Gavin and Stacey actress Melanie Walters has become the final celebrity announced for this year's Strictly Come Dancing cast. The Swansea-born star, known for her celebrated career across film, radio, television and theatre, has now stepped onto the Strictly ballroom floor with professional partner Aljaž Škorjanec.
The duo earned 15 points for their first routine. They will aim to improve on that during this weekend's Movie Week, performing a Waltz to Edelweiss from The Sound of Music.
Health fears and Pilates journey
The 64-year-old has openly discussed previous health fears that led her to take up Pilates and a strengthening exercise regime. Speaking to Wales Online, she said: "I took up Pilates originally because I had been told it was very good for improving posture. I had started to notice that my back was getting quite curved, a bit like those signs you see for old people."
She added: "I had quite a round tummy and bigger hips - I was like a barrel with thin pipe-cleaner arms and legs - and was living in London and just felt I wanted to do some sort of gentle exercise. I took to it really easily."
Melanie enjoyed Pilates so much that she became a certified trainer at the Pilates Institute in London. She kept the passion alive after returning to Swansea with her family, including son Rowan.
'Shocked and angry' after scam ordeal
Melanie narrowly avoided losing thousands of pounds in a sophisticated email and postal bank scam. She was targeted twice within six weeks by fraudsters who possessed her personal details.
She explained: "When I realised I had been targeted by a scam, I felt shocked and angry - at both them and myself. I felt shocked because it was a long-term attempt."
She continued: "I was contacted twice over a six week period, and the second letter convinced me the first was genuine. I felt unsettled that I had been in their eye-line for that length of time. It made me feel more of a target."
Melanie added: "It felt like they had been sitting there thinking, 'She's not taken the first bite, but she might take the second bite.' They didn't let me go when I didn't respond initially and that me feel targeted and vulnerable."
Why she joined Strictly
Speaking about her decision to join Strictly this year, Melanie said: "I'm primarily doing Strictly for myself and everybody who is over 60."
She added: "For all us women in particular who are in their 60s, who have a chance to seize an opportunity but shy away from taking it - fearing they're too old. We're always learning and growing at whatever age. There's no such thing as being 'past it', things may become different as we get older, but we're no less valid."
Strictly Come Dancing is available to stream on BBC iPlayer.
