Entertainment
Strictly Come Dancing star Richie Anderson has already lost toenails from gruelling training with Giovanni Pernice-Sabrina Barr-Entertainment – Metro
The radio star warned he was going to get ‘quite graphic’.
Giovanni recently slammed speculation of a ‘feud’ between him and Richie (Picture: Guy Levy/BBC/PA)
Richie Anderson has revealed the toll that training for Strictly Come Dancing has had on him, resulting in him already losing two toenails.
Last Saturday, Richie and his professional dance partner Giovanni Pernice took to the dancefloor for the first time alongside the other couples taking part in this year’s competition.
The duo received a score of 23 out of a possible 40 from the judges for their Cha-Cha-Cha, and are hoping to impress them even more tomorrow night with their fast-paced Quickstep.
While speaking to Metro.co.uk, Richie, 34, shared that in the lead-up to week two, he’s suffered some pretty gruesome injuries on his feet.
The BBC Radio 2 presenter warned that he was going to get ‘quite graphic’, before telling us: ‘I’ve lost two toenails. I’ve got two black toes, and I’ve got a bruise on the side of my foot.’
Turning to Giovanni, 32, Richie asked if it was ‘normal’ to have lost toenails and suffered so much bruising on his feet.
Richie and Giovanni are dancing the Quickstep this week to Barry Manilow’s Dancin’ Fool (Picture: BBC/Ray Burmiston)
The pro then added some more detail, outlining how Richie was ‘wearing normal shoes’, as opposed to designated dance shoes.
‘I think it’s one of those things – when people do Strictly Come Dancing they always complain about, especially ladies. They’re always talking about how the shoes are uncomfortable, dancing in heels,’ he said.
‘I think Richie wants to be part of the gang and he wants to complain about the shoes. But basically, he’s only wearing the normal shoes.’
Nonetheless, Richie had a playful response to Giovanni’s claim, emphasising that despite losing two toenails – which his partner didn’t know about – he ‘gets on with it’.
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Richie speculated that his training for week one might have ‘laid the foundation’ for his lost toenails, before week two rehearsals dealt the final blow.
The radio personality isn’t the first star of Strictly 2022 to share grisly injuries behind the scenes.
In a video shared on Instagram, Loose Women panelist Kaye Adams revealed she sustained bruised ribs, resulting in her having to wear a big block of tape on her side.
Sunday will mark the first time this year that a couple will be sent home, after a public vote and a decision made by the judges following the dance off.
Richie admitted to Metro.co.uk that the prospect of an elimination makes the experience feel ‘more real’, so he always makes sure to make the most of every time he gets to dance with Giovanni.
Richie dances with Giovanni every time ‘like I’m never going to dance with him again’ (Picture: Ray Burmiston/PA)
‘You know what you’re signing up for with Strictly. I always think when I dance with Giovanni – and I think this in training as well, but especially when I’m in the ballroom – I want to dance with him every time like it’s the last time we are going to dance, so that’s just how I think of it,’ he said.
‘I go out there and I think, “I’m going to dance with him like I’m never going to dance with him again.” Leave nothing on the dancefloor, and what will be will be.’
Strictly Come Dancing returns tomorrow at 6.30pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
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