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Daniel steels himself for his Strictly lifts

O'Donnell and Rihanoff will take to the floor to Sinatra's Fly Me to the Moon this weekend Photos: BBC
O'Donnell and Rihanoff will take to the floor to Sinatra's Fly Me to the Moon this weekend Photos: BBC

Ahead of his American Smooth on Strictly Come Dancing this Saturday, Daniel O'Donnell has said he is psyching himself up to lift partner Kristina Rihanoff as part of their routine.

Speaking on BBC Two's spin-off show It Takes Two, O'Donnell said he really loved "the Foxtrot part" of the couple's new dance.

Daniel O'Donnell and Kristina Rihanoff

However, he admitted that he was a "bit worried" for Rihanoff.

"There are lifts," he said. "And I'm afraid that come Sunday, she might not be alive! But anyway, I will try to keep her safe."

"It's not about the lift; it's the landing that's the problem," he added laughing.  

Daniel O'Donnell and Kristina Rihanoff

O'Donnell and Rihanoff will take to the floor to Sinatra's Fly Me to the Moon this weekend. 

Saturday's show will feature another eclectic music mix including Jamelia and Irish dancer Tristan MacManus dancing the Charleston to Straight Up by Scott Bradlee's Postmodern Jukebox; Peter Andre and Janette Manrara dancing the Tango to New Order's Blue Monday and Anita Rani and Gleb Savchenko performing the Samba to Shakira's Hips Don't Lie.

Kirsty Gallacher and her partner Brendan Cole, meanwhile, will dance to U2's Beautiful Day.

Saturday's dances and songs:
Ainsley Harriott and Natalie Lowe (Waltz) - Louis Armstrong's What a Wonderful World

Anita Rani and Gleb Savchenko (Samba) - Shakira's Hips Don't Lie

Carol Kirkwood and Pasha Kovalev (Paso) - Trad's Espana Cani

Daniel O'Donnell and Kristina Rihanoff (American Smooth) - Frank Sinatra's Fly Me to the Moon

Georgia May Foote and Giovanni Pernice (Quickstep) - S Club 7's Reach

Helen George and Aljaz Skorjanec (Salsa) - Miami Sound Machine's Doctor Beat

Jamelia and Tristan MacManus (Charleston) - Scott Bradlee's Postmodern Jukebox's Straight Up

Jay McGuiness and Aliona Vilani (Quickstep) - The Who's My Generation

Jeremy Vine and Karen Clifton (Jive) - Bobby Darin's Splish Splash

Katie Derham and Anton Du Beke (Viennese Waltz) - Elvis Presley's If I Can Dream

Kellie Bright and Kevin Clifton (Foxtrot) - Mamas and the Papas' Dream a Little Dream 

Kirsty Gallacher and Brendan Cole (Paso) - U2's Beautiful Day

Peter Andre and Janette Manrara (Tango) - New Order's Blue Monday

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