Louise Redknapp has said she is praying she stays in Strictly Come Dancing long enough for her mother-in-law to watch her perform again.
Sandra Redknapp, the wife of former Premier League manager Harry and mother of Louise’s husband Jamie, has been unable to attend the live shows since she was left on crutches following an accident in October.
Harry was reportedly dropping his wife off at the shops when he ran over her with his Range Rover after he drove off with her coat trapped in the door.
The former Eternal singer, who is due to perform the Quickstep on Saturday’s show, told the Press Association: “Jamie’s mum and dad have loved the show. His mum had that accident though so I’m praying I stay in long enough for her to come back.
“She hasn’t been up to it but I’m hoping she will be back.
“Jamie’s dad is waiting for her to be well enough to come too. They are hugely supportive.”
Louise, 42, says the show has given her back the confidence she had lost and reminded her of the love of performing she felt before she had her two sons.
She said: “Strictly is all about being very flamboyant and glitzy and sparkly and I am the least sparkly woman in the world.
“As a mum and a woman being indoors, that became my life. I was just being me and going out with my girlfriends and picking the kids up and then I was standing there (on the dancefloor) and it was all out of my control.
“For the first few weeks I was really scared and everyone seemed really confident and I thought ‘Where has my confidence gone?’
“Over the weeks it has made a huge difference, having people voting for me, people picking up the phone and keeping me in. Every week is a bonus.”
However, Louise, who is currently backing the American Express Shop Small campaign to support independent businesses, says she is not planning to use her Strictly appearance to relaunch her career.
She said: “Everybody goes on for different reasons. I’ve had a great career and that was never the drive.
“I never wanted to be famous. I’ve been there and done that and I’ve got my family now and they come first.
“If an amazing opportunity comes along, great, but I’m not going looking for it.
“It was about getting myself out there and going back to performing, I had forgotten how much I love it.”
Despite making it to the final five, Louise still cannot contemplate winning the show.
She said: “I can’t even get my head around the idea. I just focus on one week at a time and have no other thoughts.”
