The 31-year-old Strictly Come Dancing 2018 hopeful admitted the most dreaded part of the show for her was the Cha Cha Cha, which she and Kevin, 36, performed earlier in the series. Quizzed about her “Strictly nemesis” on The Telegraph’s Talking Strictly podcast, Stacey Dooley replied: “The Cha Cha. It’s like swearing at myself when I say that. The Cha Cha Hellish Cha. We had to do it week two. I’m so pleased it’s out the way because it was horrendous and I was awful,” she said.
“I just couldn’t get to grips with it,” she added.
“You weren’t awful,” Kevin chipped in supportively, as the documentary filmmaker continued: “Craig slated me and I got the four, it was just going from bad to worse.”
“You know in Harry Potter where they call Voldemort ‘He Who Must Not Be Named’?” Kevin said. “Cha Cha’s become The Dance That Shall Not Be Named. We’re not allowed to speak out it.”
Stacey recalled how a choreographer had mentioned a certain step was “just like the Cha Cha Cha” recently before Kevin came bounding in to stop them likening the move to her “nemesis”.
Stacey and Kevin scored just 20 points for their Cha Cha Cha, with Craig Revel Horwood, 53, awarded them a measly four.
“What’s abundantly clear is you’ve got so much talent,” Shirley Ballas, 57, said, but warned the star to get her standing leg straight for the dance.
“There’s one thing you have to learn is consistency,” Bruno Tonioli, 63, said, adding that she was “a bit scatty and then steady”.
“I can see the thought process,” he told Stacey.
“I thought it was a little bit stiff and I did feel that you danced the entire dance on bent knees,” Craig said. “You’re upper body is a little bit unruly. It was all just a little bit too contained.”
Although Darcey Bussell, 49, praised the energy in the performance, she said: “The technique to the Cha Cha Cha is so difficult and I could see you were struggling there.”
Since the Cha Cha Cha in week two, Stacey and Kevin’s Strictly journey has been plainer sailing as she has gone from strength to strength, consistently receiving high marks from the judges.
Today, Stacey was among the first three stars confirmed to be taking part in the Strictly live tour next year, but she won’t be accompanied by her partner Kevin.
Instead, she will be paired up with Aljaz Skorjanec, 28, while Kevin takes returns to the stage in Rock of Ages.
Speaking about going on tour, Stacey admitted she will “miss” her partner, saying: “I’m loving this experience so much. I know people always say that, but it’s so true.
“To be able to go on tour and perform for fans all over the UK is such an honour. I’m so excited!
“I will miss Kev, but I am looking forward to putting Aljaz through his paces,” she added.
Strictly Come Dancing continues Saturday at 7.05pm on BBC One.