Strictly Come Dancing - Mark Ramprakash back on the dancefloor

20 December 2007 - Series four winner Mark Ramprakash has been back on the dancefloor this week to rehearse for the Christmas special.

The cricketer and partner Karen Hardy have managed to regain their chemistry and are very excited about returning to the ballroom, they said.

Speaking to the official BBC Strictly Come Dancing website, Karen said Mark has not changed one bit and she can sense his moods - -just like when they were competing.

"Even though Mark and I haven't danced for a year now it was a surprise to see I can still read his facial expressions," she remarked.

"She can read me like a book - anything on my face. If I'm frustrated she knows to back off," Mark added.

The couple fought off stiff competition in series four from the likes of Emma Bunton and Darren Bennett, and Matt Dawson and Lilia Kopylova - who they eventually beat in the final.

Mark is the second cricketer to have won Strictly Come Dancing, following Darren Gough's victory over Colin Jackson in series three.

This year's winner will either be Alesha Dixon with partner Matthew Cutler, or Matt Di Angelo and Flavia Cacace.

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