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INTERVIEW 41

Louie Spence

The holidays are coming and you can’t get camper or glitzier than the one and only Louie Spence. As he gears up for panto season, Around Town

catches up with the dancer to talk Spice Girls, The Jump and being “taken out” by Shane Williams.

I do like the Welsh, I find them very charming,” says Louie Spence with a sly giggle. “The girls are gorgeous too, but the men are pretty handsome.”

Ever the flirt, the TV personality and choreographer extraordinaire made a name for himself in Sky 1’s Pineapple Dance Studios docu-drama in 2010 and since then has used wit, high kicks, jazz hands and that endearing lisp to win over the nation.

Now he’s heading to the Swansea Grand to star in the theatre’s 2015 pantomime, Jack And The Beanstalk.

“I am Spirit of the Beans,” he says. “It’s a fabulously outrageous character, like you wouldn’t believe. He’ll be dancing and sparkling and he’s got twinkly toes which are magic – my toes do seem to have a bit of magic, so that’s quite well suited.”

And, he adds jokingly: “I’ve got a strapping Jack, which is fantastic!”

The outfits will be just as flamboyant as he is, with Spence promising they’ll be glittery, low cut and involve a lot of Lycra. “I can’t wait to get into them, absolutely, it’s the best part of it,” he says, with a soft laugh. “Pantomime is just so heightened, so camp – I think it’s something I was born for. If anyone can do panto, it’s me.”

“I am Spirit of the Beans, it’s

a fabulously outrageous

character, like you wouldn’t believe”

AT RCT Winter 2015.indd 41 09/11/2015 15:17

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42 INTERVIEW

Louie stars in Jack And The Beanstalk at

Swansea Grand Theatre from 11th December to

10th January

More recently he’s been a Dancing On Ice judge, braved the Celebrity Big Brother house (by some travesty he didn’t win) and performed in a touring production of The Producers, alongside comedian Jason Mann.

Panto-wise, he’s just as experienced, having starred in everything from Cinderella to Peter Pan.

Would he make a good baddie if required? “I think I could be evil. I prefer to be fun and nice - having the laughs rather than the boos and the hisses, but you know, if needs be.”

One run-in with a Welshman is

probably enough this year, anyway. In September, Spence took part in a Rugby Aid celebrity charity match, where it was reported he squared up to a certain former rugby union winger.

“I got taken out by Shane Williams!” he yelps.

Have they made up yet? “No, we haven’t actually, and I think he should make it up by coming on stage and putting on a pair of sparkly tights and trying to do what I do – and I’ll take him out this time!”

Spence is no stranger to a little pain for the sake of entertainment though. Earlier this year he tackled Channel 4’s snow sports show, The Jump.

“That was really hard work, but it was absolutely fantastic,” the 46-year-old buzzes. However, he admits at times “it was terrifying”. “When you’re actually lying on a metal tray going down an ice tunnel at over 100km an hour, then you think, ‘Oh dear, why did I sign up for this?’”

One show he hasn’t done yet is I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!

“I’ve got so many phobias, I think just getting to Australia, all that way on the plane, nightmare,” says Spence.

He does love Ant and Dec, though (“They’re so nice”), but of all the people he’s worked with there’s no hesitation when it comes to his favourites.

“Spice Girls,” he says swiftly. “It was such a wonderful job, we travelled the world in style, five-star hotels, private jets, and the girls were absolutely fantastic with us.

“I’m still very close with Emma. We’re in contact all the time, she’s a sweetheart.”

When he snags a rare day off, Spence takes the dogs for a walk, goes to the gym and swims, “ I just to try and keep myself in shape, because most of the stuff I do is really quite physical. I’m not as young as I used to be darling!” he says with a laugh, adding: “Even though I’ve got a little bit of Botox to take a few years off!” <

“If anyone can do

panto, it’s me”

“When you’re actually lying on a metal tray

going down an ice tunnel at over 100km

an hour, then you think, Oh dear, why did I sign

up for this”

AT RCT Winter 2015.indd 42 09/11/2015 15:17