Frankie Bridge has said her Saturdays bandmate Mollie King is nervous about appearing in Strictly Come Dancing because she is “a little slower at picking things up”.

But Bridge, who was a runner-up in the BBC One dancing show in 2014 with professional dancer Kevin Clifton, said that she has “every faith” in her colleague when she takes to the dance floor for the new series, which kicks off with its first live programme on Saturday.

Bridge told ITV’s Lorraine that she believes it is harder for pop stars who perform on stage, because “people assume you’re a trained dancer”.

Mollie King
Mollie King (BBC)

“But neither of us were, and it’s completely different,” she said.

“I mean, in The Saturdays we did a lot of (posing), and walking, which isn’t quite the same as ballroom and Latin, but (King) is a little slower at picking things up which I think is making her nervous.

“But I have every faith in her, obviously.”

She said that King and her professional dance partner AJ Pritchard “get on really well”.

King is one of 15 celebrities taking on the popular dancing show for its 15th series, and Bridge said that her friend is “going to look great in every costume”.

Mollie King and Frankie Bridge
Mollie King and Frankie Bridge (Dominic Lipinski/PA)

Bridge added: “She’s an amazing dancer, she’s very nervous, but I knew she would want to do it because whenever I had Kevin at work, she’d always get him to give her a little twirl around, so I knew she’d be on it as soon as she could.

“She’s absolutely loving her life, which I knew she would.”

The singer appeared on the daily programme alongside husband Wayne Bridge, who said that he would also be keen to take a turn on the Strictly dance floor.

Asked by the show’s host Lorraine Kelly if he would do it, the retired footballer said: “I would, I’d like to win to be honest, because then I’d have one up on Frankie!”