The Sugababes encouraged Keisha Buchanan to take part in the 'Strictly Christmas Special'.
Keisha Buchanan encouraged by Sugababes to sign up for Strictly
The 39-year-old singer revealed that her bandmates gave her "courage" to step out of her comfort zone and do something without the group.
She said: "I’ve been here before to perform with the Sugababes for the main show, but this is a very different feeling. Now I feel like I'm here as a student. It's definitely a learning experience, a very humbling experience. I'm enjoying the feeling, everyone's made it so comfortable for me. It's probably the best working environment I've ever been in.
"Mutya [Buena] and the girls in general, have always said ‘you've had never done anything outside of the group. Why don't you?’ A lot of people don't know this about me, but I'm actually a bit of an introvert and extrovert. They call it ambivert, so I am kind of shy and self-conscious, and I just never thought that I would do this. But the girls gave me courage. So I just thought okay, but I knew that I was going to come in and definitely have step my game up a lot. A lot of people do think ‘oh, you perform to millions of people and you must be so confident’, but actually you have to gear yourself up. The Sugababes, are actually known as the girl band who didn't dance so I want people to know that, because the comments that I get on Instagram say ‘this is going on this be so easy for her’. But when we all get together and rehearse, I feel like I've struggled the most.
"Well I feel like I have struggled and haven’t had that much time to rehearse. I definitely think that's one thing that I am nervous about."
Keisha has been partnered with Gorka Marquez and he explained: "Keisha had to learn another two dances so I might get to the point where I play the music and she's going to go ‘what am I doing?’"
When asked how training is going, he said: "Irresistible, unforgivable and sensational."
Keisha added: "Gorka is very similar to me, he takes his art very seriously. He’s just really honest and straightforward, but also encouraging. And I feel like when he tells me I did a good job, I believe him. This is very good for the soul for me."
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