Debbie McGee's Strictly diary: ‘The Argentine tango gave me tingles down my spine’

Our columnist on her Twitter-trending mum and what’s in store for the quarter-finals

It’s Musicals Week this weekend and I couldn’t be more excited! We’re dancing an American Smooth to Memory from Cats.  I wasn’t sure about the song when Giovanni first suggested it, so I went home and listened to the Barbra Streisand version. You can’t help but feel the emotion – it’s so lyrical and I just know that I’m really going to enjoy performing to it. 

After 10 weeks of Strictly, I’m relishing the challenge of mastering these dances. Every week, I feed off the audience and I had tingles down my spine from the moment that I walked onto the dance floor last Saturday. I can’t explain what it is, but something wakes up inside me.

The Argentine Tango has now pipped the Paso Doble as my favourite dance, and so I was thrilled to be able to do both last week. Although, after being in the bottom two in Blackpool, it made waiting for the results much tougher. Seeing Alexandra [Burke] in the same position just shows that everyone can have a routine that doesn’t appeal to the voters. We’re at the quarter-final stage now and it’s a huge achievement for the six of us that are still left in the competition. 

It doesn’t look it, but this week’s routine is the toughest that I’ve had  to do. We’re performing a Viennese Waltz-style American Smooth and there’s a lot of balance and control involved. Being a bit of a showdance, we’ve got a big lift in our routine. Giovanni started teaching me the dance on Monday and we tried to add a second lift, but it was hurting my back a bit too much so we’ve changed it for something else. I’ve definitely added a few more bruises to the collection! 

I’d have to say that my favourite musical is Singin’ in the Rain. I love Debbie Reynolds – I’ve seen her three times in various shows. In the Nineties, Paul and I went to Las Vegas and saw her on stage with Donald O’Connor. I couldn’t sleep that night because I was on such a high. 

Cats is also quite special to me, however. When it first opened in the West End in the Eighties, Paul and I were performing in It’s Magic! at the Prince of Wales Theatre just down the road. One day, Paul received a phone call asking if he could help choreographer Gillian Lynne with something for Wayne’s Sleep’s character. They were struggling with how his dance led into the tricks section of the routine. You’d only understand it if you knew how magic worked, so they were thrilled that he could lend a hand.

When I was a young girl I would sit and watch the old Hollywood films with my mum and, apparently, I would try to copy all the dance steps. My parents would often play music and dance around the living room. They really taught me not to give up doing things just because you’ve reached a certain age.

Some weekends my mum, who’s in her eighties, comes to watch Strictly in the studio audience. Last weekend she was briefly on TV and Zo? Ball said that she was even trending on Twitter! Every night mum texts me to say goodnight.  The other day she signed off: “With love from your famous mummy!” What’s so lovely is that she’s enjoying this whole experience with me. 

Strictly Come Dancing is on BBC One on Saturday at 7.05pm. Debbie McGee was talking to Rachel Ward