Nearly five years after her stint on the BBC's flagship dance competition, Tilly Ramsay has opened up about a surprising and lasting side effect from her time on the Strictly Come Dancing live tour.
The Heat Damage That Left Tilly 'Horrified'
Speaking to The Times alongside her mother, Tana Ramsay, the 24-year-old television personality and her mum recounted the shocking impact the intense schedule had on Tilly's appearance. The culprit, according to Tana, was the relentless heat from styling tools used during the demanding tour schedule.
"It was the heat. On tour it was twice a day, every day," Tana explained. "Her thick, blonde, curly hair slowly became fragile and broken. We were both slightly horrified, weren’t we?"
Tilly, who competed on the 19th series of Strictly Come Dancing in 2021 with professional partner Nikita Kuzmin, confirmed the extent of the damage. She admitted it took "a couple of years" for her hair to return to its normal condition, a process that involved a dedicated regimen of cutting, hydrating treatments, and patience.
Life Beyond the Dance Floor: Family and New Ventures
Now with her hair restored, Tilly's career continues to flourish. She recently launched her own cookery series, 'Dish IT Out', on Amazon Prime, an achievement that prompted a proud tribute from her famous father, chef Gordon Ramsay, on Instagram.
When reflecting on her upbringing in the large Ramsay household during an appearance on This Morning with Ben Shephard, Tilly humorously noted, "Oh 17 and counting! There's a lot of us!" She praised her parents, saying, "mum and dad... they just love being parents and they're great at it!"
The family expanded further in November 2023 with the arrival of Tilly's youngest brother, Jesse James Ramsay, Gordon and Tana's sixth child. Tilly's other siblings are Megan, 27, twins Holly and Jack, 25 and 26, and Oscar, six.
Navigating Modern Fame and Social Media
In the same interview, Tilly also shared her bewilderment at modern social media trends, particularly on platforms like TikTok. She expressed amazement at elaborate 'Get ready with me for school' videos, contrasting them with her own school days where even shiny lip balm could attract a telling-off.
Her journey from Strictly Come Dancing contestant to established presenter, having also appeared on MasterChef Junior and Blue Peter, shows a resilience that extends beyond recovering from hair damage. It highlights the often-unseen physical demands of entertainment industry schedules, even on popular family-friendly shows.
