Debbie McGee is backing Faye Tozer and Giovanni Pernice to win this year's 'Strictly Come Dancing'.
Debbie McGee at the National Reality TV Awards
The 59-year-old star appeared in last year's series of the BBC One Latin and ballroom show, dancing alongside Giovanni, and the former magician's assistant says she "has to root" for her ex-pro partner and thinks he and the 42-year-old Steps star "stand a really good chance" of success.
Speaking at the National Reality TV Awards on Tuesday night (25.09.18) at London's Porchester Hall, she exclusively told BANG Showbiz: "When you've been on 'Strictly' after that you have to root for your partner, so I have to root for Giovanni and Faye, and I think Faye's really good.
"I think they stand a really good chance."
The new series of the dancing show kicked off last weekend, and Debbie "couldn't believe" the high quality of the contestants.
She said: "I think it was a really, really high standard for the first show I couldn't believe it I don't know where they're going to go from here they're all so good."
The former ballet dancer also offered up her top advice for celebrities trying their hand at dancing for the 16th edition of the show.
She said: "Get yourself fit before you start go on the treadmill, or run get your cardio up, do stretching exercises, get yourself to the gym get yourself some strength."
While Debbie has emphasised the importance of strength training before the show, she admits contestants build on their fitness throughout.
She said: "By about week five I was so much more toned up than I was when I started."