Daniel O’Donnell reveals the secrets of his Strictly Come Dancing adventure

DANIEL O’DONNELL’S Strictly Come Dancing partner has been labelled all sorts from man-eater to marriage-wrecker and, of course, world-class dancer.

Certainly the estranged wife of rugby star Ben Cohen has little flattering to say about Kristina Rihanoff.

Ben and Kristina who were partnered up in the show’s 2013 series are now dating, much to Abby Cohen’s reported fury.

But Daniel, Kristina’s latest celebrity Strictly partner, has something to get off his chest.

He’s passionate about the fact that there’s an awful lot more to Ms Rihanoff than some might imagine.

And before stepping into the Russian’s arms for another gruelling day in the rehearsal room, the Irish singing star is keen to set the record straight with The Sunday Post.

“I find her a very warm, nice person,” says Daniel, 53.

“I really don’t know how it happens that people are perceived in a way that’s maybe been created.

“Perhaps her outward appearance masks a lot of what she felt as a child it was her coping mechanism to give a confident appearance.

“I’m not saying she’s not confident, she is, but she’s also a very approachable, nice person.”

Kristina, 37, is a patron of the Dot Com Children’s Foundation which aims to empower children to make safer choices in life.

And Daniel saw first-hand the dedication she brings to such good causes earlier this month.

“She was hosting their dinner and they made £8,000 on the night,” says Daniel.

“They do such great work giving disadvantaged children a chance.

“I would love people to see that side of her.

“She’s so caring. I think she maybe had difficulties in her own childhood. She told me that on the night when the Soviet Union broke up, it all changed.

“She saw a lot of her friends fall into the wrong path and some of them died very young.

“She was lucky that she had her dancing to focus on. She does such a lot of good work and she’s doing it from the heart.”

Daniel and Kristina (BBC)

There’s an extra personal connection between the dancing duo, with Daniel talking about how Kristina’s mum has been through a cancer battle, something he knows only too well.

Wife Majella, 55, was diagnosed with breast cancer and has confronted it head on, having her hair shaved off live on TV and fighting to save cancer services from cuts.

The illness came as the mum-of-two kids Siobhan and Michael are from a previous marriage also fought depression.

But Daniel says they’re battles she’s winning.

And the arrival of their first grandchild Siobhan and husband Gavin’s daughter Olivia last month has been the perfect fillip.

“Thank God her health is good,” Daniel reveals.

“She’s absolutely delighted about the wee grandchild. Olivia’s lovely and Majella dotes on her.”

As one of the BBC’s flagship shows and with a certain TV talent show rival to stay ahead of in the Saturday night ratings, getting the right celebrity line-up is key.

And the Donegal crooner with a female fan base that’s a perfect match for the Strictly audience has long been a target of the show’s bookers.

But despite being a glitterball devotee, Daniel’s non-stop touring schedule has made it impossible for him to join Strictly until he called a temporary halt to life on the road after Majella’s illness.

“I have been asked a few times to do the show but never could,” confirms Daniel. “But when Majella got ill I decided to take some time off.

“We were sitting at our home in Tenerife when the email came in. I had to read it a few times, to be honest.

“We were supposed to be having a break over there with Siobhan, Gavin and Olivia but Majella just said I could take a break any time. I might never be asked to do Strictly again.”

Daniel was a rock for wife Majella during her cancer battle (Barry McCall)

Having watched avidly gig nights aside on the family sofa back in Kincasslagh, Daniel reckoned he had a good idea of what life in the Strictly bubble might be like.

But, despite selling more than 10 million albums and having played in front of hundreds of thousands of mad-keen fans, the friendly singer is happy to admit he got it wrong.

Frankly, NOTHING is like Strictly.

“It’s been an absolutely amazing experience. I just didn’t appreciate the sheer interest. I’ve never experienced this intensity.

“Even with all I’ve done over the years, this is a different level altogether.

“When I meet people they just light up when they talk about it. It’s been a great experience but a terrifying one because this is so out of my comfort zone.

“When I used to do a wee move on stage I’d joke, ‘Strictly here I come’. Well, here I am.”

Peter Andre is the red-hot favourite this year with younger stars like Helen George, Georgia May Foote, Jay McGuinness and Kirsty Gallacher also up there in the bookies’ odds.

So it’s the likes of Carol Kirkwood, Jeremy Vine and Daniel who are tipped as the first to get the boot.

But he’s not all Irish twinkle there’s a steely side to Daniel too. And he insists he’s keen not just to avoid next weekend’s first vote-off, but go a fair bit further.

“I don’t know that age has anything to do with dance,” he insists. “Certainly the younger ones have more energy, but we oldies are young at heart.

“I would normally see the early shows and then be away in America and be back for the semi-final and final. It would always amaze me that the people who were so tentative at first were terrific by the end.

“I would just love it if I could be one of them, to have lasted to the end and have improved.”

If there’s to be a chance of that, his famously committed fans will have to hit the phone lines and that online free vote in their droves.

And Daniel’s sure his Scottish legions will be in the voting vanguard. His dad, who died of a heart attack at the age of 49 when he was just six, used to work on farms in Scotland and young Daniel regularly travelled across the Irish Sea.

Impressively, he rattles off the relatives he used to visit we’re talking street names here, not just towns and cities in his boyhood days and beyond.

From Glasgow and Edinburgh to Bridge of Earn, Perth and Callander, he was all over.

“I’ve got a lot of relatives,” he laughs.

“Scotland has always been very good to me. And ever since Strictly, I’ve been overwhelmed by the messages of support.”

With that, Daniel stretches off his weary muscles and heads off back to a certain Russian dancer with a routine she wants perfecting. Strictly Come Dancing, BBC1, Saturday.I’m wary of the short dresses.. I’ve got legs like an elephant, says Strictly star Carol Kirkwood – click here to read more