FOR years Billie Piper dismissed the idea Strictly was a sexually charged hothouse where celebrities genuinely lost their minds – until she had a taste of it herself.
The former Doctor Who star had to play a character in the new series of her Sky Max comedy drama, I Hate Suzie, who takes part in a TV contest just like the BBC1 dance show.
And after Billie submerged herself in the steamy moves she realised the show — famous for its “curse” and inspiring drastic career changes — all made sense.
Speaking on the Reign with Josh Smith podcast, she said: “You know how when you watch Strictly and the people are going: ‘This is the best moment of my life, I’ve never been happier’ And you’re like: ‘That’s really far fetched . . . like, why?’
“And then you dance and then you know why — because it’s so mood-altering. I’m such a horny dancer.
“Not when my kids are around, because I’m now like a cringe person to them. But when I’m out with my friends it’s like full horn.”
Billie also got the full Strictly experience when she had a taste of what it’s like to be injured while dancing - something everyone from Jamie Laing to AJ Odudu have suffered while on the show.
I revealed in July how, during the creation of the second series of I Hate Suzie, she attempted a move that went wrong and she ended up in hospital with an injured back.
Thankfully, it didn’t impact on the filming schedule and the three-parter will air, as planned, on December 20.
That’s just three days after the final of this year’s Strictly on BBC1, providing dance fans with another fix to tide them over this Christmas.
But twice-divorced Billie warns them not to expect an entirely glittery, upbeat experience.
She said: “This show is quite harrowing in its themes.
“It’s so dark, but to have the tonic of dance, this is the dream creative marriage.”
It’s a shame marriages don’t always survive the Strictly experience . . .
Seann's timely rebooty
OF all this year’s I’m A Celeb campmates, Seann Walsh was most in need of the payday.
The comic lost all the cash he earned as a rising star in his twenties.
It wasn’t his 2018 Strictly curse or rock ‘n’ roll excess, but something far more mundane – a pricey mortgage.
He says: “It’s insane how much money I had. In my twenties, there was thousands, with zeros and zeros. I look back now and think, ‘Why the f*** did I spend it? All of the money went – every bit
“I’d love to be able to tell you it was like Wolf Of Wall Street. Like, ‘I was Leonardo DiCaprio sniffing lines off a hooker’s ar*e.’
“But what actually happened – I wasn’t paying attention to a variable mortgage.”
Seann was speaking at his first gig since his jungle stint at the Soho Theatre in London on Monday night.
And he couldn’t believe the turnout.
He added: “Here we are. Sold out, as well. It’s amazing.
“About three weeks ago I couldn’t sell out a phone box.”
Ricy is racking up cash
RICKY GERVAIS won’t have any problem affording Christmas gifts this year.
The comic’s fortune has rocketed by £10million over the past year, due to the success of his Netflix sitcom After Life, plus earnings from stand-up show SuperNature and deals for films including Flanimals, based on his book.
A source said: “Ricky has had a phenomenal year, and his bank balance proves it.
“The success of his Netflix show really is quite staggering so it’s no wonder the streamer pays him handsomely.”
Ricky made £5.5million through his company Red Lion 100 Limited and a further £4million from his firm Derek Productions.
It meant the star faced a mega £1million corporation tax bill on profits, according to paperwork filed this week.
A related company, Red Lion LLP, saw its value go up by £1million.
Ricky, who is worth an estimated £115million, also gets handy top-ups from royalties from his first comedy hit The Office.
He more than deserves it.
ITVX will feature the world’s first dedicated sign language channel on a streaming platform.
Viewers will have access to a range of shows including ITV soaps, Alan Carr’s Epic Gameshow and Lewis.
It’s one of the 20 themed channels on ITVX, which launches tomorrow.
SAS Billy bumped
SAS: Who Dares Wins star Mark ‘Billy’ Billingham has got a promotion.
The military veteran will lead the Directing Staff in the upcoming C4 series, set in the Vietnamese jungle.
He’ll be joined by long-standing colleague Jason ‘Foxy’ Fox, ex-US marine Rudy Reyes and the latest member of the DS staff, Chris Oliver, a former Special Forces Operator.
Billy says: “Having been a DS on actual military SAS selection and Chief Instructor at the Army Jungle Warfare Training School in Brunei, there is nobody better placed than myself to lead recruits through this treacherous environment.”
The six-part series will air next year.