Overview
- Clarke said he rehearsed with professional dancer Lauren Oakley for an hour during his tryout and performed a jive and a short Latin routine for production staff.
- He stressed the audition practice may not determine his final partner, with official pairings still under wraps until the launch episode.
- Coverage reports the pairings will be unveiled on a pre-recorded show around September 20, with the first live programme a week later and no eliminations for the first two weeks.
- He explained he announced his relationship with model Yasmin Amelia to control the narrative and to head off speculation tied to the so-called Strictly curse.
- He recounted that a professional dancer’s partner contacted his girlfriend offering support due to the intensity of media attention around the series.