Birds of a Feather star Lesley Joseph would need a stiff drink to watch her Strictly Come Dancing shows

BIRDS Of A Feather star Lesley Joseph says she can’t bear to watch her Strictly Come Dancing appearances.

And it would take a stiff drink to make her tune in.

Lesley, 70, is paired with veteran pro Anton Du Beke, 50, and although millions have loved their energetic routines, she won’t be viewing them any time soon.

“I never watch the show back,” says Lesley. “If I ever do I’ll sit with a Scotch in the corner watching through my fingers.

“I watch everyone else but never my section. I’m so self-critical, so all I can see is a step wrong, or that I look fat.

“All those things I think nobody sees, I see, and it’s too late.”

Lesley is in the shape of her life and has seen the pounds drop off, just in time to get back to playing man-mad Dorien in the much-loved sitcom.

“I have lost half a stone already – and there’s not a huge amount left! We are off to film Birds Of A Feather’s Christmas special in Malta this week. So I will be wearing Dorien clothes and I am back to Dorien weight now thanks to Strictly.”

It was Movie Week last night with Lesley and Anton doing a quickstep to A Couple Of Swells from Easter Parade.

If Lesley survives tonight’s dreaded dance-off it will mean Mediterranean training sessions in between filming.

Lesley has been throwing herself into the show so much she says her “thighs are like rock” and she’s “wearing Anton out”.

While she admits she feels “about 35” Lesley concedes that her milestone birthday was a struggle.

“I found turning 70 hard,” she admits. “Lots of people in the business have gone this year and life feels precious.

“I don’t feel old or look old, but I found that hard. But Strictly has stopped me thinking that.

“I probably get it from my mum, who died at 102 in May this year. She was playing tennis until she was 96 and line dancing at 98.

“Her name was Rebecca. She was wonderful. I’m not doing it for her, I’m doing it because it was the right place, right time.”

Lesley, who says former shadow chancellor Ed Balls is “throwing himself into it 100%” and injury-hit Anastacia was “back and looking great”, is finding one part of the judging hard.

She worked with Craig Revel Horwood on the musical Annie and now has to listen to his verdict.

“I covered for him when he was on Strictly,” she adds.

“So it’s weird standing in front of him, waiting to see what he will say. He’s not nicer to me because of that, and I wouldn’t want him to be.”

Strictly Come Dancing: The Results, BBC1, 7.15pm tonight.

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