Stacey Dooley has credited her work ethic with helping her clinch the Strictly Come Dancing glitterball trophy on last year’s show.

The documentary maker won the 2018 series with dance partner – and new boyfriend – Kevin Clifton, beating Steps singer Faye Tozer, YouTuber Joe Sugg and Pussycat Dolls star Ashley Roberts.

In an interview with The Guardian, Stacey joked she “deserved to win” because she “worked harder than everyone else”.

When she was asked if she expected to be crowned the winner of the BBC dance show, she said:  “I thought: ‘Why not – someone’s got to win it.’” 

She adds that she “deserved” to win because she “worked really hard”, stating: “I didn’t know how to waltz beforehand, I didn’t know what a ballroom frame looked like.”

When she was asked if she worked harder than everyone else she said “Yes”, before bursting out laughing.

The 32-year-old credits her mum with instilling such a dedicated work ethic in her, which she describes as “one of my few talents”.

“I’ve always had a decent work ethic,” she says. “Probably because of my mother, when it was just her and me. She just worked so hard. She’d get up at silly o’clock, clean her pal’s house, then do her day job, then work in pubs at night.” 

In the same interview, Stacey also speaks about her romance with Kevin for the first time, revealing they have turned down tens of thousands of pounds for interviews about their relationship.

Their relationship became public when Stacey’s ex, Sam Tucknott, revealed his former partner had begun dating Kevin shortly after they split. 

“Kev and I have agreed not to go into too much detail about our private lives because you can’t really indulge that and then ask for privacy,” she said.

“That’s why we’ve turned down interviews that have offered us tens of thousands of pounds.

“What I am happy to say is Kev’s amazing, I’m happy, life happens, I’ve got an amazing career and I’m very lucky.”