A Familiar Face Steps Out of the Interview Chair
Most mornings, British viewers wake up to Ross King chatting with movie stars from a sunny Los Angeles studio. The Glasgow-born reporter has become a cheerful fixture on breakfast television for years now. But this Christmas season everything flips upside down. Suddenly Ross is the one under the glitter ball, swapping red-carpet questions for sequins, spray tans and ten-hour training days.
He laughs when he thinks about it. “I’ve interviewed every A-lister you can name, yet nothing has made my stomach flip like the first day in the Strictly rehearsal room.”
Why Does a Scottish Lad Want The Slosh on Prime-Time BBC One?
Simple answer: pride.
Ross still calls Glasgow home, even after decades in California. He wants the millions watching on Saturday nights to feel a little taste of Scotland. “Picture this,” he says, eyes lighting up. “Week four, maybe a Charleston, and right in the middle we break into eight bars of The Slosh. The crowd would go wild.”
Is it allowed? The producers haven’t said no yet. Ross has also asked for the Gay Gordons and a full-on ceilidh section – something Strictly has never tried in 22 series and more than 300 celebrity contestants. Could 2025 be the year?
He’s already handed over a playlist packed with home-grown talent: The Proclaimers’ “I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles)”, Lewis Capaldi, Paulo Nutini, Wet Wet Wet classics and Simple Minds anthems. “Give me any of those and I’ll be grinning from ear to ear.”
How Big Is Strictly When You’re Actually Inside It?
Ross flew in from LA a few weeks ago and finally understood.
“I knew it was popular, but I didn’t know it was Beatles-level popular,” he admits. More than ten million people tuned in for last year’s final. The Strictly tour sells out arenas bigger than most concert tours. Over twenty countries have their own version. When Ross walked into the BBC studios for costume fittings, even the security guards wanted selfies.
“It’s a juggernaut. And I’m the tiny Scottish car clinging to the back.”
Will He Be Any Good? He’s Not Pretending He’ll Win
Let’s be honest – nobody expects Ross King to lift the glitterball trophy. Bookmakers already have him at 66/1 for a reason. But that’s not the point.
“I’m under no illusions,” he says with a chuckle. “Craig Revel Horwood will probably mark me a three and tell me my posture looks like a question mark. I’ll just smile and say ‘yes, Craig’.”
What he does hope? To be the most improved celebrity of the series. “I want the judges to go, ‘Well, he started rough, but look at him now!’ That would feel like winning to me.”
Learning from the Best – and Remembering Mum’s Advice
Day one on Strictly is famous: every celebrity gets paired with all the professional dancers for a taster session. Ross still sounds starstruck talking about it.
“These people are world champions. Multiple times. And they’re patient, funny, kind teachers. I’ve done a bit of musical theatre and panto in my time, but I was always the one standing still while proper dancers spun round me. Now the spotlight’s on my two left feet.”
He keeps hearing his late mum’s voice in his head: “You’ll never know until you give it a go, son. Just do your best – that’s all anyone can ask.”
Getting Tips from Scottish Strictly Alumni
Ross has been texting Lorraine Kelly daily – she’s like an excited big sister. Former winners and runners-up Joe McFadden and Ranvir Singh have also passed on advice.
The message is always the same: soak it up. “They all say the weeks fly past and then it’s over, so enjoy every sore muscle and every bit of fake tan in your ears.”
Food, Banter and Coming Home
Back in Glasgow for training blocks, Ross wastes no time. First stop: a proper Lorne sausage roll with brown sauce. Then haggis, neeps and tatties. Maybe a fish supper if he’s feeling naughty.
“I live clean in LA – salad, gym, repeat. Here I’m making up for lost time. Thankfully the dancing burns about 500 calories an hour, so I can have my square sausage and eat it too.”
He misses the Glasgow banter most of all. At the airport someone shouted, “Oi, Ross King, you’re shorter in real life – no offence, pal!” He loved it.
What Happens After the Music Stops?
Win or lose (probably lose), Ross wants to take one big thing away: better posture and the memory of dancing with the finest pros in the world.
“My mum and dad aren’t here to see it, but I know they’d be proud I finally stood up straight. And if I can bring a wee bit of Scotland to Saturday-night telly for twelve million people? That’s worth every blister.”
The sparkle, the sweat and the inevitable low scores – he’s ready for all of it.
