Claudia Winkleman’s High Flyers with BAA and Handbag.com

Rachel Stevens
Rachel Stevens is the phenomenally beautiful pop star who was once one seventh of the super successful S Club 7. She then went on to be a solo artist with brilliant tracks like LA EX. Rachel is now taking part in the sixth series of BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing. Her and her pro dance partner, Vincent Simone, have been called “the perfect little package” by the judges and she’s loving every moment on the dance floor. She’s engaged to actor Alex Bourne and they live in London.

1. Hello. Lovely to chat to you. So tell me, how much do you love travelling?
I absolutely love it. In fact I love every little thing about it. Alex, my fiancé and I are going to Buenos Aires in January hopefully and we’re already really excited about it. I’ve done loads of traveling with S Club so I realize I’m really very lucky but now there are so many places I want to go and see properly. It’s one thing just jumping from place to place and quite another going somewhere and soaking up the whole thing. Fingers crossed we’ll get to Argentina in the New Year - steaks, tango and horses and the weather is amazing. What could be better? I love the sun too – everything is better with a tan…
 
2. Couldn’t agree more. Now if you could fly anywhere to train with Vincent where would you go? 
It would be somewhere in Italy, and I’m thinking somewhere beautiful like Sardinia. We could eat lot of the totally delicious food and then burn it all off after with a training session. And he could speak the language. All in all it would be lovely jubbly.
 
3. I love the fact you just said “lovely jubbly”. Now that you're in Strictly, which dance would you do down the aisle on a plane? 
I’d fancy doing the Paso Doble. Yes, most definitely. I’d love to do it – everyone likes a bit of drama down the aisle. Just imagine the passenger’s faces...
 
4. What do you always buy without fail at the airport? 
The question is what do I NOT buy at the airport. I am such a sucker for duty free. Truly. I see the big DUTY FREE sign and I'm there smelling and sniffing and trying things out. I always buy my Lancaster after sun there because it’s so lovely. But basically I buy a lot, I love to mooch around an airport. That’s why I always get there early.
 
5. If you had to go on holiday with another celebrity from SCD who would it be and where would you go? 
I think it would have to be Bruno.

(I squeal at this point because it’s such a perfect yet unpredictable answer).

Yes, Bruno. I simply love him and I think we'd have a really good laugh. Plus I’d get some excellent tanning tips. I think we should go to Brazil for some carnival action. Yes, the carnival with Bruno as he’d look good in an outfit. Plus Craig could come and visit for a bit. That’s the perfect holiday.

7. What’s your favourite place to snack at the airport? Are you, like me, obsessed by The Seafood Bar?
Oh. We love The Seafood Bar! It's one of the best things at an airport. I have a bit of smoked salmon and it feels like such a treat.
 
8.  Do you like a beach or a climb when away from home?
Beach all the way, give me any sandy beach and I’m happy. Although, sometimes I like a bit of an adventure. For our honeymoon we want one week of doing something adventurous like a safari and then a week of pure beach relaxation for a lovely lie down!

9. What's been the best holiday of your life?
It would have to be Puglia in Italy. We were there in May and it’s where I got proposed to. It was just so beautiful and we stayed in a trullo which is part villa, part igloo and has this amazing pointy roof and we were all alone and it was the most romantic holiday on earth.

10.  If you could sit next to ANYONE on a flight who would it be and why? 
Oh, no question Frank Sinatra. I’m a massive Frank fan and he’d have lots of great gangster stories. And he could sing.
 
11.  What would be the perfect Christmas present for Vincent, your partner on Strictly Come Dancing? 
A mirror
 
12.  What was your first time on a plane and do you remember it / where were you going?
It was a girlie holiday to Spain and I was 18 and I totally remember it. We had such a laugh as it was our first properly girlie holiday. I don’t really drink but we still went to all nightclubs and watched the sun rise. I even had a romance - it was all very romantic
 
13.  Do you have any packing rituals?
I write lists and I get very excited and get everything out in piles and work out what goes with what. I know it sounds a bit retentive. Alex packs in about five minutes and I’ve got little heaps of clothes on the floor. But I like to work out what shoes to take and what jewellery to take… 
 
14. Who is the most difficult person you know to buy Christmas presents for?
My brothers are pretty impossible and I just never know what to buy them so I usually end up getting them vouchers... 
 
15. I LOVE vouchers. So, what present do you secretly want for Christmas? 
To win Strictly Come Dancing. It would be the best present ever.
 
16.  What is the worst Christmas present you have ever received? 
I got salt and pepper shakers and a cookbook from an ex-boyfriend. And I’m not kidding. Can you believe it? I mean, I never care whether somebody has spent money on a present but it’s the thought. And he was making a big hint!
 
17.  Which foreign country would you most like to spend Christmas Day and why? 
It’s got to be home. Always, always home. I just love Christmas; everything about it and it needs to be with my family at home. I was in the Maldives one Christmas and the Maldives is one of my favourite places but it just didn't feel right. I want to be with all the family doing the things we do every year. I love the TV and the food at Christmas time. My little nephew and niece play and I just loving watching their faces...
 
18.  What Brucie Bonus would you put in his stocking? 
Earmuffs to save him from the judge’s comments... He’d look good in earmuffs.
 
19.  What would be your favourite Christmas film to watch on a plane?
It's a Wonderful Life - something soppy and great at the same time.
 
20.  What's the absolute best bit about Christmas?
I absolutely love the food and I love the fact you can eat anything you want. I love being with the family and everyone opening presents. I also love doing absolutely nothing. Christmas morning is still the best watching all the little children in the family. We all wake up and get cosy and open our presents. I love it.
 
21.  Which professional dancer from Strictly would you like to find wrapped under the tree? 
Vincent, of course. Plus, he'd fit…
 
22.  How much would it mean to you to win Strictly Come Dancing?
Everything…

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