Strictly Stories

Strictly Show Talks

Thank you for your support on the latest chapter! This one focuses on Strictly again and it was a request from @craigycuddles with the prompt being about Craig and Jonathan meeting the band. Hope you all enjoy reading it! Next chapter will be focusing on Steps again and as always, feel free to comment if there's an request you would like to read :)

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Faye:

The cast of Strictly walks through the backstage area, talking loudly and singing along to the songs we were previously dancing too. Today we performed in London and again it was just such a great show! The audience who cheers to us, the atmosphere - I can only repeat myself with saying that I just love it here so much. Giovanni and me didn't win the show itself but we're still happy about the opportunity to perform an these shows across England now too. And so we're in a very happy mood - especially as for this show, the band attended too. During performing our dances it was so lovely to know that they're here in the audience as well - they even are allowed to come backstage with me now. 

H is singing along to the song our Charleston was performed to, making not only the band but also Giovanni laugh. "Honestly, you nail that." my dance partner tells him.

"Thank you!" H chirps, humming along. "So, what's planned? Isn't it a day-off now?"

"Yes and we usually go celebrating with the cast then. But you can come and join too." I tell them. 

"That's great! Just like we know it." H replies, opening the door to my dressing room to take his stuff. "We'll wait for you, I bet you don't want to go celebrating in that dress."

"No, not at all." I giggle.

"Hey partner, I'm going over to my dressing room too. See you soon!" Giovanni says, waving at me and the band before walking off. 

"See you!" I tell him. Just as I'm about to go to my dressing room, I see the band turning around and we all spot someone walking over to us. It's Craig, waving at us as if to make us listen. Though I can already imagine what he wants to ask us, I saw that his boyfriend Jonathan was in the audience too and well, he would love to meet the band so his question seems obvious. 

"Hello." he greets us. 

"Is that the mean judge you told us about?" H asks, obviously teasing me but I still blush upon seeing Craig frowning amused.

"I didn't said that he's 'mean' actually. He's just honest with the contestants and- oh, honestly stop teasing me." I laugh. 

"No need to explain something, I know that." Craig laughs back. "Well. I'm glad too see you because my boyfriend would like to meet you all." he quickly explains, confirming my thoughts. 

"How cute!" Lisa exclaims. "Where's he?"

"At his dressing room. He's a bit shy but as we're all going to a bar, how about meeting with him there? You could perform a little dance for him." he jokes.

"Of course we can." Lee replies, implying a bit of our choreography while laughing too. "No but for real, we can meet with him. Always lovely too see people still liking our music. We're just going to take our stuff and then we're off to the bar too." 

"Thank you." Craig replies thankfully. "Really. It will make him so happy and when he's happy, I'm happy too. And he definitely loves the band. So thank you very much."

"You're welcome." Lisa replies politely. "And might I tell you, that you're much nicer than on the show."

"Thanks." Craig says, laughing at her honest words. "See you!"

A while later we're all at the bar, looking for Craig and Jonathan. They're sitting at a table with the other judges and we slowly make our way towards them, a bit shy to be honest. H, being his usual self, starts to talk. "Hello!" he chirps. "We're Steps!"

I'm glad that he's like that, that always makes the rest of us less shy because it's just so amusing when he's saying that. 

"Hello, I'm- what?!" Jonathan half-asks upon turning around to us. Then a wide smile appears on his face, he's grinning full of fascination. 

"Hello." Claire says politely, stretching out her hand to greet Jonathan. He just stares at us all for a while before stretching out his hand too, greeting everyone. 

"We heard that you like our music." H says, taking a chair as he sits down. "And as we were at the show too, we thought that we all could share a little talk together."

"Of course!" Jonathan chirps. "Take a seat! Would you like a drink? Did I really just asked you that?" he says, speaking to no one in particular. 

"Come on, let's go and order something for us all." H says, pointing over to the bar. "And meanwhile we can talk about band stuff." 

Jonathan looks totally stunned but still quickly walks behind H as they make their way towards a barkeeper.

"He's so cute and happy!" Lisa laughs. "And it seems like he really loves the band."

"Oh, he does." Craig replies. "Sometimes he puts your music on and sings along."

That puts a smile to all of our faces. Of course we know that people like to do that - and we all love that! - but it's always sweet to hear. 

"So there we are, back with the drinks." H announces as he and Jonathan arrive at our table. 

They sit down before Jonathan starts to talk, almost like knowing us perfectly. "So what you're planning at the moment? Concerts? A new album? I can't believe that I'm really asking that!"

"Well we do plan a new album, indeed." Lisa giggles. "But we can't reveal too much yet."

"I bet you'll do concerts similar to 'Party on the dancefloor' or?" Jonathan questions, providing yet again that he's an insider.

"Probably, yes." Lee replies. "And you know a lot about the band, do you?" 

"Absolutely. I watched the reunion show back then too and I was so happy when you started to make music again because your music is simply great." Jonathan compliments us. "And I'm sorry if I'm a bit intrusive but- I mean, meeting Steps is just so amazing!"

"Don't worry, we're always happy to hear that." Claire quickly tells him. "Want to take a picture too?"

"Definitely!" Jonathan says, handing Craig his phone for the pictures. We all grin as Craig takes the picture before we sit down properly again. 

"So, you're planning a new album." Jonathan states curiously.

"Don't be so curious!" Craig teases which makes us all burst into laughter. 

"Yes we do. Already working on it to be exact although that's all we can reveal for now - but you can continue to be excited." I say shyly, still finding it weird to joke around with the judges who are listening to that conversation with interest. 

"Will you do some choreographies again too?" he continues. "I know, I'm curious. But it's all so interesting! I mean, talking with you all about the band itself - that is so great!" 

"We will probably include some choreography too, yes." Lee answers, smiling. 

"Like from your Charleston." H says to me, already laughing again. We continue to talk about several topics, mostly Steps and Strictly, we're doing a bit karaoke with Jonathan and share a conversation about the recent show of Strictly as well. 

After a while we decide to make our way back to the hotel. As it's a day-off for the cast, we will continue to work on our new album. 

"Thank you for your time, again." Jonathan tells us, smiling. 

"You're absolutely welcome. And thanks for supporting us too." 

He smiles back even happier now as we make our way towards the parking area, putting on an equal happy expression.