INTERROGATION: MARK RAMPRAKASH
Cricketer and 2006 Strictly Come Dancing winner Mark Ramprakash, 38, on this year’s Strictly line-up (fantastic), having cricketing nightmares (bless), and his strange biscuit addiction..
How’s life been since winning Strictly Come Dancing last year?
Mark Ramprakash: It’s great. The experience really helped me broaden my outlook. I had played cricket for 20 years and that’s all I knew. Strictly was just the thing I needed to do. I initially said no when they asked me to take part, but after discussing it with my wife, she told me to go for it.
Who’s your favourite celeb contestant this year?
MR: I think Alesha Dixon and Kelly Brook are taking it to a different level. My money’s on them. To be as good as they were as early as week two was just amazing. Alesha’s jive the other week was fantastic – and that’s a hard one to do. Kelly is very polished too. But the ladies in general are doing well.
Don’t you think the standard is stupidly high?
MR: Well, I like to think the show takes real beginners, then you see more of a journey. But the standards are so high already, it will be interesting to see who can keep going as expectations rise. When you get to the point where you’re doing two routines a week, the pressure is really on, so we’ll see…
Do you still dance?
MR: My daughters Cara, 10, and Anya, five, dance with me. They play dance classes where one is a teacher and one is a pupil. Sometimes we hold dance classes in our kitchen.
Have you kept any of your spangly costumes from the show?
MR: I’ve got the salsa shirt and the tie I wore for the Argentine Tango. The salsa was the most fun routine, which is why I kept the shirt, and the tie was just a memento. I haven’t worn them since… I don’t have the front.
Do you get recognised in the street?
MR: Yes, all the time, but it’s usually because of the dancing. Say if I get 10 people coming up to me, eight of those will want to talk about Strictly. When I entered the show I had no idea it was so high profile – there were 12 million viewers watching.
Do you still take public transport?
MR: Yes. I live in Watford, so I travel on the train to London’s Oval cricket ground in the mornings. I was at the airport the other week and someone said, ‘Oh look, you’re the dancer,’ and I was like, ‘Yeah, and I play cricket now and again too.’
Strictly judge Arlene Phillips is a huge fan of yours – do you have lots of female admirers now?
MR: The show is watched by lots of women, so it’s not surprising a lot of the fan mail I get is from women. But a pin-up? I doubt that.
Were you gutted you weren’t picked for the England cricket team this year?
MR: Well, you know… There were rumours I was going to be included in the tour in Sri Lanka this December, but I didn’t make it. So I’m at home this winter. Unfortunately, I’ve only got two years left of my contract with Surrey County cricket team, so like it or not, my career is going to end. But I’ve been awarded a testimonial year next year, which is a big deal for a cricketer, as it means organising events and fundraisers. I’m planning a big Strictly Come Dancing-style ball for 6 November 2008. I have high hopes for it. I’m inviting all the people from the show, including the judges.
Do you still speak to your dance partner Karen Hardy?
MR: Yeah. She was very upset when she was voted out with Brian Capron so early on. I told her it’s no reflection on her – it’s really down to who you’re partnered with. But she’s busy with other bits of work and reporting on breakfast news.
Do you ever get starstruck?
MR: Yeah, always. I’m a huge Arsenal fan, and this year I had lunch in the director’s box with manager Arsene Wenger at a game – he’s a bit of a hero. I was also nervous when I went on the first show of Strictly this series, as John Barnes is a great favourite of mine. Then there are the glamorous women, like Penny Lancaster-Stewart, Alesha and Kelly. I’ve got a little bit better, though. I manage to blurt something out now.
What would you miss most if you weren’t famous?
MR: Travel. It’s a huge perk. I’ve been to New Zealand, Australia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, the Caribbean. I’m very lucky. 90 per cent of the time I can take my wife and daughters. Also, I never have to do the boring stuff, like book the flights, everything is taken care of. It’s nice.
What’s your guiltiest pleasure?
MR: I have a massive sweet tooth, so probably cookie dough ice cream by Baskin-Robbins. At Lords, when we finish our practice in the morning, we break for tea and biscuits before the match at 11am. You can’t beat it. Am I a dunker? Of course.
What keeps you awake at night?
MR: The thought of not being ready to go into bat. A lot of the cricketers have this dream. I have it once every three or four weeks. I’m at the match, but for some reason I haven’t got my gear on and all of a sudden I’m called to bat – if you’re not quick enough you get timed out. That really worries me.
Do you have any phobias?
MR: I’ve got this thing about the wild. When I was a kid I watched a lot of the Tarzan films, so I’m quite scared of the jungle. Once I was in Africa with the team and everyone was going on a safari tour, but I couldn’t do it. I’ve got this bad feeling about the big cats. I’m scared they will come and get me.
If you could go back in time, where would you return to?
MR: I’m a big fan of Westerns and I like the idea of being a cowboy, but I don’t think I’m tough enough for that. I also like the sound of the 60s – the music, the dancing, the clothes. I think people had a great time back then.
What would you do if you were invisible for the day?
MR: Follow any super-famous person like Brad Pitt to see how they really lived their life behind closed doors. They may have a lot of money, but are they really happy and is life really that glamorous?
Do you watch reality TV?
MR: No. I think Big Brother is just nonsense. I’ve made it clear I’d never appear in a reality TV show. And funnily enough, I’ve never been asked…Although I’d like to do more TV work. I’d be interested in doing Who Do You Think You Are? where you trace your family tree. My mum was from East Ham, but there’s some family from Scotland, and my dad is from Guyana but has family in India. It would be really interesting.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve been given?
MR: My very good friend said to me, ‘Focus on the bigger picture’. I was going through some problems at the time. I think it’s very easy to get wrapped up in something that is actually very small. You can work yourself up into such a state. You have to remember to stay calm and in control. Although it’s easy to say that now, of course…
MARK'S REALITY CHECK
Baths or showers?
That’s a random question! Both. When Van and I first got married we had this big roll top bath and we loved it. But you need time. The kids came along and now it’s quick showers.
Have you ever said, ‘Don’t you know who I am?’
I don’t use my name, but when I do, people have been really nice. If I call a restaurant, they give me a good table. But then, it could happen the other way and they could tell me they’re fully booked.
When did you last order a take away?
Saturday. We just wanted to relax. It’s usually Indian or Italian. I can’t cook at all. I’ve attempted, but I’m terrible. I can just about do beans on toast.
Can you do DIY?
I’m useless. But I try to make up for it by unloading the dishwasher or hanging out the washing. Van puts up shelves and pictures, she’s very good. All my time has been spent on cricket.
Mark Ramprakash is hosting the AdeZ Discover Your Strengths challenge. AdeZ is a delicious blend of fruit juices and soya. For more info, log on to
http://www.adez.com
Mirror
