Louise Redknapp: ‘Strictly Come Dancing has given me confidence to perform again’

The former pop star is one of the favourites to win the competition
In the spotlight: Louise Redkanpp says Strictly has given her confidence
BBC/Guy Levy
The Weekender

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Louise Redknapp says Strictly Come Dancing has transformed her life and given her a “huge confidence boost” after years away from the spotlight.

The singer also revealed she had been “more nervous than I have ever been” before the show started, but over time it has made her realise how much she missed performing.

Redknapp found fame in 1992 with girl group Eternal and went on to launch a solo career, but has not recorded an album since 2000. She has two sons, Charley, 12, and Beau, eight, with her husband, footballer-turned-pundit Jamie Redknapp, and has focused on family life while taking on television projects.

The star, 42, whose dance partner is Kevin Clifton, said: “Strictly has given me a new lease of life. I never went into it to get another job or to be more high-profile, I did it for me.

On the dancefloor: Louise Redknapp on Strictly Come Dancing 
Guy Levy/BBC

"People will say, ‘Oh yeah right,’ but that’s true. I am happy as a mum, I love being at home doing the odd job. I just wanted to do it for me.

“You realise as the weeks go on that people are voting for you. They are invested in you. That has given me a huge confidence boost. I’m now there on a Saturday night and I’m on stage and I have realised again how much I love performing. I’m dancing away with a huge smile on my face.

“Strictly has made me realise I would love to be on stage. If I could wave my magic wand, I would love to do the West End, but I don’t know if that opportunity will ever arise.”

Redknapp had been worried about stepping back into the limelight, saying: “I hadn’t performed on stage for a long time, let alone in front of 10 million people.

Strictly Come Dancing 2016 - who's been eliminated so far?

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“When we did the red carpet [for the series launch] I was more nervous than I have ever been. I thought then and there, ‘I am not sure if I can do this.’

"It wasn’t because of the dancing as much as my lack of confidence. I had been out of the limelight for years.

"I was scared of being judged by the public and putting myself out there like that. If you had told me in week one that I would still be here in week 11, I would never have believed it.”

Redknapp is in the final five with gymnast Claudia Fragapane, actor Danny Mac, TV star Robert Rinder — aka Judge Rinder — and presenter Ore Oduba.

She praised Ed Balls, who was eliminated with his dance partner Katya Jones after last week’s Cha Cha Challenge.

“I was shocked Ed went last week,” she said. “I used to love coming in [to the studio] on a Friday and seeing him perform. I saw him progress, and I loved seeing how hard he worked with Katya. He is a real gem of a man.”

Redknapp, an ambassador for American Express’s Shop Small campaign, said she was looking forward to spending more time with her family after the series — but wouldn’t be teaching her husband any of the steps.

“That will never happen,” she said. “He was in last week and Kevin did teach him some moves but it all had to be done in football language. He’s not going to dance classes any time soon.”

The Shop Small campaign is hosting Small Business Saturday this weekend. Details at amexsmallshop.co.uk

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