Louie Spence – Recruit Number 14
Category: Press Pack ArticleLouie Spence is a former professional dancer and TV personality, best known for presenting the Sky One series Pineapple Dance Studios, later renamed Louie Spence’s Showbusiness. Prior to his TV fame, Louie enjoyed a successful career as a dancer, performing in productions such as Miss Saigon and Cats, as well as touring with some of the biggest acts in pop music, including the Spice Girls, Take That, and Björk. Louie later briefly served as a judge on Dancing on Ice in 2011 and has remained a regular on the pantomime circuit.
Louie has battled anxiety for much of his life and has been open about his struggles. He commented: “I have suffered with anxiety throughout my life; it became a part of who I am. I hope it will be the best thing to prove to myself how far I have come.”
Growing up, Louie was the only boy in a family with three sisters. His mother, trained in ballet, tap, and jazz, was the driving force behind his dance career. However, money was tight, and Louie’s father remortgaged the family home to pay for Louie’s tuition at the Italia Conti stage school. Louie’s first professional job came at 13, when he landed a role in the West End production of Bugsy Malone, which helped contribute to his school fees.
From a young age, Louie experienced anxiety and panic attacks, Louie believes his anxiety may be genetic, as his mother and two of his sisters also struggled with it. He is also a self-confessed hypochondriac, which he admits often worsens his anxiety.
In 2012, Louie was hit with the heartbreaking loss of his mother, which left him consumed with grief and struggling with crippling anxiety. “I was so consumed with grief. I lost the person I was – it just went. I was heartbroken and in a very weird, strange place.”
Why did you decide to take on Celebrity SAS Who Dares Wins?
I was feeling really mentally strong, and I thought it'd be a great challenge. So really it was just a thing to challenge myself mentally. I’ve watched the show before, I’ve dipped in and out and like most people, when I’ve watched it, you think you can do it. But it's different when you get there!
What were you hoping to get out of the experience?
Heights wouldn't bother me but being put underground in a coffin, that would bother me. There are certain things I’m fearless about and maybe not in other ways. I think it was just the mental challenge, really. That was it. I was feeling really mentally strong. It was the first sort of challenge that came along, the first little show, and I thought, yes, I'm gonna do this. So that was the reason.
Did to do anything to prepare for the course?
I’d been doing a bit of training, swimming, going to the gym. I always sort of keep myself fit. Do you know what I mean? I go to the gym, I do yoga, I do all those kinds of things from my background. I swam every day beforehand, so physically I felt I was in a good place. My mind was telling me that my body could still do the same things I’ve always done. I didn’t bother calling anyone who’d done the show before because I thought if I do that, then mentally it might distract me from it. I was feeling in a good place mentally, I didn't want that distraction of someone saying this and that. I didn't want to take that on board before I got there.
Who would you say you bonded with the most out of the other recruits?
I loved Chloe, Bimini, Tasha. I liked everyone but they were the ones I gravitated towards because you can have those sort of camp, fun conversations with them. But even the lads were lovely. Adam from Love Island and the singer, Lucy. Just a really lovely bunch of people. They were really positive, I didn’t feel any negativity from anyone.
Would you say you learned anything from them DS at all?
I actually looked at them and thought, ‘oh, my God', because what they do and what they've done is incredible. I could never do that for real. Do you know what I mean? They are a different breed, like doctors and surgeons and things like that. So I did look at them in that sense and think that what they really did in their day job was incredible.
What challenged you the most, the physical or mental side of the course?
Definitely the physical side of the course. Even though I've struggled with my anxiety and depression, mentally I was in a really strong, good place. It wasn't about an individual which they made very clear at the beginning, it was about the group. I love being a group player, I love being with people. But in that scenario, in the reality of it when I was there, I didn't think I was capable of being a group player.
How would you sum up your SAS experience?
It was intense, wonderful and insightful. It made me understand another part of myself and who I am and what I can challenge myself with moving forward in my life. It's given me another tool to understand myself.