Nicola Roberts hasn't held back when speaking about how she found working with Strictly Come Dancing star Giovanni Pernice.

The Girls Aloud singer and the professional dancer are paired up for the Christmas special of the hit BBC One show - which airs on Christmas Day.

They are joined by Gavin and Stacey actor Larry Lamb and Nadiya Bychkova; soap actress Alexandra Mardell and Kai Widdrington; Radio 1 DJ Rickie Haywood-Williams and Luba Mushtuk; podcaster Rosie Ramsey who will be partnered with Neil Jones; and CBeebies presenter George Webster and Amy Dowden.

But Nicola, who is best known for being one-fifth of the hit girl band alongside Cheryl, Kimberley Walsh, Nadine Coyle and the late Sarah Harding, is hoping she will b crowned champion after being the winner of the first series of ITV’s The Masked Singer UK.

Appearing on The One Show on Tuesday evening (December 20) to chat about her appearance on the hit dance competition's festive special, she was asked about working with Giovanni, Nicola said: "Gio is a great teacher - he's a perfectionist - as am I..."

Discussing training for the waltz in the rehearsal studio, she continued: "The waltz is so technical and its so different to anything I've done before. I don't necessarily like the learning process because I lose concentration and Gio is very 'again, again, again.' But I was grateful because when I finally got to do the waltz I was prepared."

But the 37-year-old singer then brutally added: "I knew that I'd put the training in and I'd followed directions as much as I could. And as much as during the rehearsal process I might have wanted to strangle him, I was glad that when I left the ballroom I thought I had done a good job of the waltz.

"It’s truly an honour to be part of Strictly, but to be invited on to the prestigious Christmas Day episode is something very special indeed. They’ve promised me extra glitter, sparkle and frosting, all wrapped up together with a big bow on top. What more could a girl wish for at Christmas?!"