Television presenter Fern Britton has revealed that appearing on Strictly Come Dancing is something she would decline if given a second chance, nearly 15 years after her stint on the show. The 68-year-old former This Morning host made the admission on the White Wine Question Time podcast, hosted by Kate Thornton.
Fern Britton's Regret Over Strictly Experience
When asked which 'yes' and 'no' in her life she would flip, Britton initially discussed her two divorces—from celebrity chef Phil Vickery and Clive Jones—but quickly clarified she did not regret the marriages themselves. Instead, she shifted focus to her time on the BBC dance competition. 'I'm not into regrets, but one thing I do regret is having been divorced twice. I regret, not the divorce exactly, but how that situated my children—that was a big one,' she said. 'But I can't say that saying yes to either husband was a no because it wasn't, it was great until it isn't.'
'Exhausting' and 'Stressful' Dance Journey
Britton then turned to Strictly, stating: 'Actually, probably a no to Strictly, because it was exhausting. Not the dancing and everything, but the sort of stress of it and emotional aspect of it was huge. So, if I was young again, I wouldn't do that.' She added that she would advise a young person: 'This is how it's going to feel, this is how it's going to be, and you can either do it or you don't.' Reflecting on her unpreparedness, she said: 'I wasn't ready for it I guess, mentally ready for that, so perhaps I should have said no to that. It was great, but it was just one of those things that was tricky.'
Partnership with Artem Chigvintsev
Britton appeared on the tenth series of Strictly Come Dancing in 2012, partnered with professional dancer Artem Chigvintsev. The couple were the fifth to be eliminated, with the series eventually won by Olympic gymnast Louis Smith and his partner Flavia Cacace. Following her elimination, Britton made allegations about Chigvintsev's behaviour, claiming he 'kicked and shoved' her during training. She recounted him saying: 'Shut your face. Go home before I kill you,' and 'If you go for a cup of tea now, I will blow off like an atomic bomb.'
Artem Chigvintsev's Denial
Chigvintsev denied the allegations in an interview with the Daily Express, stating: 'I believe I treated Fern with respect and genuine care and these claims about me are the opposite of everything I believe in and the person I am. I cannot imagine what has prompted such statements which come as a shock to me.'
