Strictly's Ranvir Singh opens up about her festive plans

Good Morning Britain's Ranvir Singh has been, without any doubt whatsoever, one of the standout stars of this year's Strictly Come Dancing. Thanks to her brilliant moves, humour, and glowing warmth, she instantly became a fan favourite.

Now, she's made it to the semi-final! We spoke to with Ranvir at the start of her Strictly jounry to talk about her Christmas plans and how she's going to celebrate the festive season.

"My Christmas wish? 
To find 
space for my glitter ball in the downstairs loo," she jokes. "Honestly? That we
 can be with our nearest and dearest."

Christmases past have been difficult for Ranvir, as her father died shortly after Christmas when she was very young. But she credits her son with helping her get over that heartbreak.

"Christmas only became something 
I looked forward to after I had my son, Tushaan," she says. "When I was nine, my dad died in the January and I can’t remember ever enjoying Christmas. It was always a tense time of year, and I always wanted to 
hide away and get it over and done 
with. It’s only been in the past eight years that I made myself make Christmas
 really important and special.
"

She describes her son Tushaan's first Christmas as "a really big moment" for her. "As a single parent, you feel that you have to do more, and
you want to make it even more perfect," she says. "Now we get a full-on Christmas tree and put reindeer in the window. We really go for it and we’re doing more and more to the house year after year.

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"My son wants 
a giant Santa on the roof this year. He wants everything. Now that he’s eight, we’re both equally involved in decorating the house and getting it ready – we’re doing it for each other."


In lockdown, Ranvir brought a new family member into the fold in the shape of cockapoo puppy Shmizzels, and he's settling in well. "People are already buying gifts for my dog," she laughs.

"More so for him than for me or my son! We got our cockapoo, Shmizzels, in lockdown, and he’s now nine months old, so it’ll be our first Christmas together. I’m hoping to spoil him. Shmizzels is a food thief. His little
 face is constantly peering over
 tables and trays, waiting for us 
to leave food unattended."

She was delighted that she got to be part of Strictly in 2020: 
"It was a massive thrill to be asked
 to be part of it. Then, when 
I realised I was neither fit nor particularly good at anything
 that’s required, and that I’d put 
on over a stone in lockdown, and 
that I haven’t actually worn anything fancy since March...

"All combined,
 it was nerve-racking. It had dawned
 on me that I had not been preparing
 in 2020 for the biggest moment of
 my life!"

You're doing amazing, sweetie.

Strictly Come Dancing continues on Saturdays and Sundays, BBC One

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