Rachel Stevens is reported to have invited Arlene Phillips to her wedding this Sunday.

The Mirror reports that the former Strictly Come Dancing finalist has hired out the ballroom of London Claridge’s hotel for a special Strictly inspired dance-off.

A source said: “She may have a fearsome reputation as a judge but Arlene was always very positive about Rachel on the show.

“The pair have got on ever since and when Rachel discovered Arlene had been sacked from the series, she immediately contacted her.

“Sunday’s wedding is mainly for family and friends but Rachel thought it would be a nice gesture to invite Arlene to the Ballroom.

“If anyone can steal the show here, it’ll be her!”

Hot on the heels of the terrifying incident in which she was mugged and her engagement ring stolen, Strictly Come Dancing star Rachel Stevens has had another frightening brush with crime.

Last night, Rachel and her family were enjoying a meal at the Harry Morgan restaurant in St John’s Wood, London, when a masked gunman apparently burst in and “fired a volley of shots” according to today’s Sun.

The paper says that Rachel’s party and other diners – including the BBC’s chief economic correspondent Hugh Pym and his family – threw themselves to the floor as the gunman fired at a man he’d chased into the restaurant.

The man was apparently later taken to hospital with gunshot wounds to his leg and another man was treated for wounds caused by broken glass. The gunman escaped and was being sought by police last night.

Rachel’s spokeswoman told the paper, “Rachel and her family were dining when the shooting happened. It was very frightening.”

Hugh Pym also said, “I immediately went to ground and pulled my 15-year-old son under the table. Everyone was shouting, ‘Stay down, stay down.’

“People were pretty shaken up and were wailing in shock.”

An eye-witness added, “We saw two men running in. We heard a volley of shots, followed by screaming.”

Rachel and her fiancé Alex Bourne are due to be married in France in August but I think if I was her, I’d be staying in from now until the big day!

Strictly Come Dancing finalist, Rachel Stevens is backing her ex-fiance jeremy Edwards in this years series of Dancing On Ice.

The former S Club singer told The Sun: “Learning to dance was hard enough on the floor, but on ice it would be even worse. It’s scary the amount of times we fell over.

“On a show like this it would be more painful. But he is a very disciplined person, so I’m sure he’ll be really good.”

Strictly Come Dancing star, Rachel Stevens has injured her back just days before this weekends final show.

A source told The Daily Mail:

“Rachel’s having emergency physio and is taking painkillers,” an insider said. “It couldn’t have come at a worse time because she’s desperate to be fully fit for the final.

“She’s been struggling with her back and all the lifts haven’t helped. She really jarred it after falling heavily. It’s a real shame.”

Jodie Kidd and Rachel Stevens will be dancing their way around the country in 2009 when STRICTLY COME DANCING – THE LIVE TOUR! takes to the road next January. Jodie and Rachel will join fellow dancing celebrities from the current BBC1 series, Cherie Lunghi and Tom Chambers, along with past favourites Gethin Jones, Jill Halfpenny, Julian Clary and Kenny Logan for the UK tour, where audiences will get the chance to watch their favourite celebrities, dance champions and those all important TV judges.

Rachel Stevens is racing ahead in this year’s series, receiving the highest score of the series, 39 points, for her Rumba routine. Jodie Kidd is also proving her place in the final seven with huge improvements every week. Tom Chambers, who has swapped the wards of Holby City for the dance floor, has continuously impressed the judges with his ability to deliver amazing performances and actress Cherie Lunghi, dazzled right up until her departure from the show in week nine. Jill Halfpenny wowed judges with her dancing in the second series and was crowned champion, with Julian Clary closely following in third place. Julian commented: “I had a ball taking part in the second series of Strictly Come Dancing and learnt so much. I can’t wait to get back into training, back into those costumes and back into the arms of a beautiful woman in front of an arena full of fans!”

Last year, rugby star Kenny Logan was a hit with the viewers but waltzed out in fifth place and smooth mover Gethin Jones reached the semi-finals. Kenny is thrilled to be doing the Live Tour, he said: “I never thought I’d make it as far as I did during my time on Strictly and now to be touring the country in the live show is another unexpected turn in my dancing career! I’m used to a stadium full of rugby fans but I’m not sure how that will compare to the arenas on tour…. I can’t wait to find out.”

The 2009 tour will see the celebrities face their dance demons in the form of all four TV judges – Len Goodman, Arlene Phillips, Craig Revel Horwood and Bruno Tonioli – joining each show to voice their professional opinions of the dancing duos. Bruno comments: ‘’I am so excited to be doing the Strictly Come Dancing Live Tour this time, I really missed out last year due to TV commitments in America. The tour was a huge success, a complete sell out at all venues across the country! This year, it’s going to be even better – skilful routines and beautiful costumes brought together by fantastic live music – it’s going to be great!”

The celebrities will be joined on the 45-date tour by their world-class professional dance partners. From the current series, Camilla Dallerup and Vincent Simone, will partner Tom Chambers and Rachel Stevens respectively. Series two pro-champion Darren Bennett, who will dance with Jill Halfpenny. Cherie Lunghi and Jodie Kidd will partner with James Jordan and Ian Waite and Julian Clary will take to the stage with Lilia Kopylova. Gethin Jones will dance with Flavia Cacace and Ola Jordan will partner Kenny Logan. Current Strictly Come Dancing pro-champion Matthew Cutler and new dancer Kristina Rihanoff will also tour, performing in the showcase and group numbers.

Kate Thornton will once again host the tour, which kicks off at the Newcastle Metro Radio Arena on Friday 16th January. The five-week dance spectacular will also travel to Liverpool’s Echo Arena, Manchester’s MEN Arena, Nottingham Arena, Sheffield Arena, London’s Wembley Arena, London’s O2 Arena, SECC in Glasgow and Birmingham LG Arena, where the tour culminates on Sunday 22nd February.

Vincent Simone has told his celeb dancing partner Rachel Stevens to “tone down” her sexy dance moves in case stiff upper lip Britain disapproves.

Rachel, who was in the bottom two for the first time last week, danced a very sexy rumba and Vincent apparently joked that she’d been too sexy.

“What would your grandma say if she saw this?” he told her.

So can she stay in the competition by being less raunchy?

Tune in tonight to find out!

Former S Club 7 star, Rachel Stevens is said to have been a weeping wreck on Saturday night after being placed in the bottom two with Heather Small.

Rachel and her partner Vincent Simone survived the dance off but it hit home to Rachel that it is now unlikely that she will win the show.

A show source told The Mirror: “Rachel was shaking and devastated. She survived and Heather went, but it has shaken her confidence and now she knows she probably won’t win.

“She was in tears and sobbing for ages afterwards – she looked wrecked.

“Her dance partner Vincent had to be firm and told her to pull it together.”

Strictly Come Dancing competitor Rachel Stevens revealed that her dance partner, Vincent Simone is a complete flirt and womaniser, I wonder if her fiance is worried?

Rachel told The Sun: “Vincent is the biggest womaniser in the world, ever! It’s not just when the camera rolls — he flirts non stop.

“I love him, he’s so funny. We’ve been really getting to know each other and bonding, and get on great.You’re total strangers and you just get thrown together.

“The professionals are used to dancing with whoever, whenever, but for us to suddenly be dancing with hands everywhere is quite weird. It’s very intense. If you didn’t get on with your partner it would be a nightmare, but luckily I don’t have that problem.

“He does flirt a lot but I’ve got him under control! It’s very tongue in cheek and it’s not just with me — he’s the same with every girl he talks to. We’ve got a really good banter now.”

Now Magazine has reported that Rachel Stevens is the most nervous of all tonight’s Strictly Come Dancing contestants.

“Vincent says that attitude is as important as the moves,” an insider said. “Rachel was terrified of making a fool of herself, but Vincent’s plan is to calm her with relaxing chats. His rule is that she can talk about anything she likes, except for Strictly.”

Steven’s upcoming nuptials with boyfriend Alex Bourne is also said to be on her mind.

The source said: “She’s wondering whether she’s bitten off more than she can chew. She’s dancing up to eight hours a day, which doesn’t leave much time for wedding dress fittings.”

Former S Club 7 singer, Rachel Stevens, has revealed that she hopes to launch her own fragrance after taking part in this years Strictly Come Dancing series.

Rachel told The Sun: “I want to land my own perfume deal and I think that this show will help show off the fact I am a real girl’s girl.” She makes her dancing debut tonight when fans see her meet partner Vincent Simone on the Strictly Come Dancing preview show.

Racehl also revealed that she would like to move into acting when her dancing stint ends.

She said: “Ideally I would love to mix singing and acting but you can only be a pop star for so many years.

“I mean, at 30 it’s a bit sad, right?”