Ed Balls thought he looked like a "beer barrel" on the opening night of ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ two weeks ago.
The former politician – who is partnered with professional dancer Katya Jones – is already battling feelings of dread about slipping into skimpy crystal-embellished for the live shows in two weeks’ time because he thinks he’s fat.
He said: "I spent the whole week saying, ‘I’m not wearing any sparkles, I don’t think it’s me’, and then just before the launch dance they said, ‘You are going to have to change your shirt’, and it had sparkles all over it. My shirt made me look more like a beer barrel than a dancer."
The 49-year-old star also admitted that he didn’t realise he would have to wear fake tan until he spoke to last year’s contestant Jeremy Vine.
In a joint interview with the 50-year-old presenter, Ed told Radio Times magazine: "In retrospect the hoops on it were a mistake. Someone on Twitter said the wardrobe department just went, ‘Sod it, darts player.’"
"I also assumed I wasn’t going to wear fake tan, Jeremy, but when you told me you had."
Meanwhile, although he’s not keen on the outfits, Ed hopes he and Katya can stay in the competition until they move to Blackpool for a week to perform in the seaside resort’s iconic Tower Ballroom.
He explained: "We’re aiming for Blackpool. If we get there, we’re going up the Eye and we’ll have some chips."
However, Ed already feels like a winner as he gets to perform for the legend Len Goodman before he quits the programme following 12 years as the head judge.
He said: "I think it’s a massive honour to be on the show for Len’s last year. It will be good to hear his criticism."
Ed Balls: I look like a ‘beer barrel’ on Strictly Come Dancing
