Strictly Come Dancing's HRVY has revealed nerves nearly got the better of him ahead of his show-stopping debut after pleading with producers to perform anywhere but last.

The singer and Youtube star, real name Harvey Cantwell, from Hartley , dazzled audiences with his hip-thrusting routine last Saturday.

It was a case of saving the best until last as the 21-year-old – who used to go to Dartford 's Leigh Academy – took to the floor with dance partner Janette Manrara.

But HRVY has revealed nerves nearly got the better of him on the night and he even asked the show's producers if he could perform anywhere but last on the billing.

Speaking to KentOnline he said: "I will never get over nerves when I have to perform," before adding "I didn't want to be last".

The pop star said after his fellow contestants had "smashed their performances" and the TV cameras rolled on his nerves nearly took over.

However, HRVY soon sprung into action and delivered a jousting jive which was met with unanimous approval by the judges with one even labelling it the 'best first dance ever' .

"I think the live shows took me by surprise," he said. "I've done live things before, but for some reason when you see the red light on the camera and you're dancing it just feels completely different.

"It almost throws you a little bit because you know behind that camera there are millions of people watching at home – it is very scary."

The pop star, who has performed in front of sold out shows with the likes of Little Mix and The Vamps, confessed he found performing to smaller, socially distanced crowds scarier than the big gigs.

"There's less faces in the audience and you see everyone's faces – it's not just like a big crowd of people," he said.

Despite these changes he explains the "atmosphere is still amazing", with all the pros and celebrities on tables at the side cheering each other on.

HRVY even wowed professional dancers on social media but is refusing to get carried away after the first week, and says he is just happy to be on the show.

It comes after the former CBBC presenter nearly didn't make the cut following his positive test for Covid-19 – but he has since recovered and been cleared to participate.

The singer revealed he genuinely didn't think he'd be able to take part this year so was chuffed to be able to.

He said: "It was pretty scary because I didn't think I was going to be doing the show. I kinda thought you know what maybe not this year, maybe next year we will do it and it wasn't meant to be this year.

"But the BBC were incredible and they managed to move everything around so the day I got tested negative I could come back to the studio and do everything I missed in one day."

"I met my partner, I did all these photo shoots...everything in a couple of hours which was mental."

Quarantine was not too bad for HRVY however, who confessed to enjoying being able to spend some downtime with his family at their Kent home.

"When I come home back to Hartley I love it, it is like home home."

"Last year I went to 27 different countries so I was very lucky and for the last probably four or five years I haven't really been home much," he said.

"So when I come home back to Hartley I love it, it is like home home."

HRVY has more than two million Youtube subscribers and 4.5 million followers on Instagram but two of his biggest fans can be found rooting for him back home.

He said: "My mum loves it and she is a big fan of Strictly. I've never seen her be so excited about anything when I told her I was going to be on it this year... and my nan as well, my nan thinks I'm a massive celebrity now.

"She says you're on Strictly now so that's it. They are very proud, my mum even made custom t-shirts of my face."

Stardom has not stopped the singer from keeping in touch with friends from his school days at Dartford 's Leigh Academy.

"We've got a group chat from my old school so we all still speak," he said.

"They also sent the screenshots in from a Facebook post of my school teachers talking about me being on Strictly and how they are going to watch it and how they are very proud, stuff like that so that was really nice."

Next up for the pop sensation this Saturday is the Viennese Waltz and Harvey admits he's been struggling a bit with the slow ballroom routine.

"Completely different to the jive that I did last week," he said. "Obviously it's very slow, more kind of elegant, you have to be more flexible and I'm neither of those.

"I need to work on that but I think that's the point of the show. Some things are not going to be amazing and you've got to work on them and grow through the show."

He coyly quipped: "On Saturday there will be slightly different scores to last week I'm pretty sure."

Professional dance partner Janette has been putting HRVY through his paces with a tough training regime but has also sought to ensure ensure he keeps a clean bill of health.

He said: "Janette has been amazing she's been on the show for like eight years which is crazy and she knows everything.

"She's been really patient with me, she's looked after me, she's been giving me vitamins everyday.

"It get's quite tiresome but I'm enjoying it still and it's the challenge – I wanted to be challenged."

Fellow contestants include Nicola Adams, Bill Bailey, Jamie Laing and Maisie Smith, They are all part of a Whatsapp group where they share how they are getting on and offer support.

"We all really get on and there is good banter - it's a really good year."

Strictly Come Dancing continues tonight on BBC One.

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