Strictly Sarah: I didn't believe I could do lifts ...but look at me now

NEWLY confident Sarah Hadland has ditched her panic about bare legs, fake tans and doing ballroom lifts to become a firm favourite to win Strictly Come Dancing.

- Sara Wallis

Keen not to be billed as the "poster girl" for older women, the Miranda star, 53, approached the BBC hit show with caution.

But she has now binned her negative expectations and is storming through stunning dances with pro Vito Coppola, 32.

The actress, who lives in London with her daughter, said: "I was setting limits without realising.

Mindset

"I just thought, 'I'm quite a good dancer. I did a lot of dancing 30 years ago. I know what I can do'...but in the same breath I was saying, 'This is what I can't do'.

"I think a lot of women do that to themselves.