Strictly’s Russell, having the time of his life!

By Sara Nathan

Last updated at 1:36 AM on 5th November 2011

Her petite frame wrapped up in the burly arms of Patrick Swayze, there are few who can forget Jennifer Grey’s starring role in Dirty Dancing.

The 51-year–old actress was aged 27 when she signed up to play naïve teenager Frances ‘Baby’ Houseman in the low-budget film that confounded expectations to become a worldwide hit.

And as she prepares to take over from Len Goodman as a judge on tonight’s Strictly Come Dancing, the star looks barely a day older than when Swayze uttered the immortal lines ‘Nobody puts Baby in the corner.’

Star gazer: Astrologer Russell Grant meets Jennifer Grey of tonight's Strictly Come Dancing

But while in 1987, Miss Grey was partnered by the classically trained ballet dancer Swayze, who became a heartthrob for millions following his role as dance instructor Johnny Castle, yesterday, she posed up with a rather more portly partner – Russell Grant.

She spoke of her love for the 60-year-old TV personality after watching him in rehearsals, calling him a ‘hoot’, adding: ‘He is so divine. He is a ball of energy and love and sunshine. He has such humour and is enjoying himself so much, it’s such a beautiful thing.’

The star is taking over from Mr Goodman, 67, as he takes a week’s rest from travelling between London and Los Angeles, where he also films a judging role on Dancing With The Stars, the US version of Strictly.

Miss Grey made her big comeback on Dancing With The Stars last year, where she won the mirrorball trophy, partnered by Cheryl Cole’s ex-boyfriend, Derek Hough.

She had suffered a career slump after having an ill-fated nose job in the early 1990s that radically changed her appearance so much that fans failed to recognise her.

Heartthrob: Patrick Swayze with Jennifer Grey in 1987's Dirty Dancy

The actress admitted that following Dirty Dancing – and at the zenith of her career – she had made ‘a lot of choices most ambitious people would not have made’.

But Dancing With The Stars actually saved her life, as while undergoing a routine health check for the programme in 2009, she was told her spinal cord had been compressed following a horror car crash.

She was then forced to put back her appearance for a year as surgery for the spinal disorder led to a cancer diagnosis.

The actress had been in pain for more than two decades following a 1987 car accident in Ireland with actor Matthew Broderick, her Ferris Bueller’s Day Off co-star and then boyfriend.

The head-on collision left the occupants of the other car, a mother and daughter, dead and Broderick was severely injured

It had left her neck in such a precarious position that her doctor, Robert S. Bray Jr, said: ‘one slip, one fall, one minor rear-end-that’s how close she was to paralysis.’

However, it was during two spinal surgeries that he discovered a lump on Miss Grey’s neck and persuaded her to have it removed.

It turned out the growth was full-blown thyroid cancer, forcing the star to undergo two more surgeries to have her entire thyroid removed. ‘If that tumor had broken out of the capsule of the thyroid,’ said Dr Bray, ‘that’s a very bad cancer. She caught it in time.’

Following four operations and with a titanium plated secured with screws in her neck, Miss Grey went on Dancing With The Stars a year later than planned and won.

The actress, who has a nine-year-old daughter Stella with her husband, actor and director Clark Gregg, then underwent surgery again last November – a month after winning the show - to repair a ruptured disc in her back.

She paid tribute to her Dirty Dancing co-star Swayze, who died after battling pancreatic cancer, in September 2009 – admitting he had taught her to take more risks.

Speaking about Strictly, Miss Grey said: ‘I am delighted to be involved. I so look forward to making the pilgrimage to the birthplace of the greatest dance show, the mecca of spray tans and tangos, and to sit in for the great and pernickety Len Goodman.’

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2057878/Strictly-s-Russell-Grant-Jennifer-Grey-having-time-life.html#ixzz1coiGIQvY

Planning on getting a potters' wheel? Rochelle Wiseman looking all-white in tight bandage dress on romantic night out with Marvin at Ghost The Musical premiere

By Jody Thompson

Last updated at 11:48 PM on 19th July 2011

They're one of the most loved-up couples in showbiz - so no-one was spooked when The Saturdays star Rochelle Wiseman and her JLS singer boyfriend Marvin Humes arrived at the West End premiere of Ghost tonight.

The classic 1990 love story starring Demi Moore and the late Patrick Swayze has been made into a musical and opened last night at London's Piccadilly Theatre with former Corrie star Richard Fleeshman and Caissie Levy in the lead roles.

For her romantic night out with her beau, 22-year-old Rochelle was looking stunning in a tight white bandage minidress with an elaborate turquoise necklace, with towering black heels and a bright red handbag.

Scroll down to see the famous 'pottery scene' from Ghost...

Bit of all white: Rochelle Wiseman looked stunning in a tight white bandage dress on a night out with boyfriend Marvin Humes to see the London premiere of Ghost the Musical last night

Ditto: The scarily-alike couple looked as loved-up as ever at the Piccadilly Theatre

High spirits: Rochelle looked sensational in a white fringed bandage dress as she pretended to shape a pottery vase with her right hand

Marvin, 26, meanwhile looked dapper in a quirky three piece stone grey checked suit with deliberatly darker trousers and a tight white T-shirt.

The pair were accompanied by Marvin's bandmate Jonathan 'JB' Gill and his longterm girlfriend Chloe Tangney - and gooseberry for the night, Aston Merrygold.

Other stars out to see the West End version of the movie included Girls Aloud star Kimberley Walsh who was beaming broadly as she clutched her programme, looking very smart in a black trouser suit with a a white T-shirt and black peeptoe Louboutins.

Righteous brothers and sisters: Rochelle and Marvin were joined by JLS bandmates Jonathan 'JB' Gill (L) with girlfriend Chole Tangney and Aston Merrygold

Denise Van Outen had also opted for black with a pretty ruffle-sleeve top paired with dark skinny jeans and snakeskin print sandals.

So You Think You Can Dance judge Arlene Phillips was also feeling the dark side in a black dress with a pleated skirt, teamed with a black gold studded leather jacket, black tights and patent heels.

It wasn't just the women flocking to see the famous weepy either - boy band McFly had turned up to see the production too.

What a vision: Girls Aloud star Kimberley Walsh looked stylish in a chick black trouser suit and Louboutin heels

The London stage version - like the movie - tells the story of Sam and Molly, a couple who are deeply in love, but who's lives are ripped apart when Sam is murdered in a mugging gone wrong.

But his love for Molly is so strong, he finds himself trapped as a ghost - but realises that his death was no accident and he must warn Molly about the imminent danger she's in.

However, because he's a ghost, he can't be seen or heard by the living, so he tries to communicate with Molly through Oda Mae Brown, a psychic, played by Whoopi Goldberg.

The dark side: Both Denise Van Outen, left, and so You Think You Can Dance judge Arlene Phillips were clad in black

The movie features the famous pottery scene, where Molly is trying to make a pot on a wheel with Sam sat behind her - but they get too amorous and covered in clay instead, as the Righteous Brothers Unchained Melody plays.

It also has a running catchphrase though it, with Sam always replying 'ditto' when Molly says she loves him and vice versa.

That haunted look: Former Coronation Street star Richard Fleeshman plays Sam Wheat in the play with Caissie Levy as Molly Jensen

But when he becomes a ghost, he can't be seen or heard by the living, and so he tries to communicate with Molly through Oda Mae Brown, a psychic who didn't even realise that her powers were real.

Ghost The Musical had its world premiere in Manchester in March and naturally, Unchained Melody features, with other original music written by Eurythmics star Dave Stewart.

It's being directed by Tony Award-winning director Matthew Warchus, with set and costume design by Rob Howell and choreography by Ashley Wallen.

Hearing voices: Whoopi Goldberg plays psychic Oda Mae in the movie, the link between Sam and Molly

Believe: The late Patrick Swayze gets to grips with Demi Moore in the famous pottery scene from the 1990 original film version of Ghost

Meanwhile, it's been revealed that Marvin is planning on proposing to Rochelle.

Marvin and Rochelle split last year after eight months together but gave their love a second chance after a two-month separation.

Since reuniting their relationship has gone from strength to strength and the singing couple have even moved back in together.

This week's Heat magazine said that Marvin had already paid a visit to upmarket jewellers Tiffany ahead of getting down on one knee.