STRICTLY Come Dancing’s Maisie Smith has been working hard ahead of the show’s semi-final this weekend, practicing until midnight with pro partner Gorka Marquez.
The EastEnders actress shared a glimpse into the intense training regime on Instagram last night, sharing videos begging Gorka to “wrap it up” as she was exhausted.
After spending hours perfecting their first dance for Saturday night’s extravaganza, dedicated dancer Gorka only allowed the 19-year-old to have a ten minute break before jumping back in.
Maisie had to jump straight into learning the second routine, leaving her “absolutely knackered” and with little time for sleep.
Joking she was on her ‘third red bull’ of the night, Maisie addressed fans in a video on Gorka’s Instagram story, saying: “I’m ready [to go], I’ve got my coat on. It’s exactly midnight.”
Her 30-year-old dance partner explained the pair were being forced to leave the studio as it came to closing time, adding: “We’re being kicked out, actually.”
Chatting back and forth, Maisie added she was “over the moon” with the progress the pair was making despite her stomach hurting from the intense training.
She wasn’t alone, with Gorka moaning: “My legs hurt, my back hurts, my arms hurt – everything aches.”
The pair revealed they would be back in the studio for 7am for another gruelling 17-hour day of dancing to ensure their place in the final.
The news comes days after Maisie told fans she was feeling more confident than ever in her body thanks to the shows rehearsal regime.
“Being on Strictly has really boosted my confidence,” she told the Daily Star Sunday. “I’ve worked really hard the past seven weeks and got fitter.”
Despite this, the star revealed she has put on weight thanks to a daily doughnut-eating obsession during her time on Strictly.
“It’s weird. Everyone always says, ‘Going on this show, you’re just going to shed the weight,'” she told Heat magazine.
“But I haven’t noticed that about myself because I eat triple the amount of food I was eating before. I think I’m the only celeb to actually put on weight.”
