01 Feb 2025
Interior designer Emma Kosh – who writes a regular column for the St Albans Times – has won the first Rennie Grove Peace Strictly Come Hospice competition alongside her partner Jo Campbell-Kent.
Emma and Jo were matched after signing up for the new hospice fundraising initiative last autumn. As part of the challenge, the pair attended 10 weeks of professional dance tuition, along with 11 other pairs of local amateur dancers, to learn a complete dance routine.
The 24 dancers all gathered at the Watersmeet theatre in Rickmansworth on Friday to take part in the grand finale show.
The show, attended by an audience of 500, saw Emma and Jo win the highest score for their cha cha to the Spice Girls’ hit Spice up Your Life.
Emma said: “I love to dance and wanted to challenge myself. I have performed on stage many years ago and kind of wanted to be a part of that energy again. I wanted to raise vital funds for the charity and this seemed way more appealing than a marathon or similar!
“The whole experience was amazing and for me the show was an absolute highlight. It wasn’t all plain sailing as our last rehearsal didn’t quite go to plan, but the atmosphere backstage was so supportive – full of laughter, love and incredible people. The crowd was amazing and the high from the show lasted for hours!”
She first started dancing when she was a girl: “I was a Stagecoach kid between the ages of 11-18 (but that was 23 years ago!). I love to dance for fitness and had learnt jive before but not anything like cha cha. I thought muscle memory might kick in. It was a lot more challenging than I expected and I’m still waiting for that muscle memory to kick in!”
She said her nerves were running high for the final: “I just made sure I kept breathing! I looked cool on the outside but that was not the truth!
“I had planned a flamboyant entrance which nearly meant I missed my cue but all worked out in the end and looked purposeful! After the performance we were just so relieved and got to relax and party backstage.
“I had planned a flamboyant entrance which nearly meant I missed my cue but all worked out in the end and looked purposeful! After the performance we were just so relieved and got to relax and party backstage.
“We had an after-party at our house and I was running high on adrenaline until the early hours and I struggled to sleep – it was such a high!”
She was supported throughout the competition by husband Alex and their three daughters: “I had so many people supporting me including my super proud husband and kids. My daughter, Roxie, was brought to tears and lost her voice from cheering. My other daughters, Kiki and Dottie, made beautiful signs to hold up. I felt so loved and supported- that was one of the best things about the night: hearing their reactions.
“Kiki said ‘Mum slayed at dancing – not gonna lie’. I had friends and family watching the live stream also – some as far away as Australia! I was feeling the love from all over the globe.
“I put my all into the performance and training – we really wanted to do it to the best of our abilities, make people laugh and surprise our supporters – I think we did that! Especially when I pulled confetti from my cleavage! To be the winners was just the crowning glory on the whole experience – one I’ll never forget.”
To register your interest for next year’s Strictly Come Hospice event, visit renniegrovepeace.org/strictly-come-hospice-register-your-interest
