Flavia Cacace moved from Naples to Guildford at five, too shy to speak a word of English. She grew up to win the Strictly Glitterball twice, earn two Olivier nominations and dance beside Vincent Simone for 25 years.
In this episode of Talking to the Living, Stuart Michael sits down with Flavia Cacace-Mistry to trace a life built almost entirely on instinct. They go back to the shy child in a Guildford dance hall, the tango film that pulled her and Vincent onto television, the 2012 final she won with gymnast Louis Smith and the trip to Paris where actor Jimi Mistry proposed with a poem. Then the conversation turns, and Stuart reads what he senses is coming for her, from a production company in her own name to a home abroad. He also unpicks a strange recurring dream about a Land Rover and what it says about how fast she wants her next chapter to arrive.
If you have ever watched Strictly and wondered what the professionals are really like off camera, or you have ever asked whether the universe is quietly nudging you toward your next move, this one is for you.
CHAPTERS
(00:00:00) Cold open: one of the OGs, and the choice that changed everything
(00:01:53) Meet Flavia Cacace, born in Naples, youngest of six
(00:03:27) The shy girl who learned English in six months
(00:06:16) The mum who pushed her to dance, and Hurley's in Guildford
(00:09:20) Medals first, then the competitive floor at 14
(00:11:55) Meeting Vincent Simone, two southern Italians who met in the UK
(00:19:04) An Argentine tango film, Dance Fever and the road to Strictly
(00:24:45) The crossroads: join the show or chase the world championships
(00:31:37) Russell Grant, mama Rose, and dancing with the celebrities
(00:33:41) Falling for Jimi Mistry, and the surprise proposal in Paris
