30 September 2023 , 16:20
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Channel 4 News reader Krishnan Guru-Murthy swapped his usual plain suit and tie for sparkly orange one last weekend as he took to the Strictly Come Dancing ballroom floor for the first time with his professional partner, Lauren Oakley.
The veteran journalist, who also presents current affairs programme Unreported World, surprised the expert Strictly judges with his energetic first dance, the Cha Cha Cha, who showered the nightly news reader with praise. Head judge Shirley Ballas said: "You have something, you have a gift. Natural co-ordination." Anton Du Beke seemed delighted by the pair's debut dance, commending Krishnan for his groove and enthusiasm, ending his positive comments with: "Great stuff, well done, I loved it!"
Krishnan won praise from the judges (PA)
It was the newsreader's first time on the dance floor (PA)Even Craig Revel Horwood, who is known for being very critical of the stars, had something good to say. He joked: "I’m not going to be able to watch you on the news ever again. I felt like I was at a rave." Overall, Krishnan and Lauren scored a total of 22 out of 40 and came 10th out of 15 pairs on the Week One leader board. But despite his perhaps unexpectedly strong start, Krishnan has admitted that he has already turned down the opportunity to star on the show a number of times and that his wife is was 'happy' that he has finally accepted.
Krishnan married his wife, Lisa Guru-Murthy, in 2005 and the pair now share two children together - a song and a daughter - who they have kept out of the spotlight. However, it seems that not everyone in the family is excited for Krishnan as his son, now 18, made it clear that he was mortified by the prospect of seeing his dad dance on the telly.
Krishnan told fans on the introduction episode of Strictly how his son was was "appalled and embarrassed" by the thought of the newsreader straying from his usual job in front of the camera. He even confessed that his son hadn't shown up to support him in person in the first live show.
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Krishnan and his wife Lisa have been married since 2005. (Getty Images)He told the Sun newspaper: "He’s in a band and playing on the nights of the first two shows, so he wouldn’t be able to watch anyway. But he’s not showing any great enthusiasm to come at the moment." Despite the notorious Strictly curse, Krishnan said that his wife isn't worried in the slightest about her husband succumbing to it. In the same interview, he said: "She’s really relaxed and not at all worried. It’s all nonsense, especially for people at my end of the age spectrum.
"I’m not really across the gossip of 'Strictly' years gone past, but I honestly don’t think the curse is something anyone needs to worry about when it comes to me. I’m very happily married and old enough to be the father of most of the dancers." After 25 years on Channel 4, Krishnan also said he was 'excited to be trying something different.