Strictly Come Dancing is a matter of days away, but one of its star-studded cast has been hiding a secret heartache.
Emma Barton has revealed that her beloved nan died just months before she agreed to take part in the show.
The EastEnders actress, 42, has admitted she's devastated that her nan won't get to see her on the dancefloor.
She told the Daily Star Sunday: "I lost my nan at the beginning of the year. She would have loved to see me on Strictly. She loved the show. I just wish she was alive.
"It's the only bit of this experience that I’m upset about. She was really supportive of everything I've done."
Emma, who plays Honey Mitchell on the BBC soap, vowed to do the show for her nan and have as much fun as possible.
She added: "I will 100% be thinking about her when I’m dancing, of course. I will be doing it for her.
"You can see as a viewer how emotional Strictly can be. But I’m going to laugh a lot too. I’m going to make it all about the fun."
Emma has been partnered up with Anton du Beke and has less than a week before the first live show of the series.
When they were put together in last week's launch show the 53-year-old made a rude comment about his former partners .
He was thrilled to finally have a partner under 50.
Anton gushed: "Oh my God, I'm going to be here until Christmas!"
Moments later, the choreographer apologised for "overreacting" before he let slip he had "been through a lot" teaching his previous dancers the moves.
He said: "I just would like to say to all the other ladies, I apologise, I know it seemed a bit overreaction if you've been through what I've been through."
