Ross King shares anecdotes of dancing with some of the biggest stars in Hollywood
He's set to tread the boards on Strictly next month alongside a host of celebrities.
However, entertainment reporter and TV host Ross King is unlikely to be fazed given he’s already got experience of dancing with some of the biggest stars in Hollywood.
Glasgow born King, 63, who now lives in Hollywood, has revealed he’s previously paired up with Catherine Zeta Jones and Goldie Hawn - even revealing the Hawn was aware of the banter from Glasgow’s dancing halls.
Discussing his past exploits, he said: ‘At Catherine Zeta Jones and Michael Douglas’s wedding I danced with Goldie Hawn. That was a big big moment.
‘I danced with Catherine at her wedding as well and Catherine is the most amazing dancer. I don’t know if people know the story that when Catherine was 16 in the musical, 42nd Street, the lead person went on holiday, the second lead hurt her knee, and she was like the third person, and she went on that night and never came off.
‘It really was a Star is Born moment. And so she’s a great hoofer, as they say. So I got to dance a little bit with her at her wedding and I was rubbish, absolutely rubbish. She did puff me out. She was like “Ok, back to Michael”. That was it. Michael’s got more stamina. He certainly does.’
King made his comments as he attended an event to launch new Glasgow wedding venue The Collectors Hall at AC Marriott on Friday.
Good Morning Britain LA reporter Ross King will take part in this year's Strictly Come Dancing
King said he danced with Catherin Zeta Jones during her wedding to Michael Douglas
Discussing his experience of dancing with Hollywood star Hawn, he added: ‘Goldie was so lovely. It was one of those weird ones where you are on the dance floor and you get this tap and I turn round and go “Oh hi. It’s Goldie Hawn.” ‘And you just think of every movie you’ve ever seen like Overboard and all the rest of it. I said “Are ye asking?” and she said “I’m asking” so I said “I’m dancing.”
‘It’s funny that she knew that Glaswegian expression.’
Good Morning Britain and Lorraine’s Los Angeles reporter King caught up with Pussycat Doll star Kimberley Wyatt who DJed at the swish event in Glasgow as well former Strictly star Dr Punam Krishan, Corrie star Helen Flanagan and Love Island’s Molly Marsh and Traitors US star Ekin Su.
He added that it was great to be back on home turf, saying: ‘I am representing Scotland, so I’m with that. So I’m doing it for Scotland, and I’m just going to do my best.
King also said he danced with Goldie Hawn and said she knew her Scots dance hall phrases
‘My mum always said, “Just do your best that’s all you can do”. She always said, “You never know, you give it a go.” So I’m giving it a go.
‘And the simple fact of the matter is that I’m never going to win. I know that, but if I’m like the most improved, that’ll do for me, because I genuinely will do my best, and I feel a lovely pressure from Scotland.’
King is clearly execting a tough work out on Strictly. He was pictured taking a £30 Revlon Pediprep spa with him to the London studios as the show began rehearsals.
It is well known that celebrity contestants on the BBC show suffer bruises and lost toenails as they compete for the glitter ball trophy.
King, 63, was joined at the rehearsals by his new co-stars, including former England rugby captain Chris Robshaw, 39, and La Voix, 45, star of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK and broadcaster Dani Dyer, 29, daughter of ex-EastEnders star Danny.
Former England women’s footballer Karen Carney, 38, and Game of Thrones actor Kristian Nairn, 49, have also been announced to complete the line-up of the new series, which starts next month on BBC One.
