The 59-year-old wowed with her Foxtrot and Jive during last night’s instalment of the BBC series, scoring a combined total of 70.
It was the pair’s Jive that especially caught viewers’ attention, as Debbie and Giovanni bolted around the ballroom floor at lightning speed.
However, the speed almost proved too much for the former magician’s assistant, a fact which came to light during a quick conversation with Claudia Winkleman.
The presenter, 45, complimented: “You’re like a unicorn! The stamina needed for that and it’s his favourite dance – did that put you under more pressure?”
Debbie explained “It did yes, because he’s 27 and I’m heading for 60, so keeping up with him was very difficult.”
Claudia told Giovanni: “You didn’t slow it down. She said in the training room, ‘I’m 59, go slower!'”
However, the professional insisted that his partner was “better than him” during their energetic Jive.
The revelation comes after a source close to Strictly Come Dancing told The Sun that week 12 was Debbie McGee‘s “toughest” challenge on show.
They divulged: “Debbie has had to combine full days of Beauty with intense dance rehearsals in the evening.
“She’s absolutely exhausted, but she’s confident she’ll be able to pull it off again on Saturday.”
Strictly Come Dancing: The Results airs tonight on BBC One at 7.15pm.