Strictly duo reunite to stir the coffers - The Worcester Observer

Strictly duo reunite to stir the coffers

Worcester Editorial 4th Oct, 2013 Updated: 19th Oct, 2016   0

IT MAY be eight years since athletics star Colin Jackson wowed the Strictly Come Dancing judges with his nimble footwork and snake-like hips.

But the 46-year-old told the Standard his passion for dancing still burns bright as he entertained workers at an office in Worcester last week.

The 110-metre hurdler turned television pundit was reunited with his former Strictly dance partner, Erin Boag, as part of Macmillan Cancer Support’s 23rd World’s Biggest Coffee Morning.

The twinkle-toed pair, who reached the final of the hit BBC show in 2005, visited npower offices up and down the country, including its base in Warndon, where they hosted a dance master-class and judged a bake-off competition.




As an athlete, Mr Jackson competed all over the world as he clinched gold medals at the 1993 and 1999 World Championships as well as a silver medal at the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul.

But the Welshman said it did not compare to the “phenomenal” reception he received when putting on his dancing shoes and performing in front of an excitable crowd at npower last Friday (September 27).


“Erin performs all of the time, so she is used to that sort of adulation but we never get that in track and field,” Mr Jackson said.

“When I see the response of the crowd here you can really see they have had a wonderful time and that for me is infectious.

“I get energised by seeing these guys having such a good time.”

Mr Jackson, who covers athletics for the BBC, said he would love to get back dancing again as he admitted the fund-raising event brought back a number of special memories of his Strictly experience.

“If I didn’t catch the bug I wouldn’t be here today and I wouldn’t have gone on this tour with npower for this worthy cause,” he added.

“When you do something like this, you remember all of the other things along way such as the fun and the experiences you had.

“When we did our salsa it was packed with people watching and wanting to get involved. They all had big smiles on their faces, so it was great and I loved it.”

Professional dancer Mrs Boag, who will not be competing in this year’s Strictly after a decade on the programme, said Mr Jackson was a delight to work with on the show.

“We have danced a couple of times together on the Strictly floor since then but it is great to be back together,” she said,

“I found coaching Colin fantastic, as sportsman usually are. I danced with six along the way who were all different shapes and sizes. For instance, Willie Thorne was very different to a Colin Jackson or an Austin Healey who were quick and nimble.

“But what they all have is a great mindset.”

With millions of people tuning in to the watch the new series, which started last week, Mrs Boag urged Worcester residents to get off their sofas and sign up to a dance class.

“Dancing is good for the mind, it is good for the soul and you get to meet people,” she added.

“I think everyone should learn how to dance. A lot of people sit there and watch the TV and think ‘I would love to do that’. But they have got to get off their sofa and once they get into that class they won’t come out again as it’s addictive.”

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