People's Strictly for Comic Relief: Robin Windsor and Anna Kennedy in conversation

RobinWindsor: Anna, you were so stunned in the audience on the night of the announcement. When did the penny drop and you actually believed you were going to be a contestant on the first People’s Strictly?

Anna Kennedy: It was when Jake Wood got hold of my arm and took me into the middle of the floor to Claudia and Tess. I think the penny dropped when I said “sugar”.

Robin: The moment you said “sugar” is actually hilarious because you could have come out with anything.

Robin: Tell me in one sentence, what it’s actually like training with me?

Anna: Fabulous darling!

Robin: Well keep talking!

Anna: We make a really good team. When we’re dancing together, our footwork – it’s almost like our feet are talking to each other – it’s synchronised.

Robin: For me as well, we had a great connection. As the weeks progressed we’ve become closer and now the fun factor’s kicking in. If I was to describe you in three words, I’d say you were inspirational, hard-working and dedicated. Can you describe me in three words? Be very tactful here!

Anna: Fun. You’ve taught me how to have fun. There’s an aura about you that makes me feel relaxed when I’m with you. Can I say that? And a great dancer!

Robin: In other words, I’m just wonderful. Cool, that’s what I’m looking for. Jake Wood’s been mentoring you – what does that involve?

Anna: Jake’s been giving me tips about the actual day and how to breathe and enjoy the moment. But he’s also been so lovely to my sons. He messaged me about 11pm last night - how are you getting on? Is there anything you need from me? My autistic son Patrick is mad about the Loch Ness monster at the minute. He wanted to know, what’s Jake’s perception of the Loch Ness monster? What does he think it is? Jake just sent me a message straight back. He’s got the patience. Someone else might have said, get lost, I’m not going to answer that.

Robin: You only sleep three hours a night – where do you get your energy from? I’ve never met anybody who can function on such little sleep.

Anna: Do you know what, I don’t even know myself. It’s like I’ve got some fiery stuff inside of me that makes me keep going. I think it’s probably my boys as well, they need me. 

Robin: Speaking of your boys Patrick and Angelo, what are your caring responsibilities for them?

Anna: With Angelo, it’s 24-hour care. He’s got no sense of danger whatsoever, so for example I have to make sure the cooker is switched off underneath because he likes the glow of the rings. I’ve got to lock the front door because if not, he’ll go out wandering. At night time he wets the bed still at 22 so I have to change all the sheets. It’s making sure he’s happy and trying to help him to become as independent as possible. As for Patrick, his levels of anxiety can get quite high even though he’s very able and a clever young man. So for example, because I wasn’t there yesterday, the boiler had gone off. I was getting text after text – the boiler’s not working, there’s no hot water, can you come home and fix it? That sort of thing. So it’s just reassurance with Patrick. It just never stops. Even when I watch Strictly at home, I never get to watch the whole thing. 

Robin: As two young men with autism, do they appreciate Strictly?

Anna: Angelo, probably not. Though he does like music and he does like dance. When we’re in the car, if there’s a particular beat, he’ll be clicking his fingers. Patrick, he’s not really into dance. He’s more into rap but he says he’s proud of me. He doesn’t want to come to the show but he wants to watch me on television.

Robin: Have you seen your outfit yet?

Anna: I haven’t and I’m dying to. The lead choreographer Jason Gilkison’s seen it but he won’t tell me what it looks like – the colour or anything. All he said was when people saw it they went “Awwww”. I was like “Yes?! And?!” I’ve asked for it to represent autism. So they’ve said is they’ll either make the head dress, or the dress itself to represent it.

Robin: What element of our dance is making you the most nervous?

Anna: The lifts, because I’ve never done that before. And the ending, because we’ve never practised it, going up the stairs and dancing on the judges’ desk.

Robin: I wouldn’t worry about the judges’ desk, I have thrown Kristina Rihanoff around in the air while we’ve been on that judges’ desk and she’s still around to tell the tale.

Robin: What’s been the most unexpected thing you’ve found in taking part?

Anna: That I can have fun. I didn’t think it was possible. Because I feel like I always have to be on the ball all the time, at home, in my job – I’m always, like, facilitating things… But for me, to think it’s going to be finishing tomorrow…

Robin: But it’s not going to be finishing for us. We’re going to be recreating our charleston at your Autism’s Got Talent. Once you’re in that Strictly bubble, you are in it for life. It just goes to show that dance is a very special thing. It doesn’t matter what’s going on in your life, the moment that you set foot on a dance floor and dance, that’s your moment to switch off. I’ve always felt that growing up, when things were going particularly badly for me, then I always rely on my dancing to give me that piece of freedom that we all need once in a while. So finally, with everything that’s been going on, who do think is the most proud of what you’re doing right now?

Anna: I would say probably the autism community. I don’t know how many messages they’ve sent saying how proud they are that I’m flying the flag for autism. My sister’s noticed that in photographs I have that sparkle in my eye. She said it’s about time.

Robin Windsor is a professional dancer on The People's Strictly for Comic Relief and Anna Kennedy is his dance partner. Anna set up a school for autistic children after both her sons were turned away from 26 mainstream schools and offered only five hours of home tuition a week. Hillingdon Manor school is now the largest of its kind in Europe.

The finale of The People's Strictly for Comic Relief is on Wednesday, 11 March at 9pm on BBC One and BBC One HD. The final episode will be available in BBC iPlayer until Friday, 10 April.

Comments made by writers on the BBC TV blog are their own opinions and not necessarily those of the BBC.