New Strictly star Emma Barton: I’m not leaving EastEnders!

EastEnders star Emma Barton attends the Strictly Come Dancing launch

(Image credit: WireImage)

Strictly star reassures fans that Honey is staying in Walford

Emma Barton is about to dazzle the nation, twirling beneath the glitterballs on this year’s Strictly. But she’s keen to reassure EastEnders fans that this doesn’t mean she is leaving soapland.

“I’m going to have to juggle filming with Strictly but I will manage both because I’m a hard worker,” says Emma, who left the soap twice before, in 2008 and 2014.

Emma Barton as Honey Mitchell in EastEnders — EastEnders favourite Emma Barton says Honey isn't going anywhere! (Image credit: BBC/Kieron McCarron)

“Honey’s not going anywhere; she’s just swapping the tabard for a bit of sparkle for now.

"Strictly is the best, it’s the classiest show you can do so it would be really silly to say no to it.”

Strictly Come Dancing 2019 Tess and Claudia — Claudia and Tess are ready for Strictly Come Dancing 2019... but is EastEnders star Emma?! (Image credit: BBC/David Oldham)

Although Emma has some West End experience under her belt, she reveals she’s still nervous about learning a completely new style of dance. “I haven’t done any dancing or any sort of movement for about eight years, but I’ve got musicality,” she says.

“I’ve not trained specifically in dance but from the age of 18 I did three years of musical theatre school so I do know some of the basics. However I was at the bottom of every dance class – that’s a true fact – so it will be great to start again. I’m willing to learn and I’m a hard worker but the fast dances worry me.”

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Fans will see which of the pro dancers Emma will be paired with when the launch show airs this Saturday night on BBC1.

The bookies favourites to lift this year’s glitterball are footballer Alex Scott and Corrie star Catherine Tyldesley but that could all change once we see them in the ballroom!

Main picture of Emma Barton: WireImage