Karen and Josh perform their Charleston as penguins in the festive edition (Image: BBC)
Comedian Josh Widdecombe says no one should patronise Strictly winner because he is blind – as “he’s genuinely got dancing skills”.
Josh, 41, is taking part in the Christmas Day special to impress his daughter Pearl, seven.
But he admits to being not fit enough and in training with pro dancer partner Karen Hauer, he thought “I’m going to die”.
Josh competes against five other stars in the festive edition, and is dressed as a penguin while using a skateboard and slide for a winter-themed Charleston to Let It Snow from TV musical series Glee.
He was full of praise for fellow comic Chris, 47, who last weekend lifted the Glitterball with partner Dianne Buswell.
Dianne Buswell and Chris McCausland (Image: BBC)
Josh said: “What an incredible human but also let’s not patronise him and say he’s heroic or all these kind of things.
“He’s a really, really good dancer and that shouldn’t be lost underneath the fact that obviously he’s doing something amazing because he’s blind. He has genuinely got great dancing skills.”
On the training needed for the Christmas special, Josh added: “I’d say I’m not totally unfit. I go to the gym and I run but this is probably the fittest I’ve been.
“And I’m heartbroken that it’s going to be followed by Christmas.” The Last Leg star added: “Who knew that the exercise they needed to do was 10 hours a day for a week of dancing?
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“I could barely move, and I thought ‘I’m going to die, this is just the worst I’ve ever felt’ and then after a couple more goes I just felt brilliant.”
He will be joined by former star Tamzin Outhwaite, racing driver and presenter Billy Monger, Gladiator Harry Aikines-Aryeetey, presenter Vogue Williams and drag artist Tayce in the 75-minute special.
Former Spice Girl Emma Bunton will perform a solo cover of the group’s classic hit 2 Become 1.
Christmas Special will air on One and iPlayer on Christmas Day at 3.55pm