Before they take to the ballroom floor in the Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special on Christmas Day on BBC One and BBC iPlayer, we catch up with Larry Lamb and Nadiya Bychkova to find out how they're feeling about facing the judges and entertaining the nation on Christmas night.

How are you feeling about being a part of the Strictly Come Dancing Christmas special?

Larry: Somebody told me that the Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special always blows the TV figures out of the water and I said ‘yes, but it didn’t blow Gavin and Stacey Christmas Special out did it?’ and they said ‘no, you’re right it didn’t blow it out at all’. I’ve been in one big show on Christmas night, and now here’s another!

It's like you when you first join EastEnders and you find yourself in the Queen Vic, you realise that you're kind of somewhere you've had a taste of for many years and then all of a sudden it's reality, and you have to take it all in and think ‘wow!’ it’s like entering as a stranger into a world you already know.

Tell us about your partnership, what’s training been like?

Larry: The partnership is really good I've been really lucky, because I can't dance. So Nadiya has taught me first of all how to dance and then she taught me a whole dance routine. So it's a double whammy.

Nadiya: It's beautiful. I mean, Larry's lovely, and at the same time, it’s really nice seeing him learning to dance. It’s a pleasure to see everything coming together and I could see the smile on his face. The theme is Winter Wonderland so it’s lovely and very Christmassy. We’ve had some amazing chats, Larry told me a little bit about himself, so it’s an incredible place to be.

What would you buy each other for Christmas?

Nadiya: Well, I got Larry an American Smooth.

Larry: And I'll give Nadiya a smile.

How do you rate your chances of being crowned Christmas champions? Who do you think your biggest competition is?

Larry: I've no idea to be perfectly honest, I’ve just caught glimpses. I'm doing this as a challenge to myself and now I can actually dance. I've learned how to do a dance routine. So whoever wins is whoever wins and I'm winning already, just by being in it.

What’s your favourite Christmas movie and why?

Larry: The movie that I always watch with my girls is Calamity Jane. We always watch that, that’s the one.

Nadiya: Home Alone, I'm just love them all. I like Love Actually too, that one you always have to watch. I have a seven year old so maybe a lot of Disney but as long as we are all together, it’s perfect.

What’s been the best Christmas party you’ve ever been to?

Larry: They are all my favourites, I don’t want to upset anyone!

Nadiya: As I have Mila, it’s wonderful to just have a Christmas together. My life is crazy with travelling and dance so we know that as long as we are together, that’s all that matters. As long as everyone is safe and happy.

Which judge are you most keen to impress?

Larry: I'm not even an amateur dancer, so getting judged by top notch professional dancers, is ridiculous! If I get it right I’ll be over the moon it and I’ll just be so thrilled I am able to do it.

Any New Year’s resolutions?

Larry: Well, I'd like to think that I might try and carry on doing a bit of dancing but I think the likelihood is it will join the other New Year’s resolutions in the resolutions dump.

Nadiya: It makes you [Larry] happy I think, when you do it and you’re not too worried about other things and I think Larry’s approach is perfect.