Debbie McGee's sister reveals what has put the sparkle back in Strictly star's eyes
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The “Lovely Debbie McGee ” is a showbiz pro when it comes to painting on a spell-binding smile, an art she learned as assistant to magician Paul Daniels .
Even as Paul – the soulmate she was married to for 29 years – lay dying, Debbie forced herself to smile and to laugh to keep his spirits high.
But for 18 months after 77-year-old Paul died, there were many more tears than smiles for heartbroken Debbie.
But that is starting to change, thanks to Strictly Come Dancing , according to Debbie’s younger sister Donna Phelan.
“I have seen a change in her, I have seen her happy again, and she has a sparkle in her face,” she beams.
(Image: PA)
Donna, 57, who moved in with Debbie, 58, for six months after Paul died, says her sister’s smile is no longer painted on, but genuine now thanks to her work with dance partner Giovanni Pernice , 27.
Donna says: “She is putting in as many hours training as she can, normally nine hours upwards, and she is exhausted.
“But her face lights up on the dance floor with Giovanni. She always tries to keep happy, but you can see in her eyes now that she is really happy.” Donna gets tearful as she recalls the dark days when Paul was dying from brain cancer.
She believes he never truly understood how ill he was as the cancer had affected the part of the brain which processes information.
Debbie tried to keep life bright, “watching quiz shows and eating ice-cream” with her husband.
(Image: Philip Coburn)
Donna says: “She never let him see her cry. She was always smiling at him and even right up to the day before he died he laughed a lot with us.”
She pauses, then adds, quietly: “She would look at him and smile and say, ‘Are you alright, darling?’ And then she would walk out of the bedroom and cry.”
Donna admits she and Debbie have sobbed together over the loss of Paul, and their dad, who died three years ago. She says: “Every now and again we have a day where we sit and cry together.”
But since starting Strictly, Donna says Debbie seems more like the bubbly sister she adores.
“I think she likes to have someone at night to talk to when she gets home, she’s excited about it all. But she has been less emotional, she has needed me there less.”
(Image: Philip Coburn)
Debbie has thrilled Strictly fans since her first steps under the glitter ball with Giovanni. Their Paso Doble, which ended with Debbie planting an unscripted smacker on Giovanni’s lips, raised the roof.
But questions have been raised about Debbie’s past ballet training and whether that gives her an unfair advantage.
She made her name in her 20s as Paul’s assistant on his BBC Magic Show, where “The Lovely Debbie McGee ” became his catchphrase.
But she had joined the Royal Ballet School at 16, and then danced with the Iranian National Ballet in Tehran – her career then curtailed by the 1979 revolution.
Donna stresses that Debbie quit ballet at 19, and is new to ballroom and Latin, but she is not surprised Debbie is sweeping the judges off their feet. As a child, Debbie was mad about dance class.
(Image: Philip Coburn)
They started ballet as three-year-olds in Surbiton, Surrey, but it was Debbie who took to it. Donna says: “She was definitely a little performer from the word go. She wanted to be famous. She has always loved it.
“At five, I’d be playing with dolls, but Debbie was practising if she had a show coming up. While I would go to the youth club, Debbie would practise.”
It paid off when Debbie got into the Royal Ballet School. Donna says: “She worked hard. I think she has natural flair. When you love to do something, you do it well.”
Donna, a business coach, recalls her sister leaving for Iran. “She was so excited. She wanted to forge a career in Iran.”
When she returned home, Debbie tried to join British ballet companies to no avail.
(Image: Getty Images)
While Donna married aged 20, Debbie “was dedicated to her career” and put it before relationships, says Donna.
She spent a short time touring as a dancer with bands – including ABBA – and in 1979 joined Paul Daniels’ troupe.
Quickly, she was asked to join him on his popular BBC TV show. Donna says it was not love at first sight, but their passion was built on friendship and laughter.
When they married nine years later, Donna was the couple’s bridesmaid.
Debbie and Paul, who never had children would babysit for Donna’s sons James, now 25 and a professional magician thanks to Paul’s influence, and Matthew, 22.
Donna describes her sister’s marriage as like a “fairytale”.
She says. “They were such good friends, you never went to their house without them laughing, they were always cracking jokes.”
(Image: PA)
Donna insists Debbie never regretted giving up ballet. But later, as Paul’s career slowed down, he supported her dream to run a ballet school – Ballet Imaginaire.
Donna says: “She was brilliant at choreography. She can envision things and that is probably helping her now because she understands what Giovanni is giving her.
"She picks it up and will practise it step by step until she gets it right.
(Image: The People)
“Even if Giovanni says, ‘You’ve got it’ she will keep on until she thinks she has got it right.”
Although this week, the quickstep routine is proving a challenge.
Donna says: “It’s tough, she is struggling a bit with it – there is lots of acting in it.”
Just to be clear, Debbie’s passion is for dance – and not for Giovanni.
Donna laughs when I mention the whispers of her sister’s close chemistry with her young dance partner.
"Hysterical” is the word she uses and says Debbie had “laughed about it”.
(Image: Philip Coburn)
She adds: “She adores Giovanni and he adores her, they have such a respect for each other. You can see he is loving teaching her.”
But is he her type? Donna squeals: “A 27-year-old? No! He’s James’s age.”
She says: “We never have a conversation about her meeting anyone else, I know she is not ready.
"But when she is, I will be here and support her.
“She has lot of love to give, she is a really lovely lady, and would be a lovely partner for someone – just not yet.”