The iconic singer-songwriter and actress Toyah Willcox shared some intimate moments of her journey on Strictly Come Dancing, which later made her "premenopausal." With an age of 66, this season's 2024 participant is feeling both threatened and thrilled about being on the dance floor with a professional partner Neil Jones.

Speaking to The Times, Willcox discussed preparations for the competition, that officially started on Saturday, 21 September. "There's just this most extraordinary feeling you get having someone you trust hold you close and dancing," she told The Times. "I suddenly feel premenopausal again."

Her comments point to the emotional and physical elation of those making the Strictly trip. Dancing, closeness, and intensity can be exciting and rejuvenating for contestants to rediscover youth, though that has not been the case for Willcox-as she reconnects in feelings and thoughts to stages of her life much further back.

When asked about the notorious Strictly curse-an oddly curiously well-known phenomenon in which contestants allegedly fall in love with their dancing partners-Willcox was swift to laugh off any concerns over this. "I don't have any concerns over it, and she smiled before acknowledging that there's chemistry that goes along with dancing and reassuring that there's no need for concern over her own situation.".

"I'm not saying we're doing anything wrong, but, ooh yes, it's nice to remember that feeling," she said, laughing. "I'm 24 years older than my pro, and I adore him. We have so much in common. But the curse is not an issue because of the trust and respect we have. That's friendship."

Her statements reveal that though dance is quite an intimate art form, mutual respect and understanding are the bases of her partnership with Neil Jones. It is a trust-based, risk-free professional relationship with no chance of the "curse" being a reality. Willcox had a great sense of humor even at such a place where she reflected on deeper emotional bonds by the very process of dance.

Beneath all of this lies the 38-year marriage to Robert Fripp, legendary guitarist with progressive rock band King Crimson. Willcox, married to Fripp for 38 years, explained that emotional pressure would settle in when committing to Strictlyfor as long as it might take her away from her husband for up to three months.

"My husband is 78, so every second I have with him is sacred," she said. "I'm taking what might be three months away from him to do Strictly, and that's a long time when you live with a 78-year-old man who you've been with for 38 years and loved and adored all that time."

This touching statement underlines fragile balance Willcox must maintain between work and personal life. As wonderful as is the opportunity Strictly presents, Willcox is also cognizant of time spent away from her beloved husband. She pointed out how much she adores every moment with him, so the decision for the show was not taken lightly.

"I am always worried of how much more time we have with each other, so for me, no the curse is not an issue. Sorry for my dancing partner that we even raise the issue! I am 66! Can I see it with the others? Of course, because dance can be very intimate," Willcox reflected, as shown in her pragmatic and empathetic way to address the issue at hand.

But at the same time, Willcox genuinely appears to be pouring her heart out in this competition. The excitement of dance and the exhilaration of performance are obviously important for her-she seems to be enjoying a renaissance of youth and life, and perhaps that's part of the reason why she feels "premenopausal" in the best possible way.

Meanwhile, for example, Strictly Come Dancing itself has been implicated in controversy lately over accusations of mistreating some professional dancers on the show. Several high-profile stars on the programme, Giovanni Pernice and Graziano Di Prima, quit the last series after they were charged to mistreat celebrity contestants during rehearsal. Amidst all these controversies in the camp of contestants, Willcox claims she kept her focus strictly on her inner direction to her journey:.

As the race heats up, Toyah Willcox is proving that for her, age is just a number and it's never too late to take on new challenges and rediscover joy in places that even the party night couldn't have expected. It is her energy, love for dancing, and focus on both the craft and personal life that would make her a standout contestant for this season.