Hello everyone!

Much excitement... it's 'Strictly' time again!

Firstly let's begin with my super new celebrity dance partner for series nine: I'm so delighted to have been paired with the brilliant Rory Bremner!! He made an instant impression on me with his great personality, humour, and real sense of fun… Don't think it's all laughs though — he's competitive and wants to make an impression on the dance floor too.

We're working hard, putting in the hours of rehearsals needed, and due to Rory's prior commitments I have been following him around the country rehearsing at every available opportunity — wherever he goes, I go too! I'm working him very hard, and he's enjoying every minute of it!

I've been asked who I'd most liked to have been paired with, and honestly, I couldn't be happier with Rory (anyway, I'd have eaten McFly's Harry Judd alive!)

In between rehearsals, and my regular dance classes which are carrying on as usual in Kingston on Monday evenings, Rory and I are hectic with photo shoots, interviews and costume fittings. Of course, it's all top secret so no spoilers, but I've got some fabulous new sparkling outfits which I can't wait to wear!

The show bursts onto our screens this coming Friday and Saturday night with the couples spilt between the two. We're kicking off our dances with the Waltz on Saturday (hopefully there won't be too much kicking, just lots of graceful rise and fall!)… I'm not going to give anything away but it's looking good so far. The big question is nerves — I'm hoping he'll be OK and I'm giving him every bit of support, confidence and encouragement I can.

The following week gets us into the Latin vibe, and having seen previous years' satin shirts open to the waist Rory is thinking he may enter into the spirit with both feet and have his chest waxed! (Not sure I should be revealing such intimate details!) I have offered, but think I may have caused enough pain so far!

Of course, there are the stunning Pro dance numbers to look forward too as well, we have been busy in the studio working on some real show-stoppers.

Everything else for now is top secret so I can't say anymore. If you're not already, follow me on twitter so you can get the low-down as it happens, and Rory's on twitter too, so you can get the scoop from both sides! We've been christened Team RoBo so please give us all your support and keep the tweets and messages flooding in as we love to read them!

Lastly before I forget, Anton and I have just released our 2012 Calendar, it is fabulous — entitled 'Day and Night' due to the beautiful shots we've personally chosen to be included. It's exclusively available at antonanderin.com, go on treat yourself or someone special this Christmas!

Enough for now, stay tuned, and… Team RoBo to win!!

Ciao ciao for now,

Love,
Erin
X

Hi everyone!

I have been a little busy the last few months, sorry for not blogging sooner!

I wanted you to know I have been thinking of you all, and that I try my best to keep you updated through my 'tweets'. If you aren't already following me please follow me either through the website or Twitter so I can keep you in step with where I am, what I am up to, and what's new!

Strictly Speaking

As Strictly series 8 is now over I'll keep the round-up brief.  I thought this year was one of the best ever, particularly with changes to the format, a great new set and also allowing us the professionals to be slightly more 'adventurous' with the routines - I thought it was great! And just to remind you, I've added a couple of pictures below.

Even though I was eliminated early (week 4) I had a wonderful time with Peter Shilton and was so pleased to have the opportunity to dance with a true football legend. Thank you Peter!

Christmas Special

I also had the great pleasure of performing on last year's Christmas special with Vince Cable the Business Secretary and Twickenham MP. I had heard about his love of dancing as it has been well publicised: he's been social dancing for many years and he told me that it gives him a great release from his busy lifestyle, and that he thoroughly enjoys it. When a man takes hold of you, you want to feel relaxed and don't want to worry that he'll step on your feet: I needn't have worried on that score with Vince, I was confident in his arms from the start.

I told him, "I do want you to have fun, but I also want you to go out there and be competitive!"

The most important thing for me was that I wanted him to be really proud of his performance. I only had seven, one-hour training sessions to teach Vince the Foxtrot, before taking to the dance floor to impress the judges. Although he was a little nervous at first he quickly found his feet and it was great fun from start to finish... and we finished runners-up in the celebrity 2010 Christmas Special!

On the Road with 'Puttin' On The Ritz'

I am now on the road again and living out of a suitcase – well – not just one suitcase, we actually have to take two cars to carry all of our outfits! Anton and I are currently taking our new show across the UK and Ireland, and so far we've performed in theatres in Northampton, London, Leicester, Liverpool, Sheffield and Stoke on Trent. While you are reading this we will probably be in Belfast or Dublin and approaching the end of the third week of our 8-week tour.

The show is very hard work, and physically and mentally tiring but we both love it. We are joined on stage by four talented dancers, and this year our fabulous singer is Lance Ellington from the Strictly Come Dancing band. Our very large live orchestra plays a range of music by such greats as Leonard Bernstein and Cole Porter - it’s a fast show and we have some breathtaking numbers.

As a special treat this year I have added a little song and dance routine to the ensemble… yes you read it correctly, I am singing! Who would've thought it! It’s not as daunting as one would expect, actually I really enjoy it.

Click the image above to download the full list of tour dates and venues for 'Puttin’ on the Ritz, and if you haven’t already got tickets you can book them at Raymond Gubbay's website.

Monday Dance Classes

I have resumed my dance classes at Kingston Dance Studio every Monday between 7.30 and 10pm. If you've got the dancing bug, or just want to give it a go, come down and join in. We have beginners and intermediate lessons so all abilities are welcome – and everyone is very friendly. Beginners start at 7.30 and improvers at 8.45, no need to bring a partner, just come along and have fun.

Ok, I promise I won't leave it so long next time before updating my blog, but in the mean time don’t forget to follow me on twitter. For now I will leave you with one of my very favourite moments from Strictly 2010.

Lots of love,

Erin X
P.S. Please feel free to add your comments, as I often come on and read them all!

Ok, the time has finally come... this is it... there is no going back now!!! Within hours I am going to find out who my new celebrity partner is for series 8 of Strictly Come Dancing. 

As of last Sunday I met all the celebrities in this year's show, and over the last few days we have all spent many hours in the studio rehearsing for the launch show which we film on Wednesday 8th September 2010. Over this time I have studied all the celebrities very closely and have come to the conclusion that if Pierce Brosnan isn’t available I will have to make do with Brad Pitt... Just kidding, but I promise you there are some wonderful personalities in this year's line-up.

Whilst applying my fake tan today I have noticed many bruises covering my body and have concluded that Flavia is a secret agent working for the enemy and is trying to bump me off... she got me good with an elbow in the arm, I had a dead arm for hours!!!! Someone else has been kicking me in the ankles and trying to disable me and I fear it was Ola or Kristina trying to eliminate me before the competition even starts... I do like a bit of competition but this is playing slightly dirty!!!!

On a more serious note I am hoping for a great partner with lots of personality; hopefully without two left feet so he can perform great moves for everyone to enjoy and vote for.

I promise you I will keep you informed on my progress over the next few days.  So remember... Keeeeeeeeeeep reeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaading!

Love Erin xx

Hello everybody,

Hope you are enjoying my new website; thank you all for your wonderful messages that I have received via the website, twitter and emails - I do read them all, so keep them coming!

I would like to thank Scott & David at Bungalow Industries for all the hard work and long hours they put in to get the site up and running - I think they now know more about me than I do!!!!

Can you believe Strictly is about to start again?!?! Didn’t the year fly by? But I have managed to cram an awful lot of excitement into the last 8 months - I even went to Buckingham Palace and met Princess Anne!!

Strictly started for me 2 weeks ago with all the professionals putting together great show-dance numbers which we know you will all love. It is great to be back with the strictly crew......

I am very excited about meeting my new celebrity partner in a couple of weeks time. Did you know there will be a launch show on 11th September BBC1 full of exciting group numbers and of course us meeting our new partners?

This year I have decided I would really like to dance with Pierce Brosnan not to be confused with Morgan!!!!!!!  If he is not available I will settle for Brad Pitt.... not holding my breath though!!

Ok that’s all for today, I will keep the blogs coming whenever I get a minute spare.

Love,

Erin

Well hello everybody, and welcome to my new website!  I'm very excited to announce its launch and hats off to Bungalow Industries for capturing something very special and compelling for you all to enjoy - a great result as I'm sure you'll agree!

I hope you enjoy getting the scoop in my Up Close and Personal interview, learning more about my career, looking through my photos and reliving some of those fabulous Strictly moments in the YouTube gallery. You can even ask me a question of your own in the Ask Erin section, see the start of my collection of goodies in the Boutique, and don't forget to look through our upcoming tour dates too!

I've got a very busy time ahead over the coming months with the start of Strictly Series 8, and I'm delighted to now have a blog all of my own to keep you up to date with life in Erin's world!!!  Watch this space!

And make sure you sign up to my news and updates using the form on the right, and follow me on Twitter too to keep on track with my updates, whereabouts and backstage buzz!

Hope to see you in an audience soon,
With love, 
Erin
X

PS Please let me know what you think of my new site, you can add comments to this post below - I hope you love it as much as I do!