Kimberley Walsh says Cheryl Cole forced her into taking part in Strictly Come Dancing

By Louise Saunders

PUBLISHED: 15:12 EST, 15 September 2012 | UPDATED: 17:23 EST, 15 September 2012

They're the best of friends, and have travelled the world together as part of Girls Aloud.

But Kimberley Walsh has joked her bandmate Cheryl Cole 'forced' her in to agreeing to take part in Strictly Come Dancing.

And the 30-year-old beauty plans to 'blame' the Fight For This Love singer if her stint on the BBC One show goes wrong.

Pals: Kimberley Walsh joked that her Girls Aloud bandmate Cheryl Cole 'forced' her into taking part in Strictly Come Dancing

Pals: Kimberley Walsh joked that her Girls Aloud bandmate Cheryl Cole 'forced' her into taking part in Strictly Come Dancing

Pals: Kimberley Walsh joked that her Girls Aloud bandmate Cheryl Cole 'forced' her into taking part in Strictly Come Dancing

Kimberley said: 'Cheryl forced me into doing this, so if it all goes wrong I'm blaming her.'

Dressed in a super-sexy gold sequinned cut-out gown, the Shrek: The Musical star admitted she was worried about taking on the challenge of learning how to ballroom dance.

She explained: 'I think people will assume that I should be able to dance pretty well. I've never done ballroom dancing before though, so it's definitely going to be a challenge.'

But Kimberley - who is partnered alongside professional dancer Pasha Kovalev - isn't the only contestant worried about adopting a new skill.

New challenge: Kimberley admitted she was worried about learning how to ballroom dance, and has been taking tips from Cheryl

New challenge: Kimberley admitted she was worried about learning how to ballroom dance, and has been taking tips from Cheryl

Fellow pop star Nicky Byrne joked that the closest he ever came to dancing while in Irish boyband Westlife was standing up from a stool.

He said: 'The closest we ever came to dancing in Westlife was standing up on a key change.'

Meanwhile, curvaceous actress Lisa Riley joked that she wanted to take part in Strictly Come Dancing 'for all the chubbers out there', while Denise van Outen is looking forward to 'Essex-ing it up' in sequins, spangles and fake tan.

The moment of truth: The Strictly Come Dancing celebrities eagerly waited to find out who their professional partners would be

The moment of truth: The Strictly Come Dancing celebrities eagerly waited to find out who their professional partners would be

Taking to the dancefloor: Judge Len Goodman admitted this is the first year he has known all of the celebrities taking part in Strictly Come Dancing

Taking to the dancefloor: Judge Len Goodman admitted this is the first year he has known all of the celebrities taking part in Strictly Come Dancing

Kimberley previously admitted Cheryl has been helping her learn a few steps ahead of the launch show.

She told The Sun: 'Cheryl's never been asked to do Strictly but she wouldn't be allowed - she's too good.

'She has been helping me with some steps. I asked her to show me an absolutely basic waltz, but even then I forgot af! ter abou t five minutes.'

Excited: Lisa Riley joked that she was taking part in the show 'for the chubbers'

Excited: Lisa Riley joked that she was taking part in the show 'for the chubbers'