Strictly star Nina Wadia says she has already dropped “a couple of dress sizes” thanks to the gruelling training sessions.
The former EastEnders actor, 52, has been put through her paces by professional partner Neil Jones ahead of the live shows starting on Saturday.
Nina added: “It’s ridiculous how quickly the weight just drops off you after a bit of dancing. I think what was offered initially was about six hours [of training per day], but I think I’m probably going to be doing 12 or 13 hours.
“Because it’s going to take me that extra time to get it all done.
“I’m trying to balance so many things... the last thing I want to worry about is the actual dancing.” Nina is “nervous” about her routines, the first of which will be the samba.
She said: “My fear is remembering the choreography. With lines, I’m used to it as an actor. But choreography is a different memory.”
Nina, who played Zainab Masood in EastEnders from 2007 to 2013, says the reality of doing Strictly only sunk in after it was revealed on a talk show.
She said: “When my reveal was done on Lorraine I came off set and I thought, ‘I’m going to throw up’.”
Nina added: “As Indians, we don’t really need the spray tan, but I thought, ‘Just once in my life I have to try it. “I went for a Bombay Glow, and I left it on for too long. I looked like I’d been trekking in the Sahara.”
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