Strictly Come Dancing champion Bill Bailey has shared the unsympathetic response he received from professional partner Oti Mabuse when he complained about the pain from his dance shoes. The comedian and musician, who became the show's oldest winner at 55 in 2020, revealed Oti's blunt two-word retort.
Blisters and a Brutal Reply
Speaking on fellow Strictly star Matt Baker's Petcast, Bill described the discomfort of wearing tight ballroom shoes for the first time. 'I'd never worn these tight dance shoes before. And in them, ballroom shoes, there's no sole to them. There's nothing between your foot and the floor, you know, it's like you're wearing a glove,' he said.
'My feet were really in a bad way,' Bill added, explaining that he developed severe blisters. However, Oti showed little sympathy. 'I'd say to Oti, “Oh look,” and she goes, “Come on.” And I go, “Yeah, but I got a blister,” and she'd just deadpan me, like, “So what?” And I’d go, “Yeah, fair enough … I won't complain ever again.”'
Strictly Triumph Despite Pain
Despite his suffering, Bill and Oti delivered outstanding performances in the final of the coronavirus-hit 18th series. Their routines included a Quickstep based on Doctor Dolittle and a Streetdance inspired by the 1979 hit 'Rapper's Delight'. They scored 88 out of 90 points across three dances, tying with HRVY and Maisie Smith at the top of the leaderboard before winning the public vote.
The win also marked a historic achievement for Oti Mabuse, making her the first Strictly professional to retain the Glitterball trophy after her previous victory with Kelvin Fletcher in 2019. Bill lost a stone and a half during the intense training.
Royal and Celebrity Recognition
The final also featured a video message from Queen Camilla, who praised the show for helping to 'cheer the nation' during the pandemic. Additional messages came from Paul McCartney, Idris Elba, Elizabeth Hurley, Joanna Page, and two members of Queen.
