TV star Dr Punam Krishan thought she was side-stepping GP work on Strictly — but stars have been waltzing up with their medical ailments.
The telly doc, a resident on BBC Morning Live and Radio Scotland, is swapping her stethoscope for sequins as she makes her dancefloor debut with partner Gorka Márquez on Saturday night.
3
3
3
But while she’s away from the surgery she can’t escape her caring calling.
Dr Punam, 41, said: “This was the one place I thought I might get a wee break from medicine but I’ve been asked quite a few questions already.
“There’s been nothing major but I’m actually welcoming it when people ask me for advice.
“It’s a new world and can be quite overwhelming at times so when somebody stops and asks me a question I say ‘Yes please, that’s something I feel comfortable with compared to everything else.
“I’m more than happy to give out medical advice, it’s all been benign stuff.
“But only in exchange for acting advice. I have no acting skills, I’ve never done anything like perform or dance before.
“And being on telly as a doctor is very different to being able to dance and perform and entertain.”
One of the celebs she’s been getting advice from is EastEnders star Jamie Borthwick— who has played Jay Brown in the soap since 2006.
Dr Punam said: “In exchange, I’ve had acting tips from Jamie, so I’ll ask him ‘How do you show emotion or how do you do this?’.”
The dancing contestant is a practising GP on top of her showbiz commitments as she reveals the excitement from patients in her Glasgow clinic — where she’ll continue working while on the BBC show.
She added: “I’ve been spinning a few plates this week between my GP work and training.
“It’s been really good, my day job is quite stressful and for the first time, I’ve actually got something that’s really quite exciting.
“It’s the perfect antidote — it’s been busy but fun. Everyone is really excited, the surgery is the one place where I feel in control, I know what I’m doing here.
“What’s been lovely is my practice, team manager and patients are really excited. It’s a little bit of sparkly joy that’s been brought into the practice.”
She added: “I’ve watched it every year since it’s been on.
“It’s been one of those where I’ve had the fantasy to appear on the show. Never did I imagine that it would happen — it’s been a dream.”
During her time on the show, dance partner Gorka, 34, is spending his time north of the border to allow Dr Punam to continue her day job.
The pair were spotted in Glasgow’s trendy Byres Road as the dancing doc hailed the pro dancer.
In previous years the Spanish hunk has danced with Katie Piper, Maisie Smith and Helen Skelton.
HOME TRIP IS HOT TO FOX TROT
THE telly medic warned Gorka not to get used to Scotland’s roasting weather this week with temperatures hotter than the Spanish hunk’s home country.
The pair took a break from rehearsing to soak up the sun as the mercury hit 25°C in several parts of the country.
And the scorching weather didn’t stop fans stopping to say hello to the Strictly icon as they strolled around Glasgow’s west end.
GP Punam said: “Gorka is loving Scotland, it’s so nice having him here. The weather has been unusually gorgeous.
“I had a bit of a trip down memory lane and also showed him how gorgeous the buildings are.
“The people have been so lovely, he’s getting stopped every two minutes on the streets of Glasgow with folk saying how much they love him. He’s had a gorgeous week.”
Gorka was born in beautiful Bilbao in the Basque Country before moving to the UK.
He is engaged to Hollyoaks star Gemma Atkinson after they met on the 2017 series of Strictly.
In a break from a gruelling rehearsal session, Dr Punam has shown Gorka, engaged to former Hollyoaks star Gemma Atkinson, a few of her favourite spots in the city including her formal medical school the University of Glasgow.
She said: “Working with Gorka has been so good, I feel like we’re the perfect pairing for each other.
“We’re on the same page in so many ways, he is extremely patient.
“I’m somebody who likes to run before I can walk and he’s very good at taking me one step at a time. He’s very reassuring. When I have self-doubts — I can lack confidence — he’s great and I know I’m in great hands.”
The doctor-turned-dancer will feature on the show alongside JLS singer JB Gill, Love Island’s Tasha Gouri and footie idol Paul Merson.
The doc — who has son Aanish and daughter Ellora to Tory MSP hubby Dr Sandesh Gulhane — hailed the team dynamic and revealed she’s looking forward to making pals for life.
She added: “The line-up is great and everyone is so different, I get on with absolutely everyone.
“The girls have been spending a lot of time together chatting about girlie things and the boys have been brilliant as well.
“It’s new for all of us and all of us come from different spheres, so we’re all feeling the same emotions.
“Over the weeks I’m sure I’ll form closer relationships with some of them. At the moment we’re all a big unit.”
The on-screen GP is nervous but excited about her dance debut tomorrow and opened up on her past dancing.
She concluded: “I have no experience of dancing, my only experience is dancing on a Saturday night at a party.
Read more on the Scottish Sun
“I’ve quickly learned this week that I don’t have the moves — I’ve got a long way to go.
“As long as the nerves don’t get the better of me and I don’t fall on my bum, I’ll have won.”
