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<\/p>\nStrictly star Eddie Kadi reckons his late grandma is supporting him from beyond the grave as he bids to lift the Glitterball. <\/p>\n
And the comedian even feels her presence when he steps into the studio. In his most candid chat yet, he reveals: "My grandma died a few years ago. But whether I see her or not, I always feel her. She has travelled the world with me. I\u2019ve always taken her with me. I am an extension of my grandma, so is my mum."<\/p>\n
Eddie shared a very close bond with his gran and she was a big inspiration for him as a child in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
"We were very close when I was growing up,\u201d says the 40-year-old. "She pretty much raised me until I was nine and came to the UK. I loved her so much. She was my best friend. She could do no wrong in my eyes. She was so joyful and she was my biggest protector. <\/p>\n
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"She always said, 'I want you to experience things I\u2019ve never experienced'. So me doing this show would be beyond her wildest dreams. Eddie is hoping to do a dance routine in her honour during his time on the BBC One show. <\/p>\n
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He says: "Every time I dance, I think, \u2018I am representing my grandma\u2019. I would love to do a ballroom or a Latin moment that I could dedicate to her. I\u2019m doing this for her. It\u2019s a full circle moment."<\/p>\n
Last week Eddie ended up joint ninth on the leaderboard after scoring 22 points for his quickstep with pro partner Karen Hauer. But doing the show in honour of his grandma means there is extra pressure to perform well, and Karen, 41, has been helping calm his nerves.<\/p>\n
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"We have a technique to help me deal with nerves. I breathe in twice and then breathe out," he explains. You can\u2019t help but be nervous. Being nervous shows you\u2019re taking it seriously. If you\u2019re too confident, then you\u2019re being blase. <\/p>\n
"It\u2019s about finding a balance. Karen said to me, \u2018'You have to understand that the people at home want joy so just enjoy it, don\u2019t overthink it'. Last week I did a quick prayer to God during my dance. I was doing the quickstep and I said, 'Sorry God, take care of me'."<\/p>\n
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Despite his jitters, Eddie wouldn\u2019t swap his spot on Strictly. He adds: "There\u2019s nothing I would rather be doing than Strictly right now. It\u2019s like, 'Hey, what\u2019s the worst that can happen?'" As well as his stand-up \u2013 he is the first black British comedian to have headlined London\u2019s O2 Arena \u2013 he has also been carving out a radio and screen career.<\/p>\n
He appeared on panel show Sorry, I Didn\u2019t Know plus had film roles in 2011\u2019s Anuvahood and follow-up Sumotherhood, which is out next month. And now Strictly is set to turn him into a household name, he is hoping to be as big as the show\u2019s former host, the late Sir Bruce Forsyth.<\/p>\n
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