Jason Bell says secret weapon to win Strictly is Girls Aloud ex Nadine Coyle
EXCLUSIVE: The former American football pro, 42, split with the Irish singer in November but that hasn’t stopped her using her popstar experience to help put him through his paces
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Strictly star Jason Bell has two secret weapons to keep him going like the clappers on the dancefloor: his Girls Aloud ex and British roast dinners.
The former American football pro, 42, split with Irish singer Nadine Coyle, 35, in November.
But the pair, who have a six-year-old daughter, are still the best of friends – and Nadine has drawn on her pop star experience to put Jason through his paces.
He said: “Nadine will be coming to see me on the show with our daughter, Anaiya.
“She has been giving me lots of advice about how to prepare myself to learn routines.
“She has been doing it her whole life so she has really good golden nuggets on what to do.
“I can’t give the advice away, but it’s directed towards me because she knows me better than anybody.”
Californian Jason also credits Britain’s traditional Sunday roasts for giving him the energy to compete. He said: “I love the culture in England. I feel privileged to be here. I love the history here and I love how sporty the nation is.
“I also love your roast dinners. There is nothing better than a Sunday roast. That’s what I’m surviving on right now. You’ve got to get your calories up.”
Jason, a favourite to win the BBC One dance contest, has been paired with Luba Mushtuk, 30.
But he insists they won’t be hit by the curse of Strictly, which has seen many dance couples hook up away from the dancefloor.
He said: “Luba and I are the perfect fit. She is a brilliant teacher. She is so patient.
“Even when I’m really hard on myself, she keeps reminding me to relax and that she’s got my back. We got straight to the business of dance. We haven’t spoken about the curse. We don’t need to.
“I’m trying to focus on getting better at dancing and immersing myself in Strictly.”
And that includes wearing all those Strictly sequins.
Jason said: “I have trust in those that make the costumes. Let them put me in whatever they want.”
But he doesn’t consider himself a sex symbol. He said: “I never think about that stuff. I don’t feel sexy, I never have and never will.
“But what I do feel is energetic. I feel fun and I feel happy.”
Jason was a cornerback for the Dallas Cowboys, Houston Texans and New York Giants but retired in 2008 following back surgery.
He said: “When I retired from sports, I had a plan but it was tough. Imagine if someone said you couldn’t do what you do for a living and you could never do it in that capacity. How would you feel? It’s hard.”
But Strictly has propelled Jason back into his athletic routine, and he is determined to do his best for little Anaiya.
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