Dan Walker says his 'Strictly Come Dancing' co-star Rose Ayling-Ellis is a big inspiration to him.
Dan Walker
The 'BBC Breakfast' presenter opened up about his experience on the dancing show, and gushed about the 'EastEnders' star, who plays Frankie Lewis in the BBC One soap and is the first deaf competitor on 'Strictly'.
The 44 year-old star said: “My greatest inspiration is Rose Ayling-Ellis. I’ve got a deaf dad, so I think what she’s doing is truly incredible. I don’t know what it’s like to be deaf but I know how hard it is to dance to music when you can hear it, so I can’t fathom doing what’s she’s doing."
Dan is also full of praise for his pro partner Nadiya Bychkova, 32.
He said: “Nadiya is already one of my top-10 favourite human beings."
Nadiya - who has a five-old daughter, Mila - travels most days from London to Sheffield, where Dan lives with his wife Sarah and three children.
The dancer echoed the sentiment, saying: “He’s the best, because he works so hard. He makes it easy for me, because he listens and tries whatever I say. I’m really enjoying teaching him.”
Their dedication to each other was proven when Dan needed to be taken to A&E during training as he had banged his head, and the pair waited for four hours together.
He told heat magazine: “I told her afterwards, whatever happens – I’ve got mates who wouldn’t do that – you’ve got a friend for life.”
Last week, they danced to 'Once Upon A Dream', from Disney’s 1959 animated fairy tale ‘Sleeping Beauty’.