Strictly’s Bill Bailey feared he’d be ‘joke act’ – but is now favourite to win

When Bill Bailey was named as a contestant on this year’s Strictly Come Dancing, bookies made him their 50-1 outsider to win the glitterball trophy.

But fast forward a couple of months and the comic, 55, is now the 11-10 favourite, ahead of his younger and more nimble ballroom rivals.

So did he always suspect he’d be a natural on the dance floor?

“Not at all,” he laughs. “I fully expected not to be able to do it. I had the full range of outcomes I’d prepared for, from being the joke act that goes out first, to actually even worse, just falling over in the middle of the routine, lurching, knocking one of the judges off their chair, setting fire to the studio, kicking a camera over, seeing the set burst into flames.”

Instead, he has wowed with his dedication, musicality and focus, which have led to a string of brilliant performances.

Much of the credit must go to his professional partner Oti Mabuse, who is the reigning champion of the BBC1 show after triumphing last year with Emmerdale actor Kelvin Fletcher.

Her brilliant routines have played to Bill’s strengths, and he says they had a lightbulb moment during the quickstep in week two when they both realised he could handle more complicated steps with ease.

“From then on, the routines got better,” he says cheerfully. “And I got a bit more confident and here we are.”

Viewers have fallen in love with the way the dad-of-one throws himself into every routine like his life depends on it, especially his memorable Couple’s Choice performance to Rapper’s Delight.

Choreographed beautifully by Oti, it involved lots of props and even earned him praise from global superstar Janet Jackson. Not bad for a slightly overweight, middle-aged man who had one dance lesson at the age of 12 and decided that it wasn’t for him.

“My Dad says he has a hazy memory of my mum saying, ‘Oh, it’d be nice if that boy could learn a bit of dancing’,” he says. “I think I had one lesson, possibly two.

“I think my Mum was quite disappointed that I didn’t want to carry on, but I was 12 or 13 and I was just a bit gangly and awkward.”

Born and raised in Bath, Somerset, lifelong Labour supporter Bill has successfully toured as a stand-up comic for years.

He always showcases his musical talents and plays many different instruments.

Bill also has an army of TV fans thanks to Channel 4’s Black Books and his long stint as a team captain on BBC2’s Never Mind the Buzzcocks.

Part of his appeal on Strictly is that he likes to bring his personality to the performances. For example, tonight viewers will see the show’s first ever routine performed to heavy metal.

“I don’t think Oti’s ever listened to Metallica so this was a bit of a revelation,” he chuckles. “Enter Sandman has such power to it and such drama. It’s perfect to tango to.”

He modestly credits the long days of training with Oti – rather than his natural ability – for getting him to the semis without once being in the dreaded dance off.

“She’s quite strict in terms of planning the day and the routine, and I like that. I think that’s one reason why we get on very well, because we have a similar work ethic,” he muses. “It’s a great friendship we have now.”

He says getting on is incredibly important. “You are in a very intense work relationship where you sometimes train for 12 hours or more.”

The endless days of dancing have meant that Bill is fitter – and slimmer – than he’s been in years, possibly decades. He’s shed more than a stone and he’s not done yet.

“I feel very good,” he declares. “It’s a very good form of exercise, because half the time you don’t realise you’re doing it.

“You’re just dancing, you’re having fun, you’re whirling around the dance floor.”

The downside is the inevitable aches and pains that are brought on. Sometimes, when he gets home to his wife Kristin and 16-year-old son Dax, in Hammersmith, West London, he’s in agony.

“I tend to put some ice in a bucket and put my feet in,” he says.

None of this has put him off wanting to keep it up after the show, and he plans to get Kristin dancing around the kitchen this Christmas.

“It would be absolutely lovely, yeah,” he says. “I don’t know how it will go, but I think she’s keen. Whatever I’ve picked up, I’ll try to pass on.”

With a handful of socially distanced shows planned over Christmas, Bill reckons it won’t be long before dance gets into his stand up. But first, there’s the small matter of the Strictly.

All the celebs are learning two dances, making it twice as hard. As well as his tango, Bill will be dancing a cheery Charleston tonight.

He’s admits he’s finding it “pretty cool” to still be in the competition alongside Maisie Smith, 19, and Hrvy Cantwell, 21, but hopes he can do enough to get through to the final.

Wisely, Oti is telling him to focus on the job in hand. But he’s only human. “Reaching the final, who knows,” he reasons. “It would be wonderful just to get to get that last push.”

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