Interview with Saffron Barker for The Real Dirty Dancing

17 February 2022

Interview with Saffron Barker for The Real Dirty Dancing

Articles using this interview must credit The Real Dirty Dancing starts Monday 21st February at 9pm on E4 and All 4

 

What made you sign up to the Real Dirty Dancing?

For me it was after my experience on Strictly, I fell in love with dancing. So, any opportunity to dance again, I wanted to take that opportunity. I am such a big fan of the movie Dirty Dancing that I just had to do it. When I first got the email I just screamed because it's two of my favourite things, dancing and one of my favourite movies. It's also a movie I grew up watching with my parents and family.

What is it about the movie that you love so much?

I think, for me, it's probably Baby and Johnny's relationship. It's just how shy and innocent she is and how she comes out of her shell. I love that side of Baby and I just love the whole romance and dancing!

Who did you fancy more, Johnny or Robbie?

Johnny, 100%! Anyone that says Robbie, they're lying! Oh my goodness, Patrick Swayze is so beautiful.

Have you got a favourite scene from the movie that always sticks in your mind?

It’s the lover boy scene, you know when they're on the floor and she's like, "Come here, lover boy." I love it because it's the first proper sexy scene where Baby comes out of her shell and is a confident woman. I love it.

On day one you were all challenged to show off your dirty dancing skills, what was that like?

Well, I will probably cringe watching myself back because you will see how awkward I felt. Honestly, I don't think I've ever, ever looked so awkward in my whole life! But, do you know what? Honestly, when I came out of that show, I probably felt the most confident I've ever felt, because of being in situations like that. I never, ever would have put myself in that situation. And I’m thankful that day one they were like, "Right, you're doing this," because it kind of got it out the way.

Was it liberating in a way?

Yeah, it was. But, in the moment I was thinking, "Please, please can I just stop!”

You have to take on some of the iconic dances, how did you get into character?

I watched the movie loads before I went to really try and get into the character. I've always just loved performing as well. So, because you're not playing yourself, you're playing Baby, I found it a bit easier because I was like, "You know what? I'm just going to channel her." I think that's what I focused on. I thought, "This is it now. I'm here, I'm going to make the most of it," and literally ended up having the best time, genuinely, of my life. When I came back, I was so upset, I just didn't want to leave!

What was it like to film those scenes?

It was just amazing because I felt like a movie star, to be honest. I laughed every single minute of it. As any little kid's dream, being in a movie, dancing, being on stage, that was always my dream. I honestly felt like I was on a movie where they were like, "Take one. Take two." And, the amount of effort that they put into the sets was just unbelievable. It looked so realistic. I have a picture of me and my partner, and then a picture of Baby and Johnny from the film, put them side by side and it's spitting image. It is just surreal!

What was that like filming the lake lift scene?

I was so excited to dance with Bobby, he has such an amazing personality. He probably would have been the last person I ever would have chosen for the lake scene, only because I didn't think he was going to be able to lift me, because I'm short, but Bobby's even shorter than me! So, I was thinking, "There's no way he's going to be able to lift me," and he did a pretty good job. It was just so funny. I love the water; I love anything like that. So, I was first up, I was like, "Get me in the water. This is going to be absolutely tragic because I don't think Bobby's going to be able to lift me!” And, it went better than I thought it would.

In terms of the guys, who would you say was the perfect Johnny?

I had a few good partners, to be fair. Lee was just amazing. He looks like Patrick Swayze, it's so weird! No one even noticed until we started doing this. He was amazing. I loved dancing with Tom as well. He's already a dancer, so he was obviously incredible. He already had all the skills. I couldn't fault anyone, though. Genuinely, everyone improved so much as well, which was so nice. And, you could see everyone's confidence grow. So, to be honest, I loved dancing with everyone. Even when it came to Bobby, I know we couldn't do the lift, but the amount of effort that he put in trying to get me up was amazing.

How did you all get on between filming and in the evenings?

Honestly, everyone got on amazingly. I know it sounds really cliché but honestly, it was perfect. Especially as we all lived in a house together. We had super long days, but it was great energy. Everyone was so supportive. I think also, where we were always swapping partners, it wasn't like you were with your partner and you didn't see everyone else. Everyone spent all the time together and you're always with someone new. So, everyone just got on so well.

Was there anybody that you hadn't met before?

I don't think I've met anyone before. I was so nervous, but everyone was so nice. I used to be the biggest fan of Waterloo Road and I was so excited to meet Chelsee. She's so bubbly and the nicest girl. Then of course, she's so confident, and I was not confident at first. She took me in like I was like her little sister. She was lovely. Same with Marnie, she has such a big personality as well, but they were just the nicest girls ever. Even Lee, for an example. Obviously, he's done so much, he's just the most genuine person I've probably ever met. It was great as well, he would sing for us every evening and play the piano, so we got free entertainment.

What songs was he busting out for you?

He didn't sing any Blue numbers, he was singing a lot of Les Mis, I Dreamed a Dream. Literally, I was coming out of my room one night and I could hear, "I dreamed a dream," – amazing!

What was it like working with Keith Lemon?

I think with comedians, a lot of them aren't necessarily the character that they show online. Keith is the exact same person online and offline! Also, I've never known someone who's as big and as famous as he is and treat everyone the same. The way he was with everyone was honestly amazing.

You got to do a bungee jump, what was that like?

I was the only one in the whole group who was absolutely buzzing for the bungee jump. I love anything like that! I just love the whole adrenaline side of it, so I was absolutely buzzing. My partner for that was Lee and he did not want to do it, he was absolutely terrified of heights. You couldn't have put a worse couple together at that point because I was the most excited and he was the least excited. He said never in his life is he doing this. Then, he felt bad because I couldn't go on my own, so he went on with me and it was so funny. Oh my God, I've never laughed so much in my whole life as I did that moment, because I don't know if you're going to hear when you actually watch it back, but when I say he basically cried the whole way down. I know it sounds horrible to laugh, but I couldn't even breathe because all I could hear was him screaming the whole way down. I was trying to ask him if he was okay, but I couldn't even get it out. You know when you laugh, your stomach hurts so much? He squealed the whole time right down my earlobe. I've done a bungee jump once before and my eardrum burst, and I thought the same thing was going to happen from him squealing in my ear!

How would you sum up the whole experience?

For me, and I know this sounds cliche, but I definitely had the best time of my life. I've never enjoyed doing something so much, and I've also never been so outside my comfort zone and not regretted it. I loved every minute of it. I just wish I could do it again, honestly. I'd do anything to do it again. When I came home, I just felt like I'd been stripped out of a movie, and I was just back to reality that just isn't anywhere near as fun!

END