Strictlys Eddie Kadi on special connection and kisses with Shirley Ballas – Shes a 10 in my eyes

Strictly Come Dancing is famous for conjuring strong bonds between the professional dancers and their celebrity partners – but in Eddie Kadi’s case, it’s head judge Shirley Ballas who has captured his heart. The comic, 40, who is partnered with Karen Hauer, blew Shirley a kiss during show one and was thrilled to get one back. In show two, Shirley praised Eddie’s “thrust”. Now he says they have a “connection”.

Sadly, Eddie’s flirtation with Shirley isn’t translating into high scores.

“Everyone saw me blow that kiss to Shirley,” says Eddie. “Not because she’s the head judge but because we connect. I’m a 10 in her eyes, she’s a 10 in mine but politically she had to give me a six!”

Eddie has come in for some heavy criticism from the judges, but he’s taken it all on the chin and is trying to become the
best dancer he can – while bringing joy to the programme.

“I want them to understand where I’m coming from and the person I am,” says Eddie. “All I want to leave is a legacy of joy.”

Eddie’s certainly bringing joy to his dance partner Karen, and the pair laugh a lot during their training sessions.

“He has this amazing energy,” says Karen. “We literally have laughed so much. I’ve cried! Not because he’s doing the wrong stuff, but because he’s actually making me laugh.”

The pair might be having fun but they are training hard – especially early in the week when they have new steps to learn. “Mondays, Tuesdays are really nasty days,” explains Karen. “Wednesdays we have clouds till about 12 and then after 12 we have clear skies. It’s great, he’s doing really well.”

But it’s not just dancing that Karen’s teaching Eddie – she also puts him through a strength session every morning to help him build the muscles needed for his dance moves.

“She makes me work my glutes, that’s my buttocks!” exclaims Eddie. “I have a six-pack on my bottom right now that I’m really proud of. I’m sore! If I’m not sore, Karen’s not happy.”

It might be tough, but Karen insists that dancers need to be strong to hold the correct posture – something the judges have regularly pulled Eddie up on.

“We do a 30-minute workout,” explains Karen, 41. “Right now I am doing core but we do legs and posture, too. We focus on different things every day to make him strong. People think dancing gets you fit, which it does with stamina and cardio, but it’s important that your muscles are strong so you can hold the frame and create line.”

Karen’s Strictly workout involves many exercises and she’s even thinking of installing a bar in the studio where they’re training to make Eddie do pull-ups. “I need him to be strong from the inside out,” she says, mercilessly. “We do press-ups, rows, running, lunges… Everything you can think of to strengthen those muscles.”

The training is intense but Eddie is already feeling the benefits. “I feel fantastic,” he says. “I feel different. I feel more energy. There is a difference in the way I’m walking. This morning I felt my triceps. They said, ‘Hello, we’re here for you!’ And my traps [trapezius muscle] on my back, because I’ve been working on my posture, my traps are so strong!”

While Karen is eager to bring out Eddie’s potential on the dance floor, Eddie wants to return the favour and nurture Karen’s talent for comedy, as they both share a childish sense of humour.

“Karen is hilarious,” says Eddie. “We have similar personalities. Sometimes she is more immature than me.”

With her easy smile and natural sense of timing, Eddie reckons Karen will end up being funnier than him if she decides to channel her
energy into comedy.

“After this experience I need her to do a three-minute stand-up set. If I make her support act, I will last one day and she will be the headline act!”

Right now though, Eddie is focusing on Strictly. While he wants to impress judges Motsi Mabuse, Craig Revel Horwood and Anton Du Beke – as well as his favourite Shirley – he’s most keen to make Karen proud.

“I want to improve,” he says. “And the one person I want to make proud, is Karen. She’s the one who puts in effort emotionally
and mentally.”

For Movie Week, the pair danced to Men In Black from the movie of the same name. Eddie was nervous but he reveals how Karen’s secret ritual helped relax him before the dance.

“Me and Karen have a little ritual where we take two deep breaths in, then breathe out,” shares Eddie, “then she always says the same thing, ‘It’s only a dance, what’s the worst that can happen?’”

Strictly Come Dancing, Saturday, 6.30pm, and Sunday, 7.15pm, BBC One

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