Gemma Atkinson forgets her routine if she doesn’t gaze into her professional partner Aljaž Škorjanec’s eyes at the beginning of every dance on ‘Strictly Come Dancing’.
The 33-year-old actress has managed to make it through this weekend’s final on the ballroom and latin show but she’s convinced she wouldn’t have got this far in the competition if they hadn’t started every routine with strong eye contact because she finds herself getting flustered and forgetting the moves if she can’t see the hunk.
Speaking on BBC Radio 2, she said: "We always start off facing each other. If I don’t, I get nervous and I forget the routine. Every dance but one we have been facing each other. If I look just at him, I can pretend it’s just us and I can do it."
Aljaz – who is married to fellow pro Janette Manrara – added: "There was only one dance when we didn’t [begin facing each other] and she forgot the beginning."
The pair have decided to start all three of their routines – including the show dance – in the final in the same way because they are determined to lift the glitterball trophy.
The former ‘Emmerdale’ actress explained: "In the show dance [for the final], we are not facing each other, I’m on my own but he’s in my eyeline."
And, although she’s really nervous for the final, the blonde beauty is determined to make the most of it because it’ll be the last time she dances with Aljaz.
Gemma – who has been romantically linked to fellow professional Gorka Marquez throughout the competition – said: "I’m so grateful that we’re in the final, if someone said 12 weeks ago, I would have laughed. We have grafted so hard in the dances, I love that we are still here. I’m incredibly nervous. The is going to be the last weekend I dance with Aljaz , so I want to make the most of it."
Gemma Atkinson forgets Strictly moves without eye contact
