Import Data from Excel into Keynote

I am new to using Keynote and whist I love the animation and graphics, the data entry into the chart function is driving me mad. I have an excel spreadsheet with 2 series of data (in columns B & C) and a column with dates in (Column A) (so 3 columns in total).

I want to paste the dates into the top row of the table in Keynote (to replace the years that appear there by default), then series 1 in the row below that and series 2 in the row below that. Simple? Not a chance!

Once I have deleted the default years I cannot select that row to paste in my new dates, or paste the data from the other series into the rows below. What am I doing wrong?

Is it because I trying to paste columns into rows? Do I have to add extra columns and rows before I paste in? (I hope not as I have 2423 cells of data per series!)

Any help would be greatly appreciated as I am trying to animate some graphs to go into a film I am making on FCP and the client wants to the film by tomorrow.

Thanks in advance