Cathy: "I signed up to dance without Steve knowing. After doing the marriage course at St George's we decided we needed to spend more time together and this seemed like the perfect opportunity. It's been incredibly funny and it helps that the tutors are lovely.

"It is hard work and good exercise. It's not like going to the gym because it combines exercise with art-form. You are so focused on the steps, you can't think about yourself or your workload whilst you are doing it.

"It's a great opportunity to wear nice clothes and take yourself out of the ordinary, and as I have injured both my feet over the past five years, competing will be the first time I've worn high heels for quite a while."

Steve: "I do a lot of travelling for my work, so when Cathy signed us up to dance I had to rearrange my schedule and several flights to be able to take part. I did some dancing in my early teens, but since then I have consciously avoided it.

"Normally, I wouldn't want to do something unless I thought I could do it well. I've learnt that you have to start somewhere and at least everyone else in the group is having the same problems.

"The best thing is watching Cathy dance. We'll try our best in the competition, but now it is more of a springboard to carrying on afterwards. I think we'll be learning the Tango next."

Pauline: "The television programme influenced us to try dancing. It was something we could do together, and we enjoyed it when we were teenagers. A week later we saw the advert for Strictly Come Dancing and thought it was a golden opportunity."

Keith: "It's been good fun, but there is a lot to think about. We practise at home, and then get to the next lesson to find we have been getting the steps wrong and have to re-learn them. Still, all the people are good fun and the brilliant instructors are very patient.

"We are taking the competition seriously, but are mainly having fun. We'll definitely continue learning more dances and steps afterwards. We're encouraging our friends to give it a go because if we can do it, anyone can."

The competition will kick off at 7.30pm on Wednesday 19th April. As well as voting for your favourite couple, there will be the chance to join in the dancing, or sit back and listen to the jazz music. Tickets for the event cost £5 and are available from St. George's Christian Centre.

Most of the dresses for this event have been kindly supplied by The Dressing Room, Walton-on-the-Hill.

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