Grant loses training day amid gaffe

Russell Grant has revealed he lost a day’s training for this week’s 'Strictly Come Dancing' – after a navigation blunder.

The astrologer, noted for his over-the-top routines, said he had to write off valuable rehearsal time when the show team took a wrong turn as they headed to meet him.

And he admitted his exit from the show was already “overdue”.

Grant has stayed in the BBC1 contest – and earned legions of fans – despite a painful knee injury, which could have forced him out.

He said it would be “a dream” to survive at least one more week and make it to next week’s Strictly Come Dancing show at Wembley Arena.

Grant, who also stars in new comedy horror film Kill Keith, said: “I’d love to get to Wembley. It would be a dream but I’m already overdue to be going back home. But for some reason the public aren’t letting me.”

The star – partnered by Flavia Cacace – said rehearsals over the week had been hampered by the direction blunder.

“Because we train in North Wales, Flavia has to get up to me from London. Unfortunately the crew who were driving everyone up were given a bum steer and were sent the wrong way, even in this age of sat navs, so we actually lost all of Monday’s training,” he said.

“We did a bit of training on Tuesday, and then on Wednesday we were due to do a video which comes just before we dance, and the male voice choir we were due to be singing with couldn’t actually get to us so I ended up having to do the VT on my own.

“This week has been, shall we say, more trying than most weeks.”

Grant said he was delighted to have stayed in the show this long.

“I’ve gone further than I thought. I thought I’d be out by Hallowe’en, taking into account my level of fitness which wasn’t brilliant.

“I’m 60 years old, I have damage to my knee, I’m wearing a support for every show. To be honest with you, I’m already two weeks further than I thought I would be.”