Melanie Walters gains visible backing from her Gavin and Stacey co-stars as she launches a run on Strictly Come Dancing, paired with professional Aljaz Skorjanec. The 64-year-old, best known for playing Gwen West, performed with Skorjanec during the series launch and said the pairing felt like a "dream come true."
Walters said colleagues from the BBC comedy have sent supportive notes since the announcement, with Joanna Page singled out as "very excited." Asked whether she might bring elements of her Gwen West character into the ballroom, Walters laughed that choreography decisions were "Aljaz's department" and that she had "no idea what’s going to happen on that ballroom."
Taking part in the dance show represents a deliberate step beyond Walters' usual public profile. She described the invitation to join Strictly as "mind-boggling" and admitted the format is "a bit out of my comfort zone," noting she has tended to avoid panel and quiz programmes and prefers to remain private. "So, it's now me, Melanie Walters," she said, explaining why she decided to accept the challenge.
Professionally, Walters frames the series as an opportunity to finally learn to dance properly. She welcomed the prospect of weekly coaching, saying, "Getting weekly masterclasses. You couldn't ask for anything better." The show will put that training on display each week and test how quickly she converts lessons into performances.
Walters established the Gwen West role when Gavin and Stacey debuted in 2007 and returned for a 2024 Christmas special. Her screen credits also include Coronation Street, Beyond Paradise, Being Human, Hollyoaks, Biff And Chip, Doc Martin and two series of the crime mystery Death Valley. Her film work includes Submarine, Resistance, High Tide and Save The Cinema, and she has extensive stage experience in plays such as The Importance Of Being Earnest, Blood Brothers, Twelfth Night, Educating Rita and What's New Pussycat?.
With public endorsement from former castmates and a professional partner in place, Walters moves into a period of intensive rehearsal and weekly broadcasts. Viewers will soon see whether her theatrical experience and the support from colleagues translate into success on Strictly's dance floor.
