SHE’S lit up the Strictly Come Dancing leaderboard and been a bookies’ favourite from the off, but HELEN SKELTON is yet to be blessed with a full score of 40.
This week’s Musicals theme could change all that, though, as the telly host has revealed that she has previous experience on the West End.
Helen took part in two productions on the same night as part of a Red Nose Day challenge in 2013 while she was a presenter on Blue Peter.
The task saw her join the casts of Stomp and We Will Rock You.
Helen wore casual gear to bash bin lids and cans with a drumstick for one, then wacky leather gear as part of the ensemble for the other.
But it was the singing that left her red-faced.
Helen told me: “I was once made to sing Bohemian Rhapsody in We Will Rock You. It was the most mortifying moment of my entire life.
"When it went out on TV I was so physically embarrassed I crawled under the desk into a ball.
“I loved appearing on the West End stage, although I do feel a bit sorry for the audiences.”
This weekend Helen will dress as Sally Bowles for a Couple’s Choice dance to Mein Herr from Cabaret with her partner Gorka Marquez.
But if she was ever tempted back to the West End, Helen would go for a far more feminine role. She added: “It would be sassy, ballsy Belle from Beauty And The Beast.
“She takes on the Beast for crying out loud, and you get to dance with a teacup.”
She’ll be raising more than a cup of tea if the judges give her four tens.
A Weiss choice, Hamza
Hamza Yassin will be dressing as Simba to dance to The Lion King this week, but he would far rather be frolicking on an Austrian mountain in a pair of curtains.
His fave musical is The Sound Of Music, after seeing the 1965 film, starring Julie Andrews, as a child.
He’s such a fan he listens to its song Edelweiss on repeat.
He said: “My mum made us watch The Sound Of Music and I fell in love with the film, the story behind it, then the music.”
His dance partner Jowita Przystal will be dressed as Nala for the Lion King routine.
Celebs big-night numbers
THE Strictly professionals will open tomorrow’s show with a medley of musicals including Rent, Grease and Six.
Then Saturday’s result show features a performance from ex-judge Arlene Phillips’ new musical The Cher Show.
And there’s all the action from the remaining celebs too.
Here’s what to expect:
Fleur and Vito – quickstep to I Got Rhythm from An American In Paris.
Kym and Graziano – cha cha to Fame from Fame.
Molly and Carlos – Charleston to Hot Honey Rag from Chicago.
Hamza and Jowita – samba to They Live In You from The Lion King
Will Mellor and Nancy Xu – foxtrot to Sun And Moon from Miss Saigon
Helen and Gorka – Couples’ Choice to Mein Herr from Cabaret.
West End girls Molly and Fleur
THERE is no shortage of celebrities who make the jump into musical theatre after a spin on the Strictly dance floor.
Joe McFadden shone in Priscilla, Queen Of The Desert, while Maisie Smith is currently appearing in the Strictly Ballroom tour.
So it’s no surprise to hear that two of the cast in this year’s series have their eyes on London’s West End.
Molly Rainford and Fleur East could have a huge future treading the boards and they already have ideal roles in mind.
Molly said: “I’d love to play Elle Woods in Legally Blonde in the West End. That would be a wicked role and so much fun.”
Fleur added: “A dream role in Sister Act would be number one.
“And then appearing as Tina Turner would be number two.
“Imagine being able to play Tina and do all her songs.”
That really would be The Best.
Rosie Ramsey – the wife and podcast partner of comic CHRIS – will compete on this year’s Strictly Come Dancing Christmas special.
She will dance with Neil Jones, while DJ Rickie Haywood-Williams will be paired with Luba Mushtuk.
More names to be announced soon.
Grease is word for Kym
Kym Marsh once had dreams of appearing in a musical but reckons her moment has passed.
If she had to pick one, though, it would be Grease, which spawned the 1978 film starring John Travolta and Stockard Channing.
Kym, below, told me: “It’s just so fun and I can watch it over and over again.
“There’s only one character I’d want to be and that’s Rizzo, but I’m too old to play her now.” And she added: “I’m not innocent enough to be Sandy!”
Having seen Kym’s brilliant theatre performance as raunchy Alex Forrest in Fatal Attraction recently, I’m inclined to agree.
She’ll dance in Eighties workout gear with Graziano Di Prima for a routine based on Fame.
