Debbie McGee: ‘If Paul was here he’d be giving me Strictly notes’

Debbie Mcgee is certain her late husband Paul Daniels would be giving her notes to help her Strictly Come Dancing routines.
The former magician’s assistant has taken the Strictly judges by storm with her performances on the 2017 series, and she and professional partner Giovanni Pernice will face Alexandra Burke, Gemma Atkinson and Joe McFadden in this weekend’s (16-17Dec17) final.
Debbie lost her husband of 28 years Paul in March 2016, but she knows he would have been proud of her run in the dance competition.
“Paul would always have wanted me to do better than I was doing,” she told The Mirror. “I could imagine, if Paul was alive and watching me every week, he would give me notes. There is no doubt about that – he would find something.
“I feel he is with me. When I walk down that studio floor, there is always a moment I think of him. He had so much confidence. I kind of say, ‘Come on, darling, give me some of your confidence’. And it takes away my nerves.”
Debbie has been one of the surprise stars of this year’s Strictly Come Dancing, but when she hangs up her dancing shoes there won’t be any rest for the 59-year-old – she’ll be straight back to work playing Adorabella Marigold Angelpie in a production of Beauty and the Beast in York.
The panto princess does get one day off though, and can’t wait to spend Christmas with her family in Surrey.
“I’ve only got Christmas Day off. It’s quite normal in panto. I had the same last year,” she said.
“Christmas Day will be with the family in Surrey at some point or other, with my younger sister Donna and her family and my mum and possibly my brother and his family.”