself as “the grandma” of the series because she is the oldest contestant this year, and denied that her ballet background has given her an advantage over her co-stars.

“I did do some commercial dancing, but I gave up when I was 23. I’ve never done anything since.

“I’ve sat around studios and things, so I think if I was big and fat people wouldn’t say that, but because I’ve got older and stayed slim – because I’m a magician’s assistant I had to get in boxes, so I couldn’t get fat – the advantage is I’m used to walking on stage.

“I think the show has changed, when it started it was much more that nobody had ever danced, but over the last few years it’s a real mixture of people, and it makes it a really interesting programme.”

Daniels, who died in 2016, competed on the show in 2010.

“He used to come home and talk about how lovely everybody was, but I didn’t quite understand it and now I do. ”

Asked how she felt about getting up close to man again, McGee said: “Yeah I’m nervous.”

She added: “Paul, when I first worked with him, used to get quite nervous. He was the ultimate pro and thought about every inch of the show and when the curtain went up in the studio he always believed we are human animals and if we’re having a good time then so are the audience.”

Strictly Come Dancing launches on BBC One tonight at 7pm.