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I notice that my colleagueÌýKate Arkell, in the last blog, said she would love to reach the final round so she can dance the jive. My goal is much less ambitious than that.

I just want to complete the first two dances without making a fool of myself.

Unlike Kate, I had never danced a step of ballroom or latin before we set out on this journey four or so weeks ago.ÌýI've done all sorts of things for charity in the past including abseiling and a parachute jump – but this is by far the toughest.

So far Ben and I have just about completed the choreography (that's too posh a word for our dance steps really) for our waltz and cha cha cha but we've barely started the quickstep or the jive and there's LESS THAN TWO WEEKS TO GO!

The staff and students at Ipswich School of Dancing have been absolutely fantastic trying to turn all of us baby elephants into graceful gazelles – Ben has spent all hours rehearsing with me.

He's a nurse at Ipswich Hospital and works shifts but hasÌýstill been enthusiastically dragging me around the dance floor in large chunks of his spare time - tonight we're going to be dancing at 9.30 pm!

No time for breakfast with Murphy

All this means Mark and I haven't seen much of each other recently – and the ironic thing is we still can't dance together either because we are not learning how to do the basics but how to do routines.

Don't tell anyone but I think we may be persuaded to go to lessons once we have this under our belts. I have to admit, apart from the stress of the impending show, I am actually quite enjoying dancing.

Ipswich School of Dancing hosted a regional dance competition at the weekend and Mark and I were asked to go along and present the prizes – it meant we got the chance to see how the dances should be done – and also the fantastic dresses we will be wearing.

I'm really looking forward to getting glammed up in our sequined outfits. Suffolk New College are booked to do our hair styles and make up (the women anyway!)Ìý and I've been told false eyelashes and rhinestones stuck to my face are a must.

I'm just hoping desperately that once we look the part costume wise – my dance moves will look the part as well.