Toyah Willcox Reveals Strictly Partner Choice and Advocacy for Smart Meter Tech

Toyah Willcox, the iconic 66-year-old singer-songwriter, opened up about her experience on Strictly Come Dancing, revealing she declined two professional dance partners due to their significant age differences. In a candid interview, Toyah Willcox shared that she prioritized age-appropriate pairing, emphasizing her discomfort with performing intimate routines with much younger partners.

Partner Selection on Strictly

Toyah was initially offered partnerships with Italian dancer Vito Coppola, 32, and Ukrainian dancer Nikita Kuzmin, 26. However, she turned down both offers, citing their age gaps of 34 and 40 years, respectively.

“I told them I did not want to dance with someone when there was a 40-year age discrepancy,” she explained. “I would have hated to do an intimate dance with someone that young. I said I really want to be age-appropriate and dance with someone who is right for my physicality.”

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Toyah Willcox eventually partnered with Neil Jones, 42, whose experience and shared mindset aligned well with her preferences. Although their journey ended in the second week, Toyah expressed pride in their performance and her decision.

Strictly star Toyah Willcox, 66, reveals she rejected TWO pro dance partners due to their 'inappropriate age' before signing up saying, 'I didn't want a young person's head near my crotch' https://t.co/bhqc2pTbbT pic.twitter.com/K0RmEaepCT

— Daily Mail Online (@MailOnline) December 10, 2024

Advocating for Her Generation

Beyond the glitter of the competition, Toyah’s primary goal was to inspire her generation to stay active and embrace fitness through dance. She dedicated herself to rigorous seven-hour training sessions, which not only improved her stamina but also transformed her body to the fitness level she enjoyed at 23.

“By the time I got voted out, my body had gone back to the same shape it was when I was 23,” she said, adding that her disciplined diet and dedication helped her achieve this remarkable transformation.

Toyah’s Thoughts on the Competition

Reflecting on her experience, Toyah recognized that Strictly

is as much about entertainment as it is about individual performance. Despite her early exit, she valued the opportunity to inspire others and cherished the camaraderie on the show.

“It is not about the celebrities. The show is about the world of Strictly,” she noted.

Promoting Technology for Her Generation

Since leaving the show, Toyah Willcox has been actively promoting Smart Energy GB to encourage older adults to embrace technology like smart meters. She highlighted the importance of addressing technology-related fears among her age group, emphasizing the simplicity and practicality of modern innovations.

Toyah’s Strictly journey and subsequent advocacy work underscore her commitment to inspiring and empowering her generation, whether through dance or technology.

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