Ruth Langsford has opened up about her time on Strictly Come Dancing and the ‘terrifying’ pressure to perform that sometimes left her feeling "overwhelmed".
Strictly Come Dancing 2022 is nearly here with a whole new lineup of Strictly Come Dancing contestants ready to compete for the Glitterball Trophy.
The TV presenter took part in the BBC show back in 2017 and was paired with Strictly veteran Anton Du Beke. While Ruth was a big hit on the show and has praised the experience in the past, she’s recently admitted she also struggled with elements of the strict training program and the pressure to perform.
Speaking of her stint on Strictly, Ruth said, "I loved all the makeup and wigs. I mean, I had a different wig, a different hairstyle every week.
"I loved it. It was amazing. Long blonde, Short red. Listen, it is the best, best thing. But for me, it was the most terrifying as well, which I hadn't thought about at all," Ruth said speaking on the Be Honest podcast, hosted by Jojo Sutherland and comedian Bruce Devlin.
"Nor should you because when you watch Strictly, you just see the joy of it, and the fun of it," Ruth continued.
"What scared you?" Podcast host Jojo Sutherland asked Ruth in response.
"Oh God, the performance, just performing," Ruth replied. "And I could never remember my dance. I swear to god and Anton will back me up.
Last year’s winners Giovanni Pernice and Rose Ayling-Ellis
"In the rehearsal room, all week, loving life, learning the Charleston, whatever I was doing, great. And then the first time I went to the studio... I felt so overwhelmed, and we're walking in, and it's big…
"And the music started, and it was as if I hadn't ever done a single step of that dance. And when we finished, I just looked at him in panic. And he went, 'Oh, that was interesting'. And he started laughing. I was like, 'Oh my gosh, I'm so sorry, I couldn't remember'."
The 19th season of Strictly has been highly anticipated after 2021’s success. Last year's season was won by EastEnders star Rose Ayling-Ellis alongside partner Giovanni Pernice. The pair were tipped for victory early on in the competition, but currently it’s anyone‘s guess who the 2022 winners will be.
If you’re wondering where you can watch the hit BBC show, here’s our guide to how to watch Strictly Come Dancing 2022 from anywhere in the world.
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