Strictly star Sarah Hadland gives ultimatum to co-stars as 'abuse' probe rumbles on

Miranda star Sarah Hadland is a long time admirer of Strictly Come Dancing and the contestant was very sure when it came to one element of her participation in the programme

Strictly super fan Sarah Hadland was so excited about taking part in the show she cried when she tried on her costume.

"I turned around, and it was a bit of a moment, because, yeah, I've never worn anything so beautiful," she told the Radio Times. "I wasn't expecting it. I just burst into tears."

Sarah, 53, is one of just six women in this series, the lowest ever number in the contest's history and will dance with last year's winner Vito Coppola.

It has been suggested allegations targeting Graziano Di Prima and Giovanni Pernice may have impacted recruitment of male dancers but luckily for the actress, there was only one professional she wanted to couple up with. She felt so strongly about it that she gave an ultimatum to her co-stars.

"Everyone else was like: 'Oh I don't mind!' said the star. "But I was like: 'No, I want this person! I won't be happy with anyone else, I just want this one! So, my god, I did get the person I wanted," she said.

Fellow contestant JB Gill confirmed that Sarah had her eyes set on Vito as her professional partner. "I spoke to Sarah literally before we even found out and she was like: 'I want this one, I want this one, I want this one'," he said.

"I messaged her afterwards and I still didn't know. I asked: 'Are you happy?' And she said: 'I'm sooo happy!'."

Fans have already earmarked the couple for the final, with Vito telling Claudia Winkleman at Strictly's launch: "Sarah and me have the same energy. I see Sarah as sparkling water, bubbly. We are going to live this journey as a bubble!"

"I am a [Strictly] superfan," added Sarah. "I'd be taking it very seriously if I was at home! Depending on which WhatsApp group I was with, you wouldn't be able to talk during the dances, that's a very strict rule. You just have to be making lots of mental notes, lots of predictions!"

In her role as Miranda's best friend Stevie in the hit sitcom, Sarah was known for brandishing a cardboard cut out of M People lead singer Heather Small and singing: 'What have you done today to make you feel proud?'. But while she is a 'keen eager beaver dance wise', the star is 'terrified' of 'slow, sexy dances'.

The actress appeared in The Job Lot alongside Russell Tovey, CBBC's Horrible Histories and an episode of Peep Show playing Mark, actor David Mitchell's, love interest. The versatile star also voiced several characters in Bob The Builder - cement mixer Dizzy, Tilly the vet and Betsy the minibus - and played a receptionist in 2008's James Bond film Quantum of Solace.