Robin Windsor has admitted that he is finding it hard to keep up with the big ball of energy that is Lisa Riley.

The pair were partnered on the Strictly Come Dancing launch show last month and went on to top the leaderboard during the first week of the competition with their impressive cha cha cha. Last weekend they received the second highest scores, after their jive wowed the judges and audience members alike.

Many viewers were shocked by Lisa’s dance skills and underestimated her because of her large frame but Robin claims that she has more get up and go than him in rehearsals and explained:

‘She is killing me! Yesterday I was lying asleep on the floor, because she had exhausted me and Lisa was going “let’s go again!”. I was like “I need ten minutes.”‘

Lisa admitted that she has always been the same, even when she starred as Mandy Dingle on Emmerdale and said:

‘I am always the same. You know Dominic who plays Paddy in Emmerdale? You speak to Dominic and he will say we used to be in the makeup chair at 6am in the morning I was like shouting “hiya, are you alright?” and he was just like “Lisa shush!.”‘

Robin may joke about Lisa’s brash nature and constant talking but actually he says her energy and vibrancy can be very ‘infectious’. He added:

‘The good thing is, it’s infectious because I am a terrible morning person, like ridiculously bad, and there is something about Lisa because you walk into the room and no matter how tired you are, she will lift your spirits up.’

He continued:

‘That’s what makes it so amazing for me to work with her every day. She’s a joy.’

Windsor has been trying to play to Riley’s strengths on the show so far and doesn’t think it’s a coincidence that they have scored most highly in their faster routines. He admitted that he and the actress find the slow ballroom numbers a little more ‘boring’ and explained:

‘Lisa is bright, vibrant, bubbly, energetic and a lot of fun and we are really good with things like that. The hardest thing is toning it all down and doing the ballroom dance, which to us is a little boring. We have to try and control it and out the fun in elsewhere.’

The pair have sailed through the first three weeks of the competition and look unlikely to leave any time soon.

Bookies have slashed her odds for winning and it seems to be a fair bet that she will make the final at least. For now though, Robin is just aiming to get her to the live show in Wembley next month and said:

‘Wembley is the first goal for everybody, we all want to get to Wembley and then it’s about taking it week on week. That’s where the competition really kicks in.’

Do you think Lisa can win Strictly Come Dancing? Have you been impressed by her performances so far? Leave your comments below…