23 December 2023 , 21:42
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Waterloo Road’s Tillie Amartey could be top of the class on Strictly, thanks to the support of her ex, Bobby Brazier.
The actress, who will make her dance floor debut in tomorrow’s Christmas special, says Bobby – a runner-up in this year’s series – has been sending her “cute” words of encouragement. And Tillie, 20, who affectionately calls the EastEnders star “my Bob”, said he has given her his backing.
She revealed: “In his cute little Essex accent, he just said, ‘Smash it, Til… you’ll do amazing, babe’. Tillie, who split from 20-year-old Bobby last March after meeting him through modelling agency Unsigned, said: “Obviously Bob, my Bob, he’s done so well. He’s like me – if he wants to do something, he’ll work really hard at it.
“The process to get there… I’ve just done a small process and I’m actually in shock. It’s so much more than dancing.” Tillie was scouted to take part in Strictly’s festive special after she emerged as the BBC’s breakout star earlier this year.
She will go up against Danny Cipriani, Keisha Buchanan, Dan Snow, Sally Nugent and Jamie Borthwick in a bid to impress the judges and the voting studio audience to be crowned the Christmas champion. Tillie, who will be performing a jive with strictly pro Neil Jones, said: “I haven’t got any dance experience… Neil’s the most patient man I’ve ever met! When you take on Strictly, it’s a tsunami of sparkle. You can’t swim against it, you’ve got to ride the wave.”
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Bobby Brazier was a runner up in the latest series of Strictly Come Dancing (PA)Tillie, who plays Stacey ‘Stace’ Neville in Waterloo Road, is the third star from the school-based drama to grace a Strictly line-up within the past two years. She follows in the footsteps of co-stars Adam Thomas, 35, and Kym Marsh, 47. And Tillie said the show’s Manchester set now even has a purpose-built rehearsal studio for its budding dance stars.
“It’s got mirrors in it and everything,” she revealed. “When I got Strictly, I had a bit of a crossover with Adam – he gave me a hug and Kym said, ‘Give Graz (Graziano Di Prima) a hug
from me’.”
Tillie, who made her acting debut on CITV at the age of seven, has also appeared in David Walliams ’ Ratburger and starred alongside Sheridan Smith in The Teacher. Branding the actress “phenomenal”, Tillie says Sheridan has given her lots of excellent tips.
“She always offers me great advice. I just love her style,” she said. “She’s so natural and always taught me to not over-ham it. I’ve definitely carried that on to Waterloo Road, where I have room to develop a character.” Tillie, from Leeds, has grown up surrounded by strong women. She was raised by her single mum Charlotte, whose best pal is Spice Girl Mel B.
Tillie recalls how “Auntie Mel” would often pop round when she was a child and she has been to visit the pop star in Los Angeles. Mel also gave her some good advice to survive the cutthroat entertainment industry: to never doubt yourself, no matter what.
Tillie Amartey will be performing a jive with strictly pro Neil Jones (BBC/Guy Levy)Tillie said: “She says, ‘Once it’s out there, don’t delete it’, and ‘Anything you do, stand by it’. When you’re releasing something into the world, you can overthink it – like, if you post a picture and don’t like your outfit, don’t delete it. You’ve put it out there. It’s not having self-doubt.
“She might have taught me a little two-step in a Spice suit, too – but I literally can’t dance.” Tillie, who also models, is keen to use her platform to champion positivity and became an ambassador for The Diana Award’s Anti-Bullying campaign in 2023.
She said: “My generation is fighting for what they define as happiness – we’re exposed to a lot of things that can make us be unkind to ourselves. I’d be absolutely lying if I said I hadn’t suffered low confidence at any point of my life, but I’ve got a great support system.
“Even if I do find myself on a bit of a negative dwindle, I tend to pick myself up and dust myself off and do what I need to do. I have a positive attitude… life is so much more than how you look.”