Gene Kelly’s widow has asked to meet Ore Oduba and Joanne Clifton after they performed a take on the late star’s classic ‘Singin’ In The Rain’ on ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ last weekend.
The 29-year-old sports presenter was left flabbergasted after Patricia Ward, who was married to the dancer from 1990 until his death in 1996, reached out to him to praise him on his breathtaking display for the show’s movie-themed week.
Speaking on ‘SCD’s spin-off show ‘It Takes Two’ on Thursday (13.10.16) night, he said: "It’s the closest that you would get to a blessing from Gene Kelly himself and that’s just unfathomable. And she’s said she wants to meet us."
Patricia emailed Ore earlier this week to thank him for paying such a "beautiful" tribute to her late spouse and for putting his own take on such an iconic song and keeping him relevant.
Oduba uploaded a screenshot of the message on his Twitter account on Tuesday (10.10.16), which read: "I thought it was a beautiful tribute to Gene. He never wanted people to imitate his work, he wanted them to take it and create something new. Ore Oduba and Joanne Clifton did this with grace and style. Gene always said that the point of his ‘Singin’ In The Rain’ number was to bring joy. Oduba and Clifton achieved this in their own way. It made me smile knowing that Gene is still very much present and ‘alive’ in the hearts and minds of very talented young people. Thank you for your graciousness and for affirming something else that was important for Gene – that it is okay for guys to dance. I was proud of you and Joanne for continuing Gene Kelly The Legacy. He would have been, too."
Gene Kelly’s widow wants to meet Ore Oduba after Strictly Come Dancing
