"It's always so much fun when we all come together like this," says Karen Hauer, taking a break for our exclusive chat.
Strictly's longest-reigning professional dancer, who joined the show in 2012, has been reunited with her co-stars - Gorka Márquez, Neil Jones, Dianne Buswell, Jowita Przystal, Nikita Kuzmin, Luba Mushtuk, Vito Coppola, Nancy Xu and Carlos Gu - and tells us: "We're like brothers and sisters." The close-knit cast have been leaning on each other more than ever after the passing of former Strictly head judge Len Goodman at the age of 78 in April, following a diagnosis of bone cancer.
Karen echoes their sentiments when she says: "He was a gentleman on the ballroom and off, and an inspiration to all of us dancers as a judge and as a human being.
"From the moment I met Len, he was warm and caring and he made me feel right at home in Strictly," she adds.
TOP MARKS
Karen's love of dancing has spilt over into her personal life - she has been teaching her new husband Jordan Wyn-Jones to dance.
"Bless him, he's a three!" she says, giving Jordan, whom she married in a ceremony covered exclusively by HELLO! last summer, a Strictly score out of ten.
When it comes to the action at today's rehearsals, however, it's tens all round.
As world-class dancers at the top of their game, the talented cast of professionals are determined to make this year's tour the best it can be - and promise that audiences are in for a treat.
Esta historia es de la edición May 08, 2023 de HELLO! UK.
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Esta historia es de la edición May 08, 2023 de HELLO! UK.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor? Conectar
THROWING IT BACK TO THE 1990S 'VOGUE' ERA OF THE SUPERMODEL
KATE MOSS LEADS FAMOUS FACES REFLECTING ON FASHION HEYDAY
FORMER 'MADE IN CHELSEA' STAR FRAN NEWMAN-YOUNG
DAZZLES IN BESPOKE WEDDING GOWN AS SHE TIES THE KNOT IN STYLE IN MAJORCA
LENDING SUPPORT TO CHILDREN'S HOSPICE PRINCESSES BEATRICE AND EUGENIE
BRING LIGHT INTO LITTLE ONES' LIVES AS THEY PLANT A SYMBOL OF HOPE
ON BUOYANT FORM AFTER HIS WIFE'S GOOD NEWS THE PRINCE OF WALES
DISHES OUT THE HUGS ON VISIT FROM THE HEART
WITH AN INCREDIBLE GLIMPSE INTO FAMILY LIFE THE PRINCESS OF WALES
SHARES MESSAGE OF HOPE AS SHE LOOKS TO THE FUTURE AND BALANCING HER ROLE
IN HIGH SPIRITS AT THE BRAEMAR HIGHLAND GAMES THE KING AND QUEEN
ENJOY LAUGHS APLENTY AT A FAVOURITE EVENT BEFORE MONARCH QUIETLY MARKS TWO YEARS ON THE THRONE
AS HOLLY WILLOUGHBY RETURNS NATIONAL TELEVISION AWARDS
STARS DAZZLE ON NIGHT OF GLAMOUR AND GONGS
CREATING A NEW SISTER ACT ELIZABETH OLSEN
ON CO-STARRING WITH NATASHA LYONNE AND CARRIE COON
MAKING HISTORY AT STARSTUDDED EVENT IN NEW YORK TAYLOR SWIFT
SMASHES IT WITH SEVEN OF THE BEST AT THE V.M.As
KIM KARDASHIAN AND DAKOTA JOHNSONS
FASHION AND COMPASSION AT A-LIST CHARITY EVENT