Tillie Amartey has said she signed up for the Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special to prove that you can “do anything you put your mind to”.
The actress and presenter, 20, will be taking on the jive alongside professional dancer Neil Jones in a bid to be crowned the Christmas champion 2023.
She is among six celebrities who will battle it out on the dancefloor in the festive special, which will air on December 25.
Ahead of the show, she told the PA news agency: “You can’t say no to Strictly for one, but then add Christmas into the mix, it just puts a cherry on top of the cake.
“I also wanted to do it to prove to myself and others that you can do anything you put your mind to with confidence, a great helper and a lot of positive energy.”
She revealed that while the dance competition is a “staple” within her household as her mother is a dancer, she has never danced professionally before.
Jones confirmed this, saying: “A lot of celebs say they’ve never danced before, but I am a witness, trust me, she’s never done this before.”
Despite her lack of experience, he said she has been an “incredible” student.
“We’re doing the jive which has been not easy because it’s so full on,” he added.
“Every time we get to the end of the dance I’m like ‘OK, take a break’ and she’s like ‘No, I’m ready to go again’. And I’m like ‘No, the break’s for me. Tillie you’re 20, I’m 41, I need a breather’.”
For the festive-themed routine, Amartey will wear a gold sparkly mini dress while Jones will don a striped sequin blazer.
The TV star also praised Jones as an “amazing” teacher, adding: “He’s so patient, it’s never a problem if I don’t get something straight away because he will just remix it for me.”
Reflecting on her experience, she said: “It is as magical as it seems, what you see on the telly – add a cherry on top, bit of sprinkles, maybe a sparkler and that’s how it is to be at Strictly.
“It’s amazing, it’s a family, it’s a support unit and it’s fabulous.”
Amartey, who has presented a number of children’s shows and has starred in thriller series Teacher, will join the cast of Waterloo Road next year.
On the Strictly Christmas special, she will go up against BBC Breakfast presenter Sally Nugent, EastEnders actor Jamie Borthwick, professional rugby union player Danny Cipriani, history broadcaster Dan Snow and Sugababes singer Keisha Buchanan.
The six couples will perform a festive-themed routine with the hope of impressing the judges Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, Anton Du Beke and head judge Shirley Ballas as well as the voting studio audience.
One pair will lift the sought-after Christmas trophy.
The Strictly Come Dancing Christmas special will air on BBC One and BBC iPlayer on December 25 from 4.40pm.