ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½

Parwich's Tom Chambers says the nerves have started to surface as he prepares for his debut performance on ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ One's Strictly Come Dancing.

The 31-year-old Holby City star is one of the favourites to win this year's competition which begins on Saturday.

Speaking to ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Radio Derby's Shane O'Connor, he said: "I was sat on the sofa last week watching the preview show and something just twigged in my head that this was really it - I can't believe how nervous I've been!

Kissing Amanda Mealing on Holby City

"On Holby City it's just me, my fellow cast members and the crew - no audience. The last time I was on stage I did suffer from a bit of stage fright, although that might have been down to the weird role I was playing.

"I'm just hoping to get the steps right and as long as I can follow Camilla's lead, it should be fine."

Meanwhile dad Stuart is looking forward to cheering on his son from the audience.

He said: "Me and my wife Rosemary are very pleased to have been invited to watch his first performance in London tomorrow night.

"We'll be there along with his future mother and father in-law and Patsy Kensit and Amanda Mealing from Holby City so let's hope he doesn't get knocked out!

"I gather he's got the shakes and is actually losing weight at the moment because he's got to combine his full Holby City filming schedule with 30 hours of rehearsing for Strictly Come Dancing."

Len Goodman

But programme judge Len Goodman believes Tom has every reason to be confident going into the programme.

He told ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Radio Derby's Alex Bellfield: "He's only 31 and he looks quite fit but you never know with Strictly Come Dancing - who'd have thought Darren Gough would win it when he came wobbling out in that first episode.

"But Tom's a young guy and has got a great chance - especially with lovely Camilla as his partner. He's certainly got more than chance than John Sergeant!"

You can watch Tom Chambers make his Strictly Come Dancing debut on ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ One at 6.10pm on Saturday, 20th September or through the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ iPlayer.