Princely: Strictly Come Dancing runners-up dance for Charles. Dancing dynamos Ian Waite and Denise Lewis have been whisking royalty off its feet after waltzing into second place in the Strictly Come Dancing final.Mr Waite, 32, from Luckmore Drive, Lower Earley, has been partnering the former Olympic
heptathlon gold medallist in the hit BBC show for the past two months.

On Saturday night, almost 10 million BBC1
viewers saw the pair win the runners-up spot in the final, narrowly losing out to favourites Jill Halfpenny from EastEnders and partner Darren Bennett.

Last night all three finalist pairs – including Julian Clary and his partner – danced at the Royal Variety Performance at The Coliseum in London, watched by the Prince of Wales. The show is on BBC1 at 8pm tonight.

Speaking exclusively to the Evening Post,
32-year-old Miss Lewis said the last few weeks had been an amazing experience and achieving second place alongside her “fantastic” partner was a great honour.

“It felt really good to be runners-up,” she said.

“We had a roller-coaster ride to get to the final,
being in the bottom two on a number of occasions, so to nearly not make it and then finish second was very rewarding. It’s been incredibly hard work due to the time commitment and the physical demands, especially on my feet in those shoes.

“But the challenge and excitement was fantastic.”

As part of the couple’s triumphant run into the final, Miss Lewis visited Reading to see her partner’s dancing dynasty family, who jointly run the County Dance Centre in Southampton Street.

“All Ian’s family were fantastic,” she said. “Mary, Ian’s stepmother, has been teaching for years and gave me lots of little tips. Anna, Ian’s sister, was also great and I was able to see dancing through her from the woman’s
perspective – she has the patience of a saint; and Ian’s Dad was also very supportive.”

Denise said Mr Waite had been a brilliant teacher and she would like to carry on dancing – “but only with Ian”.

“When I was asked what type of character I would like to work with I said someone who is funny, interesting and easy to work with, and patient as I was a novice and Ian is all of those,” she said.

Mr Waite, who teaches alongside his stepmother at the County Dance Centre, said coming second on Saturday had been “fantastic but unexpected”, despite the pair scoring an almost perfect 38 out of 40 in the quickstep.

“It was brilliant but kind of a shock,” he said.
“We went in thinking we were complete outsiders and would not make the last two, so it was a surprise.

“It was exhausting and we are still recovering, but it hasn’t stopped. After the Royal Variety Performance we are doing a Christmas Special of the show.”

Ian said he would love to return for another stint on Strictly Come Dancing in the new series in September, but “only if they have another tall celebrity”.

For more on Ian or the County Dance Centre in St Giles Hall call (0118) 950 7340 or visit www.ianwaite.com.

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