2 weeks Ago
Toyah Willcox had to expose the one thing she's most conscious about during her Strictly Come Dancing stint (Picture: BBC/Ray Burmiston) She has over four decades of performing experience under her belt, but it took Strictly Come Dancing to really push Toyah Willcox out of her comfort zone. The pop icon, 66, was the second contestant eliminated from the show's 20th series, having danced a jive, a tango, and a samba for the nation with professional partner Neil Jones, 42. Despite getting the chop so early on in the competition, the TV presenter has zero regrets about signing up for the BBC dance show, which 'changed' her as a person and how she perceives herself.
Toyah, this year's oldest contestant, certainly didn't have an easy ride, though, as the glitzy Strictly makeover forced her to expose her biggest insecurity to millions of viewers each weekend. Speaking exclusively to Metro, the singing sensation explained that, unusually, dancing on live television didn't faze her, but what did was having to showcase her legs. 'The training didn't worry me, the live shows didn't worry me; I've been performing live shows for 45 years, a lot of theatre and a lot of live music.
I loved all of that. The pop icon was partnered with World Champion Neil Jones (Picture: BBC/Guy Levy) 'I am very shy about my legs. My legs have never been great, but they are strong, brilliant, and work for me.
I had to expose that vulnerability. 'The shoes didn't suit me greatly. I don't tend to wear strappy shoes.
I was having to do things that I would never normally do, and this is why I went into Strictly. 'You do these things to experience something new, and I had to hold my confidence tight to me when it came to my legs being on display next to Nadiya (Bychkova) or Jowita (Przystał), it was like, oh my god! I'm standing next to these brilliant dancers who are all under the age of 30, and I've got to have my legs in tights!' Toyah went on to say that the Strictly rollercoaster..
. Emily Bashforth.
