Phil Tufnell has admitted that he isn’t the most committed Strictly Come Dancing contestant, revealing that he often practices for less than half the time of the the other celebrities.

Phil and partner Katya Virshilas will make their solo debut on the show tonight, when they will perform a slow waltz.

Tufnell told The Mirror: “I think we are going to be the bad ballroom couple of Strictly this year. We don’t spend nine hours every day training. It’s more like three to four.

“The other celebrities train for far more hours but I can be lazy. I like to have a coffee, a sandwich, and a chat throughout rehearsals, so Katya has had a job on her hands to get me to where we need to be. She has to crack the whip and stamp her feet.

“I know when she is angry because she calls me Philip. The only other person who calls me Philip is my mum.”

Many of the celebrities have been hitting the gym in a bid to get in shape for the show, however Phil admitted that he’ll never e a gym bunny!

“It’s no secret that even in my cricket days I always tried to avoid going to the gym. And I still love my full English breakfast, burgers and Kentucky Fried Chicken, although I am really trying to cut down.

“Likewise I’m having to cut down on the cigarettes too. I can’t actually do the waltz with a fag in my hand or I would burn Katya’s ear. But if I could I would.

“Still it’s good that dancing is making me smoke less. Will I give up afterwards? I might do, who knows?”