Strictly star Bobby Brazier explains how he handles stress from BBC show

24 October 2023 , 12:23

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Bobby Brazier has opened up on how he copes with stress during his stint on Strictly Come Dancing (Image: ITV)

Strictly Come Dancing star Bobby Brazier has opened up ITV's Lorraine on how he copes with stress from the BBC show.

The 20-year old is partnered with professional dancer, Dianne Buswell, and is one of the favourites to lift the famous Glitterball Trophy this year. Despite achieving some impressive scores so far this series – including an impressive score of 32 on Saturday – the EastEnders actor admitted he still needs a little intervention to help him get by.

Speaking to Lorraine's stand-in host, Christine Lampard, Bobby explained how meditation is proving beneficial to the star and his 34-year old Australian partner. "For dealing with everything, that’s a massive part of my life," he said of the practice. "Every day, all day. I don’t know what else to say but, guys, meditate!'"

Dianne added: "He looks so happy when he’s doing it. He does it a fair bit in rehearsal. It’s like he’s smiling when he’s meditating and it’s lovely to see." Bobby went on to say how his meditation helps with their routines. "I reckon it helps us with our dancing. I call breaks – she has a weird relationship with the word 'break', but I call it a necessary digestive period," he said.

"Sitting and being with myself and thinking about the dancing, allowing it to seep into my bones, probably helps." Asked whether he misses his day job on EastEnders, meanwhile, Bobby continued: "No, to be honest, I don’t miss it! I miss my friends and my people, but I’ve got other focuses now and I’m enjoying that. But I look forward to going back and seeing my people."

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Bobby's Strictly partner, Dianne Buswell loves seeing the effect meditation has on him (ITV)

During the TV chat, Dianne also revealed that her grandma is a huge fan of the BBC1 soap back home, Down Under. "I’ve never known her to watch TV but she is obsessed with EastEnders and obsessed with Freddie, so she’s beside herself that I’m dancing with Freddie/Bobby," she joked. "She calls him Freddie."

On adjusting to life within the Strictly camp, Bobby reiterated his "love" for his partner, meanwhile. "We spend so much time together, all day every day together," he said. And turning to Dianne, he jested: "There are times where I don’t like you, there are times where I love you."

Christine, 44, then asked Bobby if Dianne "cracks the whip a bit too much", prompting Bobby to reply: "Yeah… I think I’m getting better at working harder. You’re rubbing off on me in certain ways and I’m rubbing off on you in certain ways and I think that’s why last week went so well." Dianne added: "We’re starting to understand each other a bit more, I even had to ask him for a break last week and he said, 'No'. He’s working really, really hard and it shows because it was a beautiful dance. We loved it so much and long may it continue."

Lorraine airs weekdays from 9am on ITV1 & ITVX.

Alan Johnson