I've never known nerves like it, says Strictly favourite Danny Mac

Strictly Come Dancing star Danny Mac has revealed that he is suffering from terrible anxiety about his routines despite his success on the dance floor.

The 28-year-old former Hollyoaks actor has wowed the judges and been at the top of the leaderboard with his energetic performances.

But he told Nick Grimshaw's Radio 1 Breakfast show that knowing just how many millions of people tune into the BBC1 show makes him very anxious.

"It leaves you wanting to throw up all day. I've never known nerves like it in my life," Mac said.

"But being an actor, I think it transforms into adrenaline and that goes into your performance. You have to go out and trust that your arms and legs will know what they're doing."

Mac also admitted that he and his professional dance partner, Oti Mabuse, are prone to a few spats during rehearsals.

He said: "She kicks my backside every single day but it's been totally worth it."

Mabuse said: "From Monday to Wednesday it's such a stressful time for us. We're literally on each other's nerves.

"I'm like 'You should be able to walk and stand up by now'. It's really bad on a Monday."

The pair will be dancing the quickstep to Frank Sinatra's I Won't Dance next week.

Mac said: "I'm over the moon about it. It's my first proper, classic number. It's something my nan would love."

The actor said he was embarrassed when he was sent out in a revealing outfit on the Strictly launch show.

"I did feel massively exposed. I asked the costume guys 'Can we rein it in a bit?'

"It was really low, very tight, down to my belly button. It wouldn't have been so bad if I hadn't walked into the green room and everyone else was fully dressed."

He said former shadow chancellor Ed Balls was "amazing" on the dancefloor.

"He's going out and fully doing it. And doing it well. He's not there to make a joke of himself ... He's one of the best performers on the show," he said.

Mac said he was sad to see Tameka Empson and Melvin Odoom go in the first couple of weeks.

"It's just horrible but you like everyone. There's not going to be a week when you go 'That's OK ... I didn't like them'.

"We've been so lucky to do so well."

He added that he always wanted to dance but did not feel able to do so where he was growing up in the seaside town of Bognor Regis.

"It took me four years to agree to sign up to this. I was terrified of doing it. I've always played characters. I didn't become an actor to play myself. But I'm having such a great time."