‘He’s such a groover,” says Zoe Magee, a special needs classroom assistant who is dancing with Jay Beatty in Portadown Cares does Strictly Come Dancing this year.

“He’s mad craic,” said Zoe who works as a special needs classroom assistant at Seagoe Primary School and is raising money for Downs and Proud.

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Special needs classroom assistant Zoe Magee has teamed up with Lurgan native Jay Beatty to take part in this year's Portadown Cares Strictly Come Dancing in aid of Downs and Proud. It is taking place at the Seagoe Hotel in Portadown on March 7.

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She took part in the popular dance competition last year raising money for the same charity as she works with a little boy Noah who has Downs Syndrome.

Zoe, who does painting classes for children, did a free session for Downs and Proud last year and met Jay for the first time.

"I hadn’t planned to go back this year to do Strictly as I’d done it last year with my husband Jonathan,” said the former Portadown College pupil adding she then thought of Jay and wondered if he would be interested in doing it and try to raise money for Downs and Proud.

She approached Portadown Cares. “They were delighted and knew who he was,” said Zoe who then contacted Aine, Jay’s mum, and they met up to do a practice to see if he would like it.

"Jay is always happy and the wee boy I work with is as well. Jay absolutely loved it. We had our first session 2 weeks ago and he is just delighted to be doing it,” says Zoe.

"We are having so much fun and it's brilliant for him. It's just to spread awareness of the charity and raise some funds,” she said.

"Everybody knows Jay. We were in Brownlow Hub the other night practising and everybody knew him,” said the former Clounagh Junior High School pupil who laughed recalling how Jay is keeping her in check about getting the steps right.

Zoe has been a special needs assistant for 16 years and has worked with a young girl who was profoundly deaf and another little boy with Downs Syndrome.

Asked how her husband feels about his wife getting a new dancing partner, Zoe laughed and said: “He didn’t care. I wasn’t going back to Strictly dancing with him again. He didn’t practice or anything and just left it all to the night. He doesn’t mind at all."

Zoe doesn’t have a dancing background but loves Strictly Come Dancing. “We are all quite crazy and creative in our house,” she said.

Her son is an actor – Jessie Magee and her daughter Lily is a model. Another son Maxy also does a bit of acting. Jessie has been in Trespasses, Call the Midwife and Game of Thrones to mention a few. Her husband Jonathan has also had roles in Game of Thrones too.

Zoe has a cabin in her back garden and takes painting classes for kids – Painting with Mrs Magee. Her husband is a carpenter and he carves wooden items for the children to paint at birthday parties and special occasions.

Portadown Cares does Strictly Come Dancing is on March 7 this year at the Seagoe Hotel in Portadown.

Here is a link to anyone who wishes to donate to the cause.

Zoe is so excited to take part with Jay. “It’s about inclusion too and for him to be able to,” she said.