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00:00Welcome to our Strictly For A Cause podcast. Today we are joined by Jane and Andrew. Welcome.
00:06Hello. Hello. It's great to have you both in with us. So you are both taking part in the annual dance competition.
00:14Andrew, what made you decide to sign up for this challenge?
00:17Probably for pure selfish reasons. Because I have always wanted to be a Kylie Minogue backing dancer.
00:27And I felt like this might fulfil my boyhood dreams of doing it.
00:35And then obviously my job is really community based.
00:40So anything that's about giving back to the community or working with or for the community is always really important for me.
00:49But mainly to be a Kylie Minogue backing dancer. And I hope she watches and I become one.
00:54I mean, that is, that's hopefully something. We can send her the link to see if she's going to watch it.
01:00Definitely.
01:01Do you feel like you're able to embody that when you're dancing?
01:04Yes, definitely in the cha-cha. I've got my Kylie Minogue vibes going on.
01:12The Paso's slightly different. So maybe not in that one, but definitely in cha-cha.
01:17Yeah. So we're fulfilling dreams here.
01:19Yeah. Fulfilling dreams, making them come true.
01:23And Jane, how about for yourself?
01:26So for myself, it was a number of reasons, actually.
01:29So I think I said before I'd gone to the final last year and I was absolutely blown away by it.
01:36It was just amazing.
01:37I'd just turned 40 and I don't know when you hit that number or big, big, big age.
01:43You're like, oh, I want to do something memorable to celebrate it.
01:47So that was a reason as well.
01:49And I was on maternity leave, so I was just looking for a way to get fit again.
01:54And another reason was also my mum passed away a couple of years ago.
01:59And it was all very fast and very sudden.
02:03And we got a lot of support and help from the hospice in Stornoway.
02:06And they were amazing.
02:08And in the last couple of years, people have sent various things to me to fundraise for.
02:15And it just wasn't quite right.
02:16But when I went to this final last year, my mum's a massive Strictly fan.
02:20And we were going to go to the first Strictly Live in Glasgow and we had tickets for it.
02:29And unfortunately, my mum never got to go to that because obviously she passed away just before the date.
02:36So, yeah, so I went to this last year.
02:39And as I say, it was for the Highland Hospice.
02:41Blown away by the amount of money raised.
02:43Incredible.
02:43Over 200,000 last year, I think, was the final figure, wasn't it?
02:47And it just all, like, everything aligned.
02:50And I was like, this is absolutely amazing.
02:52Perfect for the year I turn 40.
02:54I can raise money for the hospice, which is an incredible charity.
02:58And also I can get fit as well.
03:01Yeah, so lots of different reasons.
03:04And it just all kind of came together at once.
03:06What do you think your mum would be saying about you doing this now?
03:10Oh, she would be, she's looking down laughing right now.
03:13She's saying, you are like, what have you got yourself into?
03:15So, I'm in no doubt she'll be watching on the night.
03:18And, yeah, so it's all for her.
03:20So, yeah.
03:21Cheering you on.
03:22Yeah, absolutely.
03:23And were you much of a dancer before?
03:25Absolutely not, no.
03:26Quite sporty.
03:28Do you know what, in my head, I think similar to Andrew, I would have loved to have danced.
03:33But coming from, because I'm from the Isle of Litties, there wasn't really those opportunities when I was younger.
03:37So, I used to do a lot of sport, but there was never any dance involved.
03:40So, I could see myself as a dancer.
03:43But now that I've gone through this training process, I'm going to pull that back and say absolutely not.
03:49This is absolutely a once in a lifetime thing for me.
03:52But it has been amazing.
03:54Yeah.
03:54Certainly was something.
03:55I think we're now on our 13th, 14th week of training.
03:58Whoa.
03:59It's crazy.
04:00Around that, how, has it gone quicker than you thought it would, or has it dragged on?
04:06What do you think?
04:08I think to begin with, maybe January time, like in the depths of winter, and you're going out in the dark.
04:13And it did seem like a long time.
04:16Yeah.
04:17It did seem.
04:18It's definitely followed, like, the seasons a little bit, hasn't it?
04:21Because it was that you were leaving in pitch black, and now it is really light at the end of it.
04:29It's been a mixture of feeling like I've been doing it forever, yet at the same time, can't believe that in three weeks we'll be doing it at the ice rink.
04:40So it's a massive, it's like a weird time loop of feelings with it.
04:48It's so odd.
04:49It seems like it's just come out of nowhere, the final.
04:50I don't know if you feel that way, but you'd always, we were just talking about it earlier, actually.
04:56You see, when you're doing your rehearsals, you have good weeks and you have bad weeks.
05:01But then you think, oh, it's okay, I'll practice, and we'll nail that bit and move on to the next.
05:07And I'm like, no, there's very little practice left now.
05:09We just have to go for it.
05:11It's happening.
05:13And I think it's really interesting to see the people you're partnered up with, so the other couple.
05:18And in both of our couples, the bits that we're good at, they struggle with, and the bits that they're really good at, we really struggle with.
05:29So it's like, if we actually merged together, we'd be like absolutely classic perfection within it.
05:38So that's been a really interesting part of the process as well, I think.
05:41I think it has been nice being able to go with your 20s, I think they call it, isn't it?
05:45Yeah.
05:46So we dance the Thursday, the Friday, dance the same dance.
05:49And we had the same the other day, we did a Tuesday practice.
05:53And it was the first time ever where we were both at the exact same time.
05:56Because we normally have like our slightly different timings all day.
06:00We're like, okay, we just not all dance it together, you know, and have like one big, it would not feel as nerve wracking.
06:06Yeah, definitely.
06:07We had another couple up there with you.
06:08But it certainly feels like it's come around quick, I think.
06:12Really quick, yeah.
06:14It's just a few weeks away.
06:16So you're doing the cha-cha.
06:17Yep.
06:17And what's the other one?
06:19The Paso.
06:20Paso dopley.
06:21Yeah.
06:22Did you have any idea about those dances before you came in?
06:26Absolutely not for me.
06:28The first thing I did when I saw the list was Google them.
06:32I went straight on to YouTube to watch the dances.
06:35So I did, no.
06:37I actually love Strictly and have watched it for years and years and years.
06:42So I know about both the dances.
06:44So I was really excited by the Paso dopley because it's dramatic and that sort of like lends itself to the stuff that I've done in the past.
06:53And was dreading the cha-cha because that hip movement is, and also it's like a full body experience for the cha-cha.
07:04So I was really nervous about that.
07:07And yet I found like this real love for the cha-cha and like I've had so much fun doing it.
07:15So it's, it broke my expectations a little bit, which was good.
07:20That is good.
07:21Yeah.
07:21And you've kind of got to, I guess both are quite different, aren't they, in terms of the intensity.
07:27Yeah.
07:27And have you had to embody like different personas for doing the dance?
07:32Absolutely.
07:33Absolutely.
07:33Yeah.
07:34Do they have names?
07:35Yep.
07:36I've got a name for both of mine.
07:39So my Paso dopley character is called Maximus.
07:44Oh, I like it.
07:45And my cha-cha character is Julio.
07:50And Julio likes to flirt with everyone.
07:54Is that like ring true to you at all?
07:56Absolutely not.
07:59No.
08:00I don't know how to flirt whatsoever.
08:02I think for myself, for cha-cha, I think I'm trying to embody my inner Beyonce.
08:09I don't know how well I'm doing there, but yeah.
08:12You give Beyonce vibes, definitely.
08:16And then my Paso, don't know.
08:20Don't have anybody specifically.
08:22Maybe I need somebody.
08:23Yeah.
08:24But we have quite a big story in our Paso.
08:27I don't know if I realise.
08:28Yeah, you can see that.
08:29Just sort of maybe tell the story.
08:30No, yeah.
08:31But we have a very clear narrative throughout it.
08:35Yes.
08:36So I can't really, yeah.
08:37So I'm very aware of not to give that away.
08:41Okay.
08:41I am embodying somebody, but I don't want to give the story away.
08:44You're not going to tell us who.
08:45No.
08:46Okay.
08:46Okay.
08:47I'm excited to hear, like, see and watch this all.
08:50And has that been, as a drama teacher, has that been quite enjoyable then?
08:54Have you been able to transfer some of those skills?
08:57Yeah, definitely.
08:58So that part of it, I haven't perhaps felt as nervous as other people about.
09:05So I trained to be an actor, actually.
09:08So I've done performing since I was about 11.
09:11So done lots of it.
09:12So I feel quite like that's an all right place to be.
09:19However, I have never been a dancer, unfortunately.
09:23I did a module at uni that was about dance.
09:27And it's called Five Rhythms.
09:28And it was about five different rhythms, one of which was stillness.
09:32And in the performance, I was asked to do stillness.
09:36Because they preferred that than actually seeing me dance.
09:40So that should sum it up, really.
09:44So it's all new to you, the dance side.
09:46But the performing side, not so much.
09:48Performing side, not so much.
09:50But dancing and in front of people is horrific.
09:54Like, dancing in my bedroom is fine, which I do regularly.
09:57But in front of other people is a bit nerve-wracking.
10:00Yeah, and you've talked about how, you know, dancing wasn't a thing before.
10:05This is a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
10:06Have you ever done something in front of a crowd this big?
10:10I mean, you've got married, haven't you?
10:12Was that?
10:13Yes, but not in front of 600 people, no.
10:17But even in our practices, occasionally you might get one of the organizers popping in
10:22and the video at the end.
10:24But I get nervous, even when they come in or if you're just videoing it.
10:28So I'm like, oh, I need to just zone it out from the actual event.
10:33So I think that's it.
10:34Have you got any tips on, like, where to look on the night?
10:39Up high.
10:40Yeah, not at your feet.
10:41Not at your feet.
10:42That's being drilled into us every week, isn't it?
10:45Look up.
10:45Look up, look up.
10:47Yeah.
10:47So I think you just have to, like, bank it all out, I think.
10:50I think that's it.
10:51And just pretend we're in those rehearsal spaces with no one else there.
10:54And, yeah, that's what I'm, my plan is to just look high up to the ceiling.
11:03Like, I am blind.
11:06It's basically my plan.
11:08But, yeah, so you've got, we've kind of now coming closer to it.
11:11We're getting our costumes all ready.
11:14We're just talking about hair and makeup.
11:15We're all getting fake tans.
11:17I know.
11:18I know.
11:19I'm not so fan of that either.
11:22Are you happy with your outfits?
11:24You wouldn't tell us too many details about them.
11:26So it's a surprise.
11:26I haven't seen all of my outfits.
11:28I've only seen the cha-cha and the group dance.
11:31So I've not seen my paso in yet.
11:33And I'm really happy.
11:35Yeah, it, like, it fulfills all the excitement that I knew it would.
11:41So I'm very happy.
11:43Yeah, and I am too.
11:44I'm delighted with my outfits, actually.
11:47I do love them.
11:48I'm not very good in heels, so I think that's my biggest worry,
11:51is actually dancing in heels.
11:52So there's been a lot of walking around and spinning in the kitchen
11:56to try and get a balance in them.
11:58Doing your dishes in your heels.
12:00Just to get used to them.
12:01So that's my biggest worry for the night.
12:03But, no, the actual costumes, yeah, really excited about.
12:09Yeah.
12:09And have you got to wear heels for all three dances?
12:12Yes, I do, yeah.
12:14Because you're not getting away with heels in the group dance.
12:16No, I'm not getting away.
12:18I did try.
12:18I tried for the trainers, but our dance tutor, Lyra, was not for it.
12:24I know, because I'll have to try again this week, yeah.
12:26I know, I'll try again.
12:27I'm going to try, yeah.
12:29You might see me in trainers yet.
12:30Yeah.
12:31Lyra, please.
12:31Once she sees me dancing in the heels, she might change her mind.
12:36And have you found it different?
12:37I think doing the group dance practice compared to the other one where you haven't got as many people around you.
12:44In group dance, you can kind of, we actually can't get away with anything in group dance, to be honest, at all.
12:51But have you found them different?
12:53Or have you enjoyed them both the same?
12:55Has one been preferable?
12:56Well, I think group dance for us.
12:58So we actually have one of our dance practices before group dance.
13:03And then we have a practice before then.
13:05So by the time group dance comes along, we've already done two hours of practice.
13:08Yeah, we're exhausted, yeah.
13:10So, yeah.
13:11We're always quite tired on the group dance, actually.
13:14I think the music choices are epic on our group dance.
13:19Absolutely.
13:20That has been really good.
13:22But it is like a workout.
13:24It is cardio.
13:26It is absolute cardio.
13:29Like, at the end of it last week, I was absolutely exhausted.
13:35Sweating.
13:36It wasn't pretty.
13:36And I think now that we've learned more, and we're going over it, and over it, and over it, I'm like, this is the bit we get fit.
13:42Yeah.
13:43Because I've been waiting.
13:44Because I've just been getting fatter.
13:46Seriously, that's what you would think, isn't it?
13:48I had high expectations of losing weight and getting fitter, but unfortunately, yeah.
13:56I'm the same.
13:56Some people have managed to lose a lot.
13:58I just don't know how.
13:59I mean, I don't think the cake that I eat through the week at work helps.
14:03No.
14:03Same.
14:04My share of a bit of chocolate every night to myself.
14:06But then when you work out, you tend to eat more, or that's what I find.
14:10That's how I've justified it as well.
14:11Me too.
14:13I'm not.
14:13I ate less.
14:14I've actually just ate more, because I'm like, well, I danced.
14:17I've earned it.
14:19All the stress that I have going on.
14:22But group dance is very high energy.
14:24What number are you coming out on stage at?
14:28Well, you're not first, you're last, are you?
14:30Or second?
14:30Oh, we're last, yeah.
14:31We are last, yes.
14:32How do you feel about that?
14:33Do you think that's going to be more nerve-wracking, or are you quite glad?
14:35Um, I think it has the potential of being really nerve-wracking.
14:40Yeah.
14:40Um, and I, I'm going to try not to watch too much, um, because I think it'll make me
14:49more nervous.
14:50So, yeah.
14:52I know, we're just going to have to, yeah, we'll be behind, behind the stage just practicing,
14:57I think.
14:58Yeah.
14:58Because your nerves will build, won't they?
15:00Yeah.
15:00And definitely, and I think in our rehearsal, we're always better, like, the fifth time
15:04that we do it.
15:05So, we progressively get better through the rehearsal.
15:09Um, so we're definitely going to have to do something offstage, like, practicing.
15:13Just get yourself into it.
15:14Yeah, into it, yeah.
15:14But we are there the whole day.
15:16Yeah.
15:16Yeah, we are, yeah.
15:17From, what, 9.30 in the morning.
15:19Yeah.
15:20I thought when they were like, yeah, training day, we'll have breakfast, I was like, maybe
15:23like half eleven.
15:25Yeah.
15:26Half past nine we've got to be there on dance day.
15:29It's like all in this email that's come out that I haven't read yet.
15:32Yeah, exactly.
15:32Is it going to give me the terror?
15:34Yes, yeah, the more you read it, the more terrifying it gets.
15:39But I think it will be, I think it'll be a really nice bonding day, actually, and it'll
15:42be the first time we all get to see each other's dances.
15:45I know, that will be very exciting.
15:47I'm, yeah, I think I'm most excited to see the show as a whole and see everybody else
15:52dancing.
15:53Yeah.
15:54Very exciting.
15:55It is very exciting.
15:56So we've talked a lot about dancing.
15:58However, another big part, if not possibly a bigger part, is the fundraising.
16:03Yes.
16:05Andrew, how have you?
16:07Thanks for coming to me first.
16:08Welcome to you first.
16:10How has fundraising been?
16:12How has becoming an event planner?
16:14Absolutely horrific.
16:16I'm not even going to pretend.
16:18It has been beyond what I expected it to be.
16:25It has really highlighted how antisocial I am and have very few friends because I seem
16:33to ask the same five people to do everything.
16:37So I have found it really tough.
16:40My family live quite far away as well and I, yeah, I've really struggled with it.
16:49I had fun at points as well.
16:51So we did a bluey day at the ice rink, which was really good fun.
16:55And I got my partner's dress up as bluey as well, which he loved.
17:03So we've had some real good fun with it, but it has been really challenging and difficult
17:08and getting over that thing about asking people for money as well.
17:12So I can be really polite and then don't like to ask for things.
17:18So I found that really challenging as part of it as well.
17:22Yeah.
17:23Jane's done really well.
17:24Yes.
17:25Jane has done very well.
17:26You've both done really well, actually.
17:28Yeah, we've both done really well.
17:30But I agree with your sentiments there.
17:32It has been incredibly difficult.
17:34I didn't anticipate how difficult it was going to be.
17:37But I have amazing friends and family and bless them.
17:40As Andrew says, you're asking the same people over and over again.
17:44They're probably sick of hearing about Strictly now.
17:46So I feel like every time I ask them something or mention the word Strictly or fundraising,
17:50I'm apologising straight after and I'm like, it's almost over.
17:54But yeah, I've got one more event left, which is tonight.
17:58Well, it'll have been last night by the time.
18:00Ah, okay.
18:01This goes out tomorrow.
18:03So you're having a paint and prosecco evening.
18:07Yes.
18:08Yeah.
18:09So you can come in and it's going to be abstract Scottish landscapes.
18:16Lovely.
18:16So you can do a wee really easy, relaxed atmosphere.
18:20Do a wee painting.
18:21You'll get a bit of guidance if you're a complete novice or beginner.
18:24And also there'll be a wee drink there too.
18:26And there'll be snacks and bars open.
18:28So hopefully it'll be a really fun, enjoyable evening.
18:32So we'll see how that goes.
18:33Yeah.
18:33Yeah.
18:33It sounds like a very nice, relaxed Friday evening.
18:36Uh-huh.
18:37Yeah.
18:37And you had your bluey day.
18:38What else have you done?
18:39Have you done any there?
18:41I did a great showman cinema viewing, which was great.
18:45And like did little party packs and stuff.
18:49So that was really good fun.
18:50Yeah.
18:50And then my friends, Liam Ross, did a music gig for us, but really struggled to sell tickets
18:55on it.
18:56Not because of Liam Ross, because he's superb.
18:58Superb.
18:59But I think I might have played at the wrong time of the month and stuff, but I had a great
19:03time.
19:03I had like a personal gig pretty much, which was beautiful.
19:07Very nice.
19:07Yeah, it was really good.
19:08And you've done loads, haven't you?
19:11So I started off with a race night.
19:15Yes.
19:15And then I split the funds with one of my friends was doing stars on the rice.
19:22Okay.
19:22She was one of the contestants.
19:23So she was raising money for a snap.
19:25So we split the proceeds of that one.
19:27So that was my first event with Amy.
19:29And I did two quiz nights as well.
19:32Uh-huh.
19:33So I went over to Stornoway for one of them at the sea angling, which was fab and it was
19:37full.
19:38It was just, it was really nice.
19:39And all my mum's school friends, my mum was a school teacher on the west side of Lewis.
19:44So all their school friends came along.
19:46So it was really nice to see them all.
19:48And then, yeah, we did a quiz night in the Inverness Golf Club as well.
19:53And that was a massive success.
19:55So I was really pleased with that too.
19:56And just various bits and pieces, raffles and the lucky squares that everyone else is
20:03doing as well.
20:04So I think, I think that was it, wasn't it?
20:06Yeah.
20:07Yeah.
20:07The quiz nights have been very popular, actually.
20:09Everybody loves a quiz.
20:10Yeah.
20:10I don't think you can go wrong with a quiz night.
20:12No.
20:13A wee raffle on the side.
20:14I think either raffles, that was my, when I did my quiz night, the raffle was the thing
20:18that was the big money rake around.
20:21Yeah.
20:21Yeah.
20:22But do you know what?
20:22There was, as part of the Inverness quiz night, do you know Gus at the Inverness Golf,
20:31the Crazy Golf?
20:32Gus that owns it, very kindly offered, he said that the Strictly contestants could use his
20:38hole-in-one.
20:39Oh, lovely.
20:40So he very kindly lent that to us as well for the night.
20:43So we managed to raise, it was a couple of hundred pounds just from the hole-in-one itself.
20:48Oh, wow.
20:49That's very good.
20:50So that was really good.
20:51And I know quite a few of the other contestants or participants have used it as well, yeah.
20:58I think Neil would have seen that, yeah.
21:00Yeah, so I think he's his sponsor, isn't he?
21:01Yeah.
21:02So, yes, that's correct.
21:04So, yeah, there's a lot going on.
21:06And you're going to be giving something up, Andrew, as part of your fundraising, aren't
21:12you?
21:12Thanks for reminding me.
21:13Yeah.
21:13So Andrew, because you can't see this, Andrew has luscious long locks.
21:19Yep.
21:19That you are deciding to chop off.
21:21Yeah.
21:22So I said that if I could get to over Ā£2,000, which I have done, that I would buzz cut it
21:30off.
21:31So I'm going to actually cut it off and donate it to the Princess Trust.
21:35First of all, if they want my ratty hair, but hopefully they will.
21:42And then buzz cut it and have it really short.
21:46So, and that's going to happen after Strictly.
21:48After Strictly.
21:49Yeah.
21:49You've got to keep the hair for Strictly.
21:50Yeah, I do.
21:51So, yeah.
21:52So I think it might even happen on the after party on the Sunday.
21:55There is word of it.
21:57Oh, my goodness.
21:58So it might be all witnessed.
22:00Yeah, we all get to be part of it.
22:02Yeah.
22:02Yeah.
22:03Which I feel a bit nervous about.
22:05How long have you had long hair?
22:07Actually, not that long.
22:09Only like three, three years, I think, roughly.
22:13Yeah.
22:15So I've had long hair in the past, then cut it.
22:19So, yeah.
22:21I'm a bit nervous about it being buzz cut, though.
22:25If I'm being honest, I might have a little bit of regret.
22:29Yeah.
22:29But, you know, you did what you wanted, you could for the money.
22:32Yeah, that's it.
22:33Don't worry, we will remind you.
22:35Yeah.
22:35And the both of you, did you go to the pairing night?
22:41Yes, we did.
22:41When you were originally signed up and you were originally paired together.
22:44Yeah.
22:45How has it been getting to know one another?
22:47Because did you know each other before?
22:48No.
22:49No, we didn't, actually.
22:50And it was only at the end, really, of the pairing night that we were put together.
22:55Yeah.
22:55Because I think for most of it, we were paired with other people.
22:57We were paired with other people.
22:59Yeah.
22:59So it was really at the last minute we were paired together.
23:02Like the last, I think it was like the last ten minutes as well, wasn't it?
23:06And the rest of the time, we danced with other people.
23:10Yeah.
23:10It's been beautiful to work with Jane.
23:14Like she is an incredibly hardworking human being that, you know, is a mum with two little ones and works as well.
23:26Like I've got a lot of admiration for her and she should definitely be an inspiration for other people to do it as well.
23:34Because I think if Jane can find the time to do it, then, or anybody can, essentially.
23:40So it's been really beautiful.
23:42She's incredibly patient with me.
23:46Very bossy.
23:48No.
23:50No.
23:51And we have a lot of fun.
23:52Yeah.
23:53A lot of fun.
23:53I've almost knocked her out a couple of times.
23:56Yes.
23:56I've come home with many breezes.
23:58I see.
23:59At one point, I thought I was going to be, well, I was almost decapitated.
24:02Yeah.
24:03I was rammed into a wall.
24:05Yeah.
24:06It's a lot.
24:07Yeah.
24:08Yeah.
24:08It's brutal dancing with Andrew.
24:10Definitely.
24:10But no, my, it's like with Andrew as well, like, we're so lucky to have been partnered
24:16together because we get on really well and likewise with Andrew, I think he's a great
24:21guy and, yeah.
24:23Yeah.
24:24We've had loads of fun.
24:25Lots of fun.
24:26It's really nice.
24:27I think that makes a massive difference, doesn't it?
24:29Yeah, it definitely does.
24:29When you have somebody you can get on with.
24:32Yeah.
24:33Because not everybody gets that, right?
24:35Yeah.
24:35No, they don't.
24:37So we have been very lucky.
24:38And I think it did this thing where we wanted to do well for each other as well.
24:43So at each point, I think we've always been, I've been really conscious about trying to
24:48do my best, not just for me, but for Jane as well.
24:51And I've always felt that back as well, which has been really lovely to have that.
24:57I think you're very aware as well with the competition.
25:00When you are partnered with someone at the beginning of it, like, when you originally
25:04sign up, it's about you and your journey and what you want to do, but very quickly it becomes
25:09like you're a partnership.
25:11Yeah.
25:11And you want to do well for, like, your partner and the reasons for, their reasons for signing
25:16up are in your hands as well.
25:18So you want to do well for them and do the best you can.
25:20And so very much you're, like, you're putting the effort in and you're doing the best and
25:26you're showing up for your partner too.
25:28It's not just yourself now.
25:29Yeah, definitely.
25:30And I think that's the same with our fundraising as well, isn't it?
25:32Yeah.
25:33Just supporting each other and cheering each other up to do your best.
25:38Yeah.
25:39Because it can feel sometimes there are weeks that feel harder.
25:44Yeah.
25:45Than others.
25:46Yeah.
25:46Yeah.
25:47So we just had a really tough week, actually, I think.
25:49Yeah.
25:49This was a tough, tougher week for us.
25:52Our rehearsal didn't go as well on the dance that we felt more confident in.
25:57And, yeah, it has been a little bit more challenging this week.
26:02Mm-hmm.
26:03But I think we both want to come out fighting and just do our best and have fun, essentially.
26:10And are we wanting to win?
26:11Yeah, I think for us.
26:19So I would love to get to the final.
26:21I'll put that out there.
26:23I think we've both...
26:24I think we've said that before, haven't we?
26:26Winning for me would be to get through to the Saturday, I think.
26:28Get into the final.
26:28Yeah.
26:29I think that would be amazing.
26:32However, everybody else is, like, when you go into that group dance, everybody is so nice
26:38and amazing.
26:39You want them to do well, too.
26:41Yeah.
26:41There's a bit of a double-edged sword there.
26:43I don't know.
26:44It's...
26:45Yeah.
26:45So I'm not that competitive a human being, if I'm honest.
26:51So I'm always like, what will be will be.
26:53I would love to get to the final, just to say that I've done it all, essentially.
26:57But I never ever came in with any aspiration of winning.
27:04Like, I'm just happy to have got up there and had a bit of fun, essentially.
27:09So, yeah.
27:10Learning to dance.
27:11Exactly, yeah.
27:12But I think, Andrew, this might be where bossy Jane comes in.
27:16And I'll be a bit more competitive.
27:18So, you've got a little bossiness this week.
27:23So I think it's just practice, practice now, isn't it?
27:26Yeah, definitely.
27:27Yeah.
27:27Be the best we can be.
27:28Yeah.
27:29Yeah, because it is.
27:30It's coming around quick.
27:31Absolutely is, yeah.
27:33And has there been anything you have learned about yourself in this process, Jane?
27:40Patience.
27:42Do you know what, actually?
27:44Andrew touched on it there.
27:46Like, I have got two very young kids.
27:48I've got a one-year-old and I've got a five-year-old.
27:50And I work as well.
27:51So managing your time is, like, it's a military operation.
27:56But you can do it.
27:58So if you can do this, the amount of time this takes up every week with all your dance training
28:03and all your fundraising, like, you can put your mind to anything.
28:06You can do it.
28:07There's no excuses.
28:08Just go out there and do it.
28:12Just do it.
28:12Just do it.
28:13Yeah.
28:14Yeah.
28:15Mike, we'd love that.
28:16Yeah.
28:16We're not sponsoring them on this one.
28:18But how about yourself, Andrew?
28:21So I can be a little bit of a perfectionist.
28:26So I will not do things because I like it to be perfect.
28:30And if I can't get perfection, I can struggle with that a little bit.
28:34And I've really surprised myself at how much I've just gone in and, like, just had fun and not worried about perfection.
28:43So for me, that's been, like, really, like, really important, actually, to realise that I can just go in and have a little bit of fun.
28:53And also take things on the chin a bit.
28:55So when things with fundraising haven't been as successful as I've thought, being like, well, I've tried my best.
29:02And, you know, and at least I've raised something.
29:05Whereas I think another part of me would be outraged that it wasn't, you know, like a Madonna concert.
29:15Yeah.
29:15I feel that.
29:16I think some things I've thought, this will be a sellout.
29:19This is going to be the event of the century that I am going to produce.
29:23Yeah.
29:24And truly, nobody buys a ticket.
29:26But your speed dating was a sellout.
29:28My speed dating did go well.
29:30And I have a second one happening on the 4th of May.
29:32Really?
29:33Yes.
29:33But I need men.
29:34So men, please sign up.
29:36But you may find love because other people, well, I'm not going to call it love.
29:40I won't put them under that.
29:41But people are still dating.
29:42Whoa, that's so good.
29:44There was a few dates and people are still dating.
29:46So I think that's something I'll keep on, actually, after Strictly is, like, speed dating or, like, single meetups.
29:53Yeah.
29:55That's not going to be, like, a weird single meetup, you know.
29:59Very wholesome.
30:02But, yeah.
30:03So, no, I think it's been quite ā and I think everybody's had to cancel an event.
30:07I don't think there's been one person that hasn't.
30:10Or, you know, things haven't come quite to plan.
30:13Yeah.
30:14So, yeah.
30:17What we're going to do now is our wheel of torture or fortune, whatever you would like to call it.
30:23So, Jane, what I'll get you to do is if you give it a spin, it will land on something.
30:29So you have memory lane.
30:31So if you pick up one of the ā oh, it's up there.
30:34And you're going to ask this question to Andrew.
30:36Oh, okay.
30:36And he will give you the answer.
30:37Okay, so what's a memorable moment from our early training days that still sticks with you?
30:44Oh, definitely when I did the wrestling move on you of clotheslining you.
30:52Because there's this little bit where I have to ā once again, I don't know if I'm allowed to say this, but I'm going to say it anyway.
30:58Anyway, we hold out our arms until we're like a team.
31:03We walk together and I grab her shoulder and I literally whacked my arm into her neck.
31:12Horse-filled decapitation.
31:13Yeah, I think it was the same rehearsal as well where I pushed you into a wall.
31:19And so ā and just the resilience that Jane has had to have with dancing with me has been very memorable.
31:32That is a good memory.
31:34Maybe not so much for you.
31:36I still have the scars.
31:37Yeah.
31:38And the bruises.
31:39Yeah.
31:40I think there's a few bruises going on.
31:41Yeah, definitely.
31:42Oh, am I going to do it now?
31:45So you're going to spin a slam.
31:46I've always wanted to go on Wheel of Fortune.
31:49There we go.
31:49Here we have your mini Wheel of Fortune.
31:51Oh, that was more rubbish.
31:53Oh, spotlight.
31:55Is it that one?
31:56Yes.
31:57They don't color coordinate.
32:02What's one quality ā you've got to be really careful about how you answer this as well.
32:06What's one quality in me that you think makes our partnership work so well?
32:12Oh, your infectious personality.
32:16Oh.
32:17Your enjoyment of ā what am I trying to say?
32:26I'm a clown.
32:29That's not how I was going to put it.
32:31That's how you'd like to put it.
32:32That I think just ā we just laugh everything off, don't we?
32:35Yeah, we do, yeah.
32:36And you're just ā yeah, just your easy breezy attitude to it and, yeah, just ā yeah.
32:47Oh, thank you.
32:48That's lovely.
32:50That's very nice.
32:52Yeah.
32:52Yeah.
32:53Thank you both so much for coming in.
32:55Oh, thank you.
32:56If people want to sponsor you, how can they do that?
33:00How can they get in touch?
33:01How do they do that?
33:03You're just giving page?
33:04Yeah, just giving page, Andrew.
33:05Yeah, just giving page, yeah.
33:06Andrew Simpkins.
33:09And Jane Fuller.
33:10Yeah.
33:10So, I'll just give a page.
33:12Yeah, in just a couple of weeks, she gives.
33:14Absolutely.
33:14So, I do have a couple of things still going.
33:19Oh, go for it.
33:19So, I have a ā so, if there's any Chelsea fans out there, I do have a home kit fully
33:27signed by the first team with a certificate of authenticity from the club.
33:34So, if anybody's interested, that is going to go up an auction.
33:37And I also have a lucky squares, a good old lucky squares, where we have a 100-pound malt
33:43room light chair, which I think ā is that not just one whiskey bar?
33:48Yes, it's like award-winning.
33:50Yeah, award-winning.
33:51Best whiskey bar in Scotland in some competitions.
33:53So, and they make amazing cocktails.
33:55So, they are Ā£5 a square if anybody would like to buy one.
33:59Very good.
33:59Just to get a wee plug in there.
34:01Yes, quite right.
34:02Keep the fundraising going for it.
34:04And you are still collecting for your hair?
34:07Yeah.
34:08So, I've got my Ā£2,000.
34:09I did think, like, do I do a save the hair thing for Ā£3,000, but I think that might
34:14be too ambitious.
34:15Yeah, no.
34:17I ā my job is coming to a really hectic time.
34:21So, like, I ā my fundraising is almost at the end.
34:25I'm just gently taking in sponsorship now, but I've got no events left.
34:30I'm done with that, I think.
34:32That's you.
34:34Well, thank you both so much for coming in, and good luck, and I will see ā I won't
34:40see you on Sunday, because I have a tea party.
34:42Oh, yeah.
34:43And you, good luck as well.
34:44Yeah.
34:44Thank you so much.
34:46Thank you for having us.
34:47You're welcome.