Radio Features

Hot on the heels of the return to our screens of Strictly Come Dancing, comes BBC Essex's very own 'Dancers in Need'.

As part of this year's Children in Need festivities, our presenters and producers will take to the dance floor to do battle for the honour of being crowned the best in ballroom.

BBC Essex's dance guru Phil Meacham

Teamed with experienced dancers from the Chelmsford Dance Centre, our brave band of ballroom blitzers will have to learn two dances - the Waltz and the Cha Cha Cha - which they will perform in front of a panel of judges at a glittering show in November.

The dancers will be guided throughout by BBC Essex presenter and dance guru, Phil Meacham.

Keep logging on to the website and tuning in to BBC Essex for regular updates on how the couples are getting on, who's in the groove and who's not hot to trot.

Meet the couples...

Ray Clark and dance partner Rebecca Leff

Ray Clark - Presenter of The Ray Clark Breakfast Show

Dance partner: Rebecca Leff

Previous dancing experience: "Absolutely none! The reason that I ended up playing records on the radio was because I wanted to go out where the girls were and I couldn't dance.

"I didn't realise that all those years later, my lack of dancing ability would catch up with me."

Hardest thing about the competition: "Remembering right from left! Then I'll get on to what follows that and then you've got all of this looking into eyes and the sky and moving to the right and clenching your buttocks!"

Dave Monk with partner Ghislaine strike a pose

Dave Monk - Presenter of the mid-morning show

Dance partner: Ghislaine Stuart-Bruce

Previous dancing experience: "I had a couple of lessons forty years ago, in a village hall."

Hardest thing about the competition: "Getting together [to practice], because we're both going on holiday.

"We've just done our first bit and I am completely knackered, just after our first few dances. I've got bits of me sweating that haven't sweated for a long time."

Etholle George and dance partner Keith

Etholle George - Presenter of the Luncthime Show

Dance partner: Keith Munden

Previous dancing experience: "I do have a little, but not actually in ballroom. I've been to some very, very basic ballroom classes when I was a child.

"I've done quite a bit of ballet and stage dancing, but this is completely different."

Hardest thing about the competition: "Where do I start? It's not just remembering the steps, it's remembering to put your feet in the right place, bend your knees and bob up and down at the right time.

"It's really tiring as well, I've got so hot and sticky doing it. But we'll see, it's all a bit new at the moment."

John Hayes with dance partner and wife, Dawn

John Hayes - Presenter of the Drivetime programme

Dance partner: Dawn Hayes

Previous dancing experience: "Like many people we got interested by Strictly Come Dancing a few years ago and one mad evening I said to Dawn, 'why don't we have a go'.

"But we haven't done anything for about the last year, so we'll be learning again now."

Hardest thing about the competition: "We dance for our own sheer enjoyment and purely for the fun, for dancing with each other.

"I think dancing for other people is a very, very scary prospect and that for me is the hardest thing."

Sadie Nine - Presenter of BBC Essex's Loud Women

Dance partner: David Leff

Previous dancing experience: "I went to dancing school from about the age of five until about 15. I've danced in lots of productions in the West End.

"But I thought ballroom dancing would be easy and I WAS WRONG!"

Hardest thing about the competition: "Being led. I don't like it, I like being in control.

"I think we should change the rules for me! I've already knocked my poor partner into every wall available. So anyone leading me will in for a challenge."

Steve Cherelle and Annie Godfrey

Steve Cherelle & Annie Godfrey - Essex Country present & Broadcast Assistant

Dancer partners: Each other!

Steve's previous dance experience: "Well I did get a few spins around on the floor as a Bluecoat... I was 18 or 19-years-old and the older guests would guide me through the waltz, quickstep and foxtrot, etc... It was a fun time, but will I remember the steps???

"I also did tap dancing for a couple of years... I was the only boy in the class and when I hit 16 it was too much and I gave it up."

Annie's previous dance experience: "My mum put me into Phil's dancing school when I was 15, and I have been dancing on and off since then.

"After a few years off, I've started again and am now on my Silver medal of Latin American and ballroom, having already passed all my pre-tests and Bronze dancing awards.

"I also won 3rd place for the Waltz in my first competition, and taught dancing to children at a summer camp in America this summer."

Steve biggest worry: "I am most worried about my habit of looking at my feet... I know if they are going wrong they will anyway, but I just like to keep a check on them!!"

Annie's biggest worry: "The thing I'm most nervous about? The performance! I get very nervous before a show, so I hope I remember to smile when I'm on the floor!"

Selina has her work cut out with Oliver Rogers

Oliver Rogers - BBC Essex Sport reporter

Dance partner: Selina Winestein

Previous dance experience: "Just on a Friday night down at the clubs. I'll have a few beers and get out on the dance-floor, but I think this is going to be a little different from that kind of dancing!"

Hardest thing about the competition: "The moves! And the dancing. Apart from that it should be easy."

Renee HB and dance partner Peter

Renee Hockley-Byam - Gardening show producer

Dance partner: Peter

Previous dance experience: "I did train as a dancer, more sort of ballet and tap, from about the age of six until I was in my teens.

"Later, when I was in my thirties, I went to ballroom dancing evening classes. I've now got my bus pass and an artificial hip and thought it would be fun to do it again!"

Hardest thing about the competition: "I think I will find it tiring. I got a little bit out of breath at our first session. I think I'm fit, but it just shows you are using different muscles."

'Festival' dancer Cat Norris with partner Josh

Cat Norris - Broadcast Assistant

Dance partner: Josh Butcher

Previous dance experience: "When I was four I did ballet and tap lessons and I did modern dance until I was about 15.

"But the last 10 years have been spent dancing like a free spirit at gigs and festivals!"

Hardest thing about the competition: "Turning corners! It will be learning my moves when I have to go round them, but I'm hoping it's all going to come together."

Chris Penhall with dancer partner Gary

Chris Penhall - CSV Action Desk Producer

Dance Partner: Gary Curtis

Previous dance experience: "In my youth I indulged in some fairly uninspired shuffling around disco floors, but six years ago discovered salsa and fell in love with it!

It is one of the great passions of my life, but that doesn't mean to say that I am any good at it. I would call myself "enthusiastic".

I will endeavour to keep this enthusiasm when I learn the new dances for Dancers in Need, and hope it doesn't change into "panic".

Hardest thing about the competition: "I dance for pleasure, and as an escape from the stresses and strains of daily life, so my attitude is going to have to change a bit. 

"I dance like there's no-one watching, because there usually isn't, and exist in this little bubble where it doesn't really matter whether I am any good or not, as long as i'm having fun.

"But in November, there will be someone watching, and someone will tell me how good (or not) I really am."