Gladiators star Jodie Ounsley has revealed she came close to pulling out of the Strictly Come Dancing Christmas special following the sudden death of her beloved father.
A devastating loss just before the show
The 24-year-old athlete, known as Fury on the hit BBC revival series, was deep in training with professional partner Neil Jones when her father, Phil Ounsley, passed away unexpectedly earlier this month. The 56-year-old martial arts expert collapsed while hiking Pen-y-Ghent, one of Yorkshire's Three Peaks, a place he had visited countless times.
Jodie shared the heartbreaking news with her Instagram followers, writing that her dad was her "absolute hero" who encouraged her to dream big. His death left her questioning whether she could continue with the pre-recorded festive special, which airs on BBC One on Christmas Day, December 25th.
The decision to dance in his memory
In an emotional interview, Jodie disclosed that it was only with the encouragement of her mother and the thought of her father's excitement for the show that she decided to go ahead. "I was in two minds of whether to go ahead, but my dad was so excited to come and watch and he supported me in everything," she explained. "I think if my mum had not encouraged me to carry on, I wouldn't have."
She described her father as her constant training partner and her biggest supporter. To cope with her grief, Jodie plans to channel his spirit during her performance. "I do feel like he's kind of not left me. I'm just gonna imagine that he's there watching and I'm gonna dance like he's there," she said.
A high-energy tribute performance
Jodie and Neil will perform a Street Commercial routine to 'Red Christmas' by Kylie Cantrall. The dance promises to be a high-octane tribute, featuring nods to her Gladiators persona. In a powerful move, Jodie plans to lift her professional partner during the routine. "We've got some fun bits in there: I'm going to try and flip Neil!" she revealed.
The Strictly Come Dancing Christmas special marks a significant moment for the show, as it will be the final episode hosted by Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman, who announced their departure in October. The winners will be decided by the studio audience.
This year's line-up competing for the festive Glitterball trophy includes:
- Comedian Babatunde Aléshé and Nancy Xu
- Westlife's Brian McFadden and Michelle Tsiakkas
- All Saints' Melanie Blatt and Kai Widdrington
- EastEnders actor Nicholas Bailey and Luba Mushtuk
- Gogglebox's Scarlett Moffatt and Vito Coppola
- Gladiators' Jodie Ounsley and Neil Jones
Jodie has credited Neil and the wider BBC Strictly team with helping her through this incredibly difficult time, stating they have been instrumental in putting a smile on her face despite her heartbreak.
