HomeTVRobin Windsor Strictly 2013 launch interview

Robin Windsor Strictly 2013 launch interview

Can you believe that Strictly Come Dancing is back on our TV screens? It feels like only two minutes ago that we were backing Lisa Riley and Robin Windsor to win!

Well the show kicked off tonight in its glitzy style and we loved every minute of finding out who was paired with whom. As Strictly is back that means our weekly interviews with Robin Windsor are back too.

As a treat we caught up with him to talk about being partnered with Dragonā€™s Denā€™s Deborah Meaden, find out how he feels about the new series and talk about Lisa Rileyā€™s psychic predictions.

Strictly Come Dancing is back for another year. How excited are you?

Iā€™m back on Strictly now for my fourth series and Iā€™m so excited for it all to begin. Weā€™ve moved to a new location in Elstree and I have to say the studio is by far better than weā€™ve ever had before. The dancefloor is bigger, the audience space is biggerā€¦everything is just bigger, grander and better. As you will have seen from the launch show itā€™s been the best weā€™ve had yet. It was very glamorous and weā€™ve got an amazing bunch of celebrities. Itā€™s going to be an amazing series.

Tonight it was revealed that your partner is Deborah Meaden from Dragonā€™s Den. How do you feel about that?

I have my very own Dragon! At first I was a little bit scared but I think I can turn this dragon into a lovely pussycat. Deborah is an absolutely wonderful woman. Sheā€™s got where she is today because of hard work, determination and sheer enthusiasm for everything that she does. To have her as a partner is absolutely fantastic because thatā€™s exactly what sheā€™s going to bring to the dancefloor. Sheā€™s probably going to give me a run for my money because sheā€™s going to want to keep going until everything is perfect.

Deborah, like Lisa Riley last year, has been labelled one of the potential ā€˜jokeā€™ contestants of the line-up this year. Do you know what her dancing ability is like yet?

As youā€™ve all seen from the launch show and the big group number that we all do, everybody can move. Deborah knows how to move a little bit and itā€™s a case of watch this space because until weā€™ve had three weeks training with the proper dancing we donā€™t really know how anybody is going to do. I can see at least a decent run in the show.

Will training be kicking off on Monday for you and Deborah?

No. Deborahā€™s actually on holiday, itā€™s something sheā€™s had booked for nearly a year so unfortunately we miss the first weekā€™s training. As one would expect sheā€™ll come back wanting to do 10 hours per day for the time sheā€™s missed which is fantastic and Iā€™m very lucky to have somebody who is prepared to throw themselves into it. Sheā€™s cleared the rest of her diary especially for me.

This yearā€™s celebrity line-up has had a real mixed reaction from fans of the show. What can people look forward to this year?

Iā€™m actually thrilled with the celebrity line-up this year. I think whatā€™s going to make this year special is that there are so many different characters and itā€™s going to make it great entertaining TV for people to tune into every Saturday night. Of course thereā€™s one or two people that you might not know but you need to be watching all the TV shows that are on all the time and not everybody can do that. Some people may not know some of the celebrities but all of them will be known to some viewers.

I must confess that Iā€™d never seen Dragonā€™s Den and I didnā€™t know who Deborah was. Last weekend I watched my first episode and Iā€™m thoroughly hooked. For everyone that hasnā€™t seen Dragonā€™s Den I suggest you tune in because itā€™s amazing.

At least you know that Deborah is going to give you an honest critiqueā€¦

Well thereā€™ll be no messing around with Deborah. She says it as it is. Most importantly of all, Iā€™ve got a really hard worker so thereā€™s going to be a lot of hours spent in that training room.

Lisa has been back to present the red carpet footage for Strictly this year. How does she feel about you dancing with Deborah?

I called Lisa immediately after I found out who I was paired with. She was very excited. At the end of last series Lisa said to me, ā€˜I bet you will get somebody from Dragonā€™s Den next year and it will be TV gold!ā€™ and then of course Deborah was released as one of the celebrities. Lisa called me and said, ā€˜I told you, youā€™re going to get Deborah!ā€™

Sheā€™s not too jealous that she canā€™t come back and dance with you again this year?

Lisaā€™s been an absolute gem. Sheā€™s already on the ā€˜Team Robin to win Strictly Come Dancingā€™ this year . Sheā€™s going to do whatever she can to help me and Deborah lift that glitterball trophy. Sheā€™s so supportive and sheā€™s my best friend in the whole world. Iā€™m very, very lucky that Iā€™ve now been paired with four wonderful people. I seem to never pull the short straw and Iā€™m a very lucky man.

Strictly Come Dancingā€™s live shows are due to start with a bang on Friday 27th and Saturday 28th September 2013 on BBC One. Our next interview with Robin will be closer to the live shows as heā€™s going to be super busy rehearsing with Deborah.

Pip Ellwood-Hughes
Pip Ellwood-Hughes
Pip is the owner and Editor of Entertainment Focus, and the Managing Director of PiƱata Media. With over 19 years of journalism experience, Pip has interviewed some of the biggest stars in the entertainment world. He is also a qualified digital marketing expert with over 20 years of experience.

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