Debbie McGee, 60, appeared on the BBC series Strictly Come Dancing alongside her dance partner Giovanni Pernice, 28, two years ago. Discussing the experience, the finalist admitted she had made “lovely friends” while taking part in the competition. Speaking exclusively to Express.co.uk, Debbie said: “I loved absolutely every second of it and made lovely friends – it’s just great. “My year was the year where we all got on.”
The BBC Radio Berkshire host appeared on the show with celebrities including Simon Rimmer, 56, Gemma Atkinson, 34, and Mollie King, 32.
However, previous series’ have been rocked by claims of backstage “feuding” between contestants and professional dancers.
Last year, Death in Paradise actor Danny John-Jules, 58, and his dance partner Amy Dowden, 27, reportedly had a disagreement behind-the-scenes when he was accused of “bullying”.
Amy dismissed the claims telling BBC presenter Zoe Ball on Strictly’s spin-off show It Takes Two she had never felt “threatened” by Danny.
She said: “I’ve never felt bullied or threatened by Danny I really want to get this man to Blackpool and then to the final.”
But the brunette beauty added things did get “intense” between the pair in a rehearsal, but insisted they were fine after a half an hour break.
Danny recently addressed the drama, telling The Sun last month he had “no regrets” about his time on the show.
He said: “I came in professional and I left professional.
“As many times as I had Amy dripping off me and I was dripping off her, at no point did we ever have a conversation that wasn’t about dance.”
During the same series it was rumoured Capital Breakfast host Vick Hope, 29, had a rift with head judge Shirley Ballas.
Vick admitted that she was shocked by the harsh critiques she’d been getting, particularly from Shirley on the show.
Speaking on the radio, she said: “I think I’ve got to be careful with what I say here. It was from week one people were suggesting something was there, and it’s been consistent.
“Saturday night, I’ve not really been spoken to like that. She [Shirley] relished in it.”
Vick was referring to her performance with dance partner Graziano Di Prima when the pair performed a Cha Cha Cha.
The duo were booted off the series after being in the dance off with Seann Walsh and Katya Jones.
At the time Shirley said of their performance: “It took 16 bars before you started to do anything that was recognisable of cha cha. It wasn’t a typical cha cha, it took a minute for you to get going. I disagree with Darcy, I didn’t see any straight legs in there at all.”
Meanwhile, Debbie gushed over her former dance partner and admitted the pair “got on so well”.
She said: “The reason me and Giovanni got on so well is because we both worked hard but we both loved playing jokes.
“And so we made each other laugh all the time And that’s just what its like. That’s the best friendships aren’t they.
“We respect each other and laugh so much together.”