Fern Britton has revealed that she regrets appearing on Strictly Come Dancing, stating that the experience was far more stressful than she anticipated. Speaking on the White Wine Question Time podcast with Kate Thornton, the former This Morning presenter admitted she should have declined the offer to compete in the tenth series of the BBC show in 2012.
Fern Britton's Regret Over Strictly
"Probably a no to Strictly, because it was exhausting," Fern told Kate. "Not the dancing and everything, but the sort of stress of it, and the emotional aspect of it, was huge. So, if I was young again, I wouldn't do that." She added that she would advise a younger person about the emotional toll: "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. 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."
Her Time on the Show
Fern was partnered with professional dancer Artem Chigvintsev and managed to reach week six before being eliminated in the dance-off. At the time, she praised the show, calling it "the best party on television" and "the best programme in the world." However, in 2015, she disclosed a more difficult side to her experience, alleging that Artem was verbally and physically harsh during rehearsals.
"We would be in hold and he would look at my feet and just kick me or shove me," Fern claimed to The Huffington Post UK. She alleged that Artem said things like, "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." She added, "We did love each other for a moment or two, but he wasn't charm personified."
Artem Chigvintsev's Response
In response to Fern's allegations, Artem released a statement to the Express, saying, "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."
