Strictly Come Dancing champion Kevin Clifton on his next challenge - musical Rock of Ages

Strictly champion Kevin Clifton still can't quite believe he has won the glitterball trophy.
Stacey and Kevin Picture: BBCStacey and Kevin Picture: BBC
Stacey and Kevin Picture: BBC

On Saturday he won the BBC dance competition with journalist and documentary filmmaker Stacey Dooley.

The Grimsby dancer has reached the final five times with previous partners since starting the show in 2013 but this weekend was the first time he has won.

“I was completely overwhelmed,” he said.

Picture: BBCPicture: BBC
Picture: BBC
Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“We were not really that nervous as Craig had said the comments he had and we were bottom of the leader board so we just didn’t expect to win.

“We all thought that Joe and Dianne were going to win as they were favourites going into it.

“We were just stood there so when Tess said Stacey and Kevin my legs just went from under me.

“I always thought I would be cool if I won, and I just cried. I was very over emotional. It was unbelievable.”

Kevin as Stacee JaxxKevin as Stacee Jaxx
Kevin as Stacee Jaxx
Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Kevin added that Stacey wasn’t a natural dancer but worked hard. The pair frequently trained for 14 hours a day.

“Week two was disastrous,” revealed Kevin.

“We did the cha cha and our scores were four, fives and six.

“Stacey said that she felt embarrassed and didn’t want to be the first one to be eliminated.

“It was after that week we started training from 8am until 10pm.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“In week three it was movie week and we did the Charleston dressed as minions and it was brilliant.

“It gave her so much confidence and from there she just grew and grew.”

But they nearly didn’t make it past week seven, the week they performed a contemporary dance as part of couple’s choice.

“Usually you start training on a Monday but we couldn’t start until the Wednesday as Stacey had injured herself,” he said.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“We had two days to train so I wasn’t sure if we would be able to do it on the Saturday.

“Overall though it was personally my favourite dance as I love that style, but to be honest if we had been eliminated that week I would have said I had had the best Strictly experience.”

Now he says it is back to normality, and his next challenge is taking on the role of Stacee Jaxx in musical Rock of Ages which comes to The Hawth on February 19-23.

“I am obsessed with the musical, I first saw it in 2009 on Broadway,” he explained.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“I think people only think of me in a suit doing ballroom so it is nice to show them another side where I am singing, dancing and acting.

“Stacee is an interesting character as well so I’m excited to do something a bit different.”

Over the Christmas period Kevin will be getting prepared for the role ‘sitting on the sofa, reading the script and listening to the songs’.

He will also return in May as part of show Burn the Floor.

“I feel that show made me the dancer I am today,” he said. “I learnt so much doing it, it feels like home.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

On if this year’s Strictly would be his last he said he doesn’t know but would love to go back if the BBC want him.

For tickets, visit The Hawth's website

READ MORE