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Jan Ravens dancing with Anton Du Beke
Jan Ravens (born May 14, 1958) is an English actress and impressionist. She is famous for her voices on ‘Spitting Image’ and ‘Dead Ringers’. She has also appeared on ‘Just A Minute’ on Radio 4, and Dictionary Corner on Channel 4's ‘Countdown’, even though ‘Dead Ringers’ parodies that same show.
In ‘Dead Ringers’ she imitates ‘Newsnight’ host Kirsty Wark, Charlotte Green of BBC Radio 4, Ellen MacArthur, Nigella Lawson, Ann Widdecombe, Hyacinth Bucket, Queen Elizabeth, stern-faced Gillian McKeith, Sophie Raworth and Fiona Bruce of BBC News, Anne Robinson of The Weakest Link, Lesley Garrett, and the Geordie-accented wife of David Archer, Ruth, from Radio 4 soap, The Archers.
Jan Ravens in Series Four
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Jan Ravens (BBC Profile)
Comedy actress Jan Ravens is delighted to be taking part in Strictly Come Dancing as she's always wanted to learn ballroom dance.
"I love to strut my stuff on the dance floor but this is something totally different. This is dancing with a partner and the idea of humiliating myself on TV in front of millions of people seemed irresistible of course!"
Last time Jan danced was at Jon Culshaw's birthday party in June and she coincidentally met her dance partner there.
"I spent all night on the dance floor shaking my funky stuff only to turn round at the end of the evening to see Anton Du Beke standing in the corner. I wouldn't have dared to ask him to dance though."
Apart from showing everyone how it's done at Jon Culshaw's birthday, Jan did a bit of dance at drama school, but says it was more 'expressive dance' rather than choreographed routines.
Her other dance experience has been through impersonating stars like Beyonce, Gwen Stefani and Madonna for Dead Ringers.
Jan is probably best-known as all the female per formances for Dead Ringers, both the TV and radio versions.
She has also appeared as Janet Grimley in The Grimleys, Alistair McGowan's Big Impression and Bremner, Bird and Fortune.
Jan lives in London with her husband Max and her three sons.
Jan Ravens dancing with Anton Du Beke in Series Four
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Anton Du Beke
Anton is a typical English gentleman with a naughty sense of humour who specialises in ballroom dancing. He is IDTA Classic Champion 2003. His professional dance partner is Erin Boag, who also appears in Strictly Come Dancing.
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