Strictly Come Dancing’s Saffron Barker says Joe Sugg’s success has left her ‘feeling the pressure’

Saffron Barker said she is “feeling the pressure” to do well in Strictly Come Dancing after Joe Sugg was a runner-up in last year’s competition.

The YouTuber, 19, said she hoped to follow in Sugg’s footsteps after he won over critics and fans last year.

Reflecting on her feelings ahead of the launch show, Barker told Standard Online and other reporters she was “definitely” feeling the pressure.

“I think he [Joe] felt the pressure being the first, and he did so well, so I feel like I have a lot to live up to,” she said.

“I’m hoping I do follow in his footsteps. It’s really nice as well because a lot of people who watch TV did know who he was, it’s so nice that his personality just shone.

“I’m hoping the same thing will happen to me.”

Barker, who has more than 2 million subscribers on her YouTube, said she was not sure if her regular fans will watch her on Strictly.

Speaking ahead of the show’s launch, she admitted: “I hope so but I’m not sure. All my audience watch YouTube, they don’t watch TV. It’s such a different thing.

“A lot of them have said they are going to go over and watch it. But whether or not that happens I think we’ll have to wait and see.”

Sugg, 27, was the first YouTuber to take part in the competition.

After making it to the final, he began dating dance partner Dianne Buswell and the pair remain a couple.

Next week, he’ll make his debut in the West End musical Waitress.

The Strictly Come Dancing launch show airs on BBC1 on Saturday 7 September, at 7.10pm