Dancing On The High Seas

Strictly fans Jo and Nigel took a cruise and found themselves being invited to apply for a job…

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We started dancing together about 12 years ago,” explains Nigel (56). “We loved watching the first series of Strictly so much, I suggested to Jo that we go to ballroom dancing classes.”

She leapt at the chance! “I danced competitively

when I was younger,” reveals Jo, who works with children with special needs. “I started ballroom dancing when I was four, with dancing legend Peggy Spencer, star of Come Dancing.

“Dancing with Peggy was a very serious business. When I was 14, I vowed I’d never dance in a competition again as getting your hair tied back hurts – and I used to cry if I made a mistake!”

Nigel, a road worker, also danced as a child, but gave up after only three weeks! “I discovered football and that was the end of my ballroom dancing lessons,” he laughs.

Nigel and Jo have been together for 20 years, married for four and have six children and seven grandchildren between them. They began their dance partnership by learning how to cha-cha, foxtrot and waltz together.

“It was lovely to be back dancing again, especially when Nigel turned out to be surprisingly good,” says Jo.