Strictly favourite Ricky Whittle and gorgeous dance partner Natalie Lowe have hit the rehearsal studio for a marathon 14-hour final practice ahead of Saturday's grand final.
Hunky Ricky, 28, who has been the one to watch during this year's hit BBC1 show, looked relaxed as he arrived at Dolphin Dance Studios in Liverpool yesterday (Thursday).
But the Hollyoaks hearthrob revealed he's had little time to practice ahead of his big night.
Arriving with stunning Natalie at 10am, Ricky said: "It's going to be a long one today, we'll probably be here until well after midnight, then we're being driven straight down to London.
"We've hardly had any chance to practice this week because I've been filming Hollyoaks, so we've got to nail all four routines today.
"Fortunately, they've given me the day off to get some last minute rehearsal in, but it's going to be a slog to get the whole foursome done."
Dressed for the freezing weather and each carrying a huge bag of costumes and the pair giggled together as they rang a doorbell an waited to be let into the studios.
Wearing a fitted leather jacket, skinny jeans and ugg boots, Natalie toted a shopping bag full of shoes from Liverpool's most fashionable WAG boutique, Cricket.
Ricky added: "I'm not even feeling nervous, just really excited. I'm absolutely loving it at the moment - I don't want it to come to an end.
"It's just a pity Ali [Bastian] isn't going to be there this week. I'm gutted she's gone, but all I can do now is focus on Saturday night and give it everything I can."
The pair looked relaxed and high-spirited as they arrived together in Ricky's red Dodge Ram pickup truck, which he has nicknamed "The General".
But the stars, who are expected to be watched by up to 15 million viewers in the Strictly final, had to put their practice on hold after finding the studio locked.
After jokingly pretending to dance outside, the pair retreated to the warmth of Ricky's truck to wait for the caretaker to arrive and let them inside.
Laughing together as they headed into the first floor studio, 28-year-old Natalie joked: "He's got a lot of work to do yet!"
Ricky, who plays Calvin Valentine in the popular Channel 4 soap, has had a rocky road to the Strictly final after he was arrested on suspicion of assault a fortnight ago.
It is alleged that the actor deliberately drove his Dodge Ram truck into photographer Steve Farrell, after leaving a Hollyoaks party at swanky Liverpool night spot Parr Street Studios.
He was bailed by Merseyside Police after a full day of questioning pending further investigation on Friday 4th December, and narrowly escaped elimination from Strictly the following night after a dance-off with Eastender's Natalie Cassidy.
Despite the incident, Ricky is the bookies firm favourite to lift the Strictly crown when he faces BBC Sports presenter Chris Hollins in the BBC1 grand final on Saturday night.
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