Susan Calman gets fitted for first dress in 25 years for Strictly

New Strictly Come Dancing star Susan Calman is preparing to don a dress for the first time in 25 years as she gears up for the big competition.

The 4ft 10in comedian, 42, jokingly described herself as a “challenge” as she met with the BBC show’s wardrobe organisers hours after being revealed as the ninth celebrity contestant.

As the announcement was made on Jeremy Vine’s BBC Radio 2 on Tuesday, she said she had not worn a dress or heels – Strictly costume staples – since she was 17.

She later posted on Twitter: “First meeting with the lovely wardrobe people @bbcstrictly. I am what could politely be termed “a challenge”. This is going to be a blast.”

Calman, known for her appearances on comedy panel programmes QI and Mock The Week, as well as her own shows, described herself as an “enthusiastic home dancer” and admitted that she was “terrified but excited” to join the show.

After a day of well-wishes from fans, including actress Jennifer Saunders, she posted: “Thank you all so much for the unbelievably lovely messages today. Doing a show like Strictly is terrifying. You’ve been so wonderful.”

But the most important message of support came from her wife, Lee Comack, who wrote: “Well I am so excited as my beautiful wife @SusanCalman has just been announced as celebrity number 9 on Strictly Come Dancing.”

Calman told Vine: “It was three weeks of terror to this particular moment, and thank goodness it’s finally here.

“I was not allowed to tell anybody what’s happening, so it’s been confidential. But I am so excited, I’ve been a Strictly superfan for years and this is going to be the best ride possible.”

She added: “My mother will die happy to see me in a dress. To finally see me in glitter and a dress.”