2 weeks Ago
Thirsk-born Ghouri, 26, and her professional partner Aljaz Skorjanec will perform three more routines on Saturday in a bid to win the glitterball trophy. Ahead of the final, she said: “It’s been an absolute dream, especially bedazzling my cochlear implant.” She praised the show’s costume team who have been adding diamantes to it each week so her costumes match the implant, which is an electronic device that can help provide a sensation of hearing to those who have severe to profound hearing loss.
(Image: BBC) “The amount of messages I’ve got from – especially younger women, younger children, teenagers – who have said ‘I felt represented because I’ve seen you on TV, I started decorating mine as well’, and that’s the power of representation”, she said. “Honestly, it’s been an absolute dream, and I feel so thankful to have the opportunity to be able to do that and to help people find their confidence and to believe in themselves.” Ghouri is the BBC show’s second deaf contestant after actress Rose Ayling-Ellis competed in 2021, while comedian and Glitterball favourite Chris McCausland is the first blind celebrity to take part.
Her success on the show has come despite facing a number of challenges, including having to navigate songs which are difficult for her to pick up. “Musically the beats are so different so each week you are doing such different rhythms, different counts, so I’m having to really focus on that, and that can be quite draining in a way because I’m really happy to focus even more,” she explained. “Even on Saturday as well, all the magic is happening, the craziness, I’m literally in my dressing room with my implant out.
I just literally need time out from everything because it can get quite overwhelming with a lot of over-sensory load.” She praised the Strictly team and her dance partner for their support, adding: “I can’t even put into words how amazing it’s been. “But also you get the challenges to overcome them, it makes you stronger, it makes you grow even more.
So in your way, I see it as a positive.” During Saturday’s final, the pair have chosen to reprise their elegant American Smooth to Someone You Loved by Lewis Capaldi, which secured the first score of 40 of the series. They will also return to their couple’s choice dance to What About Us by P!nk at the judges’ request, as well as performing a new show dance to Sing, Sing, Sing by Benny Goodman.
Skorjanec revealed he has wanted to perform this new dance since the beginning of the series but it did not fit in with previous weeks. He added: “I’m really chuffed that we’re doing what we’re doing for show dance." Strictly Come Dancing: The Final will air live on Saturday at 6pm, on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
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