TEAMING UP FOR THE SEASONAL 'STRICTLY' SPECIAL NEIL JONES AND TILLIE AMARTEY JIVE INTO CHRISTMAS WITH HELP FROM A CUTE LITTLE LADY

When actress Tillie Amartey teamed up with professional dancer Neil Jones to take part in the Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Day special, their partnership became a full-blown family affair as Neil's 11-week-old daughter Havana got in on the act.

- EMILY HORAN

"We've realised Havana can only settle down to sleep if we do our jive while holding her," says Tillie as the pair tell us about their training sessions for the dance spectacular, which sees the duo transform into Santa's little helpers for a festive jive.

"She could probably grace the ballroom and do it herself at this point," jokes the 20-year-old.

"Any other dance and she'd cry, but when I held Havana and did our jive, she loved it. She's definitely a Latin dancer," adds proud dad Neil, 41, whose daughter with model Chyna Mills is certainly living up to her name, which is a tribute to the Cuban capital of dance.

FIRM FRIENDS

The pair had lots of fun training, with Tillie even inviting Neil to the set of BBC school drama Waterloo Road, in which she's playing student Stace Neville from January. "If I speak to the right people, he could make a cameo," she says with a smile.

Tillie, who was born in Leeds, believes it was "fate" that she was partnered with Neil, who is based in the city, for the festive Strictly special.

"We had met before and got on really well. We have a great friendship," she says. "My mum's even been babysitting Havana - this has been so much more than just dancing."

Viewers are in for a festive treat, with stars including BBC Breakfast's Sally Nugent, EastEnders actor Jamie Borthwick and former rugby union international Danny Cipriani also strutting their stuff.

RAISING THE BAR

"It was one of the best groups we've ever had," Neil says. "Everyone is having so much fun - it doesn't feel competitive at all. Even Craig [Revel Horwood] feels a bit more festive!"

A musical performance from Eurovision Song Contest star Sam Ryder is on the cards, as well as two stunning group routines, and Tillie and Neil are looking forward to watching the pre-recorded show when it airs on Christmas Day.