CLIVE Uter spent so much time dancing in front of the television as a youngster that he used to wear out his parent's carpets.Now a 23-year-old, Clive still won't stop dancing.

CLIVE Uter spent so much time dancing in front of the television as a youngster that he used to wear out his parent's carpets.

Now a 23-year-old, Clive still won't stop dancing. The only difference is today he is dancing on the television, not in front of it.

The former Gusford Primary High and Chantry High School student is heading for fame as one of the 20 finalists in television's Strictly Dance Fever.

Fronted by Graham Norton, the talent programme is looking to find the country's best amateur dancing duo.

Although Clive is now based in London, his family are eagerly watching on from their Plover Road home and encouraging the people of Ipswich to support him.

Eudene Uter, his mother, said: “Dancing has always been what he wanted to do.

“It was his choice to go to dance school and he entered this competition without even telling us.

“We are just like other parents, telling him to do his best and that hopefully he will get through the first round. He shouldn't be thinking about winning yet, he should just take it a week at a time.”

Clive, an insurance worker by day, started dancing when he was seven years old with the former Arlington Dance Group, based in Museum Street.

The pinnacle of his dancing career so far was making the World Under 21 Youth Latin Championship Final.

In Strictly Dance Fever, now in its second series, Clive is partnered with Icelandic Helga Helgadottir, who he has been dancing with for 18 months.

They chose Latin and ballroom as their dance style and have been whittled down to the final ten partners from thousands of people who auditioned.

The finalists are living in the Strictly Dance Fever mansion and will dance live for eight weeks, each week facing the axe.

Mrs Uter and her husband Morris will be travelling to London on today to watch the show live.

Mr Uter said: “We are very proud. I think he will come across well on television as he has a good personality. A lot depends on that as it is viewers who vote the dancers off as well as the judges.

“He's always been mad on dancing. He cost us a fortune as he was always wearing out the carpets and we used to have to send him outside to dance.

“He comes to Ipswich most weekends as a lot of his friends are here and I hope they all vote for him.”

Also cheering Clive on is his brothers Robert, 31, and Ian, 29, sister Dawn, 21, and friend Robert Fisher who he danced with as a youngster.

Mr Fisher said: “He was always destined for higher places.

“He's totally committed to his dancing, he's just a local lad who has done good and he has lots of friends here supporting him.”

WEBLINK:

www.bbc.co.uk/strictlydancefever

Albert Einstein famously said “Dancers are the athletes of God” and playwright Samuel Beckett once said “Dance first. Think later. It's the natural order.”