Jennifer Gibney advises the new Strictly Come Dancing cohort not to take the show 'seriously'
Jennifer Gibney took part in the 2014 series of Strictly Come Dancing, and she encourages the celebrities taking part in the 2025 series not to take the show "seriously".
Jennifer Gibney urges the group of celebrities doing Strictly Come Dancing not to take the show "seriously".
In 2014, the Mrs. Brown's Boys star and her professional dance partner, Tristan MacManus, 43, were the second couple eliminated from the hit BBC Latin and ballroom dance competition, but Jennifer stresses to the 2025 cohort not to fret about where they finish as the programme is "not that important".
Asked what advice she has for the 15 new Strictly Come Dancing stars, Jennifer, 61, exclusively told BANG Showbiz at the National Television Awards at The O2 arena, London, on Wednesday (10.09.25): "Oh my God, just don't take it seriously, it's not that important."
The actress feels lucky to have been on Strictly Come Dancing with a great bunch of women - This Morning host Alison Hammond, 50, Loose Women panellist Frankie Bridge, 26, 66-year-old tennis coach Judy Murray, former Casualty actress Sunetra Sarker, 52, and the late TV presenter Caroline Flack.
Jennifer said: "If you'd blink, you'd miss me!
"[But] I'm glad that I did the show because the people that I met - I was very lucky with my year in 2014, I had the most amazing group of women whom I'm still in contact with today, and some of whom I probably wouldn't have met if I hadn't done the show."
Jennifer and Tristan were the second couple to be booted off Strictly Come Dancing after their foxtrot to ABBA's Mamma Mia in Movie Week failed to win over judges Craig Revel Horwood, 60, Darcey Bussell, 56, Donny Osmond, 67, the late Len Goodman, and Bruno Tonioli, 69.
Despite dancing in front of the nation, Jennifer still does not feel confident.
Asked what she learnt about herself from doing Strictly Come Dancing, she quipped: "That I can't dance!"
Quizzed if it made her more confident as a person, Jennifer added: "No, it didn't. It was terrifying, but you know what, I did it."
The new series of Strictly Come Dancing begins on September 20 with the pre-recorded launch show, where hosts Tess Daly, 56, and Claudia Winkleman, 53, will reveal each of the 15 celebrities' professional dance partners.
Those battling it out to win the coveted Glitterball Trophy are 37-year-old former sprinter Harry Aikines-Aryeetey - also known as Nitro from Gladiators - Love Island star Dani Dyer, 29, retired footballer Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, 53, and Doctor Who actress Alex Kingston, 62.
Also, YouTuber-and-podcaster George Clarke, 25, EastEnders actress Balvinder Sopal, 46, trailblazing model Ellie Goldstein, 23 - the first model with Down Syndrome to grace the cover of British Vogue magazine - and RuPaul's Drag Race UK star La Voix, 45, will grace the ballroom floor.
In addition, retired England rugby player Chris Robshaw, 39, The Apprentice 2019 candidate Thomas Skinner, 34, former Geordie Shore star Vicky Pattison, 37, and Neighbours legend Stefan Dennis, 66, were also confirmed to be taking part in the new series of Strictly Come Dancing.
And completing this year's line-up are Lorraine and Good Morning Britain's Los Angeles Correspondent Ross King, 63, former England women's football player Karen Carney, 38, and Emmerdale actor Lewis Cope, 30 - who replaced Game of Thrones actor Kristian Nairn, 49, after he withdrew from the series for medical reasons.
