Actress Laila Rouass first came to the public’s attention for portraying the Jimmy Choo-obsessed, serial schemer Amber Gates in the TV drama, Footballers’ Wives. She went on to star in Primeval, playing a character far removed from the reprehensible Amber: Sarah Page, a geeky Egyptologist.

Laila’s appearance in this year’s Strictly sees her reunited with her fellow footballer’s wife Zoe Lucker who played her arch-nemesis in the series.

Talking about her chances, Laila says: “I’d absolutely love to win but wouldn’t want to say whether or not I can. Come back to me in the first week, I’ll know then! Whatever happens and however far I go with this thing, I just want to enjoy the journey.”