FORMER ballerina Darcey Bussell is taking her new role as one of the Strictly Come Dancing judges seriously. She’s even been in training for it.

“I decided I wanted to learn some of the Latin and ballroom dances so that I could have a really good understanding of them, so I took myself off to a studio to have some dance lessons myself,” she says.

“I’ve been working really hard on getting to know the nitty, gritty side of ballroom and Latin dancing and all the different techniques.

“One of the professional dancers, Ian Waite, has been helping me a lot. I know him well. It’s exciting and what I like about Strictly is the fact that there are no negative vibes.”

She was a guest judge a couple of years ago and says she’s excited and nervous about returning permanently. So what sort of judge will she be? “I’m not shy and will give constructive criticism. I want to make the contestants feel they have got something they can work on to make it a better performance. I don’t want to put people down.

“I’ll be looking for how a celebrity moves and how they tell a story. I have always loved the theatrical side of dancing and so I will be looking for that aspect in a performance.

“It’s such a buzz to be on the panel. The other judges are all so lovely and they have been incredibly charming to me.

They have all been so welcoming.”

She’s known Waite for a long time and then last year she was in a show, Hollywood Dance, when she interviewed the professional dancers about their heroes.

“So yes, I do know many of them already.

I know how much work they put into Strictly and how tiring it can be,” she says.

Bussell has moved back to Britain from Australia, where she’s lived for the past four-and-a-half years, to take the Strictly job.

“It’s nice to be back with my friends and family and what a job to return to. I was also lucky enough to perform at this year’s Olympic Closing Ceremony, which was just so brilliant. My children are really excited about me being on Strictly too and my husband is very supportive.

“Hopefully, the celebrities will enjoy the experience. They will go on quite a journey but I hope they will think it is an amazing one.”

But wouldn’t she rather be up there dancing than sitting on the judging panel? “No. I am very happy to be in my judging seat. It’s going to be so much fun and I would never have taken on this job if it weren’t so.”

The tenth series of Strictly gets under way with a double helping – tonight and tomorrow – in which contestants dance either a waltz or a chacha.

Viewers had a glimpse of what to expect a couple of weeks ago when the celebrities discovered the identity of their professional partners.

There’s already been an injury in training with Aliona Vilani, who won last year with McFly’s Harry Judd, fracturing an ankle in training. She’ll be out of action for at least a fortnight.

Her partner, Johnny Ball, at 74 the oldest person ever to compete in the show, will now take to the dancefloor with Iveta Lukosiuto.

He knows how hard the competition is for the celebrities, as his daughter, Zoe, came third in the 2005 series. She now hosts Strictly’s nightly sister show, It Takes Two.

“I kept it secret from Zoe for over six weeks, which I hated doing, as we tell each other everything,” he says.

“She’s over the moon with excitement.

I know that on It Takes Two she will be as impartial as is possible for a girl who loves her dad. For me, the great worry is causing her embarrassment.”