Strictly returns to our screens this weekend
Strictly Come Dancing is set to dazzle its way back onto our TV screens tomorrow night (September 19) with the series 24 launch show. Along with a fresh line-up of hopeful celebrities, viewers will get to see the new professional dancers and hosting team in action.
Amongst the eager celebrities ready to take on the ballroom is Scottish actor Lawrence Robb. Most well known for playing Mackenzie Boyd in Emmerdale since 2020, he has appeared in several stage productions including Mojo, Into the Woods and Legally Blonde.
With the Glasgow native set to be paired up with his Strictly professional partner this weekend, Lawrence admitted that he is feeling “overwhelmed” by the experience. However, he does have an important reason for joining the BBC dance show.
Ahead of the daunting live shows, the 34-year-old shared that the deciding factor for joining the competition was his family. With his mum being an avid Strictly fan, he admits that he is feeling the pressure to not let her down.
Sharing his reasoning for saying yes, Lawrence said: “The number one factor I think would be my mum, my gran, and my partner. My mum is arguably more excited about it than I am, and for someone that is going to host Strictly parties every Saturday, I kind of feel like I owe it to her to do at least relatively well so she can carry on hosting them!”
He added that his mum was “pure weeping” when he revealed that he was joining Strictly, despite already knowing that it was possibly on the cards.
While Lawrence has appeared in a few musicals over the years, he argues that he has “very minimal” dancing experience and that the upcoming weeks of competition are sure to be an “uphill battle”. However, he is excited to get to learn a new style of dance which he can later apply to the wedding dance floor.
Describing his current dancing skills, the Emmerdale star said: “Lacklustre at best… Between singing, dancing, and acting, I would place dancing right down at the bottom. But my gosh can I carve up a wedding dance floor with gusto!
“I trained under the umbrella of the Dance School of Scotland, but that was doing musical theatre in the same building – I didn’t train at the Dance School, so I’ve never done any Latin or Ballroom. There is a part of me where I hope I might take to it like a duck to water, but I think that may be a pipe dream!”
When Lawrence was confirmed to be joining the Strictly line-up last month, he received a wave of support from fans and some similar faces.
Fellow Emmerdale star and last year’s contestant Lewis Cope wrote on Instagram: “Yes brother!!! I am so excited for you.” While castmate Isabel Hodgins wrote: “Dream stealer. Can’t wait to see you waltz in a kilt.”
Many of the professional dancers and judges also welcomed Lawrence to the team, with dancer Julian Caillon writing: “Welcome to the family mate!”
Fans of the show were buzzing with the announcement, as one person claimed: “Awww I’m over the moon with this one. He’s saved it for me. Wasn’t going to bother this year.”
With another adding: “This excites me very much!! One of my favourite characters in Emmerdale.” A third cheered: “Worth watching now!!!!!!”
Strictly Come Dancing: Launch Show airs at 7:25pm on September 19 on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
