Tasha Ghouri's 'Strictly' Wedding: Balancing Love and Career

Ah, the glamorous yet bewildering world of Strictly Come Dancing, where sequins flutter like butterflies and the dance floor practically glistens with the hopes, dreams, and perhaps a sprinkle of sweat from its participants. Enter Tasha Ghouri, a reigning star freshly emerged from the Love Island bubble, bravely navigating through her latest dance routine while also embroidered in thoughts of wedding plans with her beau, Andrew Le Page.

Tasha recently dazzled both judges and viewers alike, garnering a remarkable score of 30 out of 40 for her cha-cha performance to Sabrina Carpenter’s bubbly tune, "Espresso." It was a sight to behold, her and professional partner Aljaz Skorjanec gracefully pirouetting across the stage like two perfectly brewed lattes. Meanwhile, Andrew, her supporting titan, was spotted in the audience, undoubtedly radiating pride as Tasha shone brighter than a disco ball. Fleur East, the host of It Takes Two, gleefully pointed this out during a chat that aired Tuesday evening, September 24, reminding us all that love, indeed, conquers all… including dance floors.

Tasha couldn't help but gush about her partner-in-crime: “He’s just so supportive in everything I do, and he knows how much this really means to me. That's my future husband right there. He's so amazing, and I love him to pieces.” Sweet, isn’t it? Fleur teased, “They’re getting married,” to which Aljaz cheekily piped in, “I want to be there.” And with a playful spirit, Tasha quipped, “Strictly wedding, let’s go!” One can't help but wonder if wedding bells will soon be ringing—or if someone else will simply trip over their own feet on the dance floor.

As the week marches on, Tasha and Aljaz are preparing to take on the utterly romantic Viennese Waltz in the upcoming show. But as any seasoned dancer knows, transitioning from cha-cha to waltz is akin to swapping a lively cocktail for a glass of vintage wine—it requires finesse, grace, and quite a bit of balance. And Tasha, bless her heart, is finding it a tad challenging. Aljaz remarked, “Every week on Strictly, you’ve got to start from scratch. This is our first ballroom dance, and it’s completely different from the cha-cha. I love my ballroom and I prefer it so much more.” A true ballroom enthusiast, indeed!

Fleur, with her ever-curious spirit, noted that the Viennese Waltz is known for being "a dizzy one," prompting a wide-eyed inquiry about how Tasha was coping with the spins. To this, Tasha candidly admitted, “Struggling a little bit actually. It’s quite rotational, I would say. Very, very dizzy, especially with my cochlear implant. My balance is off, so there’s an extra bit of challenge there, and I’m really having to focus on my focus point.” Ah, the price of preparation—who knew dance could provoke such a whirlwind of feelings, both cerebral and somatic?

Meanwhile, in another corner of the glittering ballroom, Paul Merson, the former footballer, opened up about his own escapades on the show. When Fleur cheekily asked him if he was having fun, his hesitant “Yeah?” drew laugher across the studio. Poor chap! He then went on to spill the beans on his biggest challenge: the showbizy bit of it all. “You know what? I don’t know, that’s the bit I find really hard,” he said somberly, revealing how alien the entertainment world feels to him. “I’m a footballer; put your boot on, you get the job done. I find that—I'm like a little shy boy.”

Thus spins the tale of love, dance, and the often hilarious struggles associated with it. Whether it’s planning a wedding or tackling a swirling Viennese Waltz, one thing is for sure: as long as there are supportive partners and a dash of humor, everything feels just a little bit easier. And isn’t that what life—and dance—is all about?