Ross King, the affable LA-based Scot, found himself in the unenviable spotlight last weekend after delivering a Cha Cha so shaky it earned him the dubious distinction of being Strictly Come Dancing’s second-lowest scoring contestant in over two decades. Partnered with the ever-patient Jowita Przystal, Ross managed a collective score of just 10 points—Craig Revel Horwood and Shirley Ballas dished out a measly two points each, while Motsi Mabuse and Anton du Beke offered a slightly kinder three. “At least I can say I got a 10 on Strictly in my first week!” Ross quips with his trademark grin, already plotting to rewrite history. “In years to come, I’ll tell people, ‘Can you believe it? A perfect 10!’ No one needs to know it was a collective effort.”
Speaking ahead of his next performance—a waltz to The Proclaimers’ heart-tugging Sunshine on Leith—Ross is candid about the rough start. “The Cha Cha was brutal,” he admits. “At one point, I genuinely thought I might have to throw my hands up and say, ‘This isn’t for me!’ The dance floor was slipperier than I expected, and Jowita was whispering, ‘Are you OK?’ mid-routine!” Despite the wobble, the 63-year-old made it to the end, beaming through the chaos. “I had fun. For me, it’s a TV show, not a competition. I’m just thrilled I didn’t face-plant.”
With bookies pegging him as a favorite to exit this weekend, Ross is undeterred, channeling his inner comeback kid. “I’m representing everyone who’s never danced before but might give it a whirl with some lessons,” he says, noting that only Stefan Dennis is older than him in this year’s lineup. “I’m hoping to inspire people—especially those who, like me, are starting from zero.” His goal? To prove he can improve, even if it’s just a smidge. “I’m not competing with the others. I’m running my own race.”
This week’s waltz offers a glimmer of hope. “It’s such an emotional song, and the waltz feels a bit more my speed,” Ross says, eyes twinkling. “Maybe I’ll surprise everyone and dance better. Maybe I’ll get better marks. Who knows with the public?” His infectious optimism shines through, even after a less-than-stellar appearance on It Takes Two, where he and Jowita looked a tad unsteady. “I’m fine!” he insists. “I’m always cheerful. This whole experience has been a blast—something totally different.”
Ross’s low score—matching Quentin Wilson’s infamous 8 from 2004—hasn’t dampened his spirits. “The judges weren’t too harsh,” he says generously. “They’re experts, and they’ve got to play their parts. Motsi was kind, pointing out I’ve never danced before, and Anton called me a performer. I’ll take that!” Craig’s horrified expression and Shirley’s brutal two didn’t faze him either. “I’m loving every minute,” he declares, though he’s realistic about his chances, urging family to watch him in the studio “sooner rather than later.” His girlfriend, Bridget Siegel, 43, will be cheering him on again, alongside his niece Hollie, who’s jetting in from Spain. “Bridget’s coming back—can you believe it?” he laughs, amazed she wasn’t scared off by his first performance.
Despite a hectic schedule—delivering reports for Lorraine, filming in Loch Lomond, and interviewing Gary Oldman—Ross is all in. “I’m training eight hours a day, giving it everything,” he says. “My mum always said, ‘Just do your best.’ I’d like to think I have.” He’s also buoyed by an outpouring of support from fans. “The public has been incredible—so kind, with a great sense of humor,” he says. “I don’t want to let them down.”
Jowita, his pro partner, has been a godsend. “She’s one of the nicest people you’ll ever meet,” Ross raves. “We laugh more than we dance sometimes—mostly at me! She’s so patient, never a harsh word. I completely lucked out.” Another staunch supporter is Lorraine host Lorraine Kelly, who was livid over Shirley’s two. “She’s been amazing,” Ross says. “Her support means the world.” He’s equally proud of Lorraine’s recent bold move—stripping off for a Mirror photoshoot to promote her show’s National Check Your Boobs Day, inspired by producer Helen Addis’s breast cancer journey. “Lorraine commits 100%,” Ross says. “That campaign has been phenomenal.”
As he prepares to waltz, Ross isn’t dreaming of Blackpool or Halloween week. “I’m just focused on tomorrow,” he says with a chuckle. If the worst happens and he’s the first to go, he’s philosophical: “I’ve given it a good go. No shirking, no regrets.” Whether he dances his way to redemption or heads back to LA, Ross King will keep smiling, proving that even rock bottom can’t dim his shine.