Maslen struggling with 'Strictly' workload

Scott Maslen is struggling with his intense EastEnders and Strictly workloads, Natalie Lowe has revealed.

The soap star, who is one of the bookmakers' favourites to win the series, has been struggling squeeze in rehearsal time with his pro partner because of his busy TV schedule.

Lowe appeared on It Take Two alone yesterday, admitting that she had sent Maslen home to catch up on his sleep.

"He has got extremely long hours and in EastEnders he has got some really full-on storylines," she said. "With me, he is rehearsing late and this evening we were rehearsing, but I had to tell him to go home and get some sleep.

"He's pretty much coming in to me like a blank canvass. But he's giving it his all. He came in to me today, we got a two-hour gap, he said that he wasn't sure he could do it, but he got up and gave me two amazing hours of American Smooth. So it's not for the want of trying."

Lowe also revealed that the pair were struggling to find places to rehearse because the only spare time they had was in the evenings.

"We work at night time and we don't have the days. But that's the name of the game. And dancing in a shoebox is better than nothing at all," said the Australian pro dancer.

Strictly continues on Saturday at 6.30pm on BBC One.