Fern Britton wishes she had turned down Strictly Come Dancing
Fern Britton took part in the 2012 series of Strictly Come Dancing, in which she finished 10th alongside her professional dance partner, Artem Chigvintsev.
Fern Britton wished she had not done Strictly Come Dancing as it was "emotionally exhausting" for her.
The 69-year-old TV presenter, who finished 10th alongside her professional dance partner, Artem Chigvintsev, said she was not "mentally prepared" for the BBC Latin and Ballroom dance show in 2012, but enjoyed getting her groove on and learning a new skill.
Asked whether there was something she would go back and turn down, Fern is quoted by the new issue of Best magazine as saying: "Probably Strictly. Not because of the dancing - I loved that - but because emotionally it was exhausting.
"I don't think I was mentally prepared for what it would be like. If I could go back, I'd tell my younger self exactly how it was going to feel before making the decision.
"It was wonderful in lots of ways, and everyone was so lovely, but it was much tougher than I expected."
In her 2024 memoir, The Older I Get, Fern revealed what she allegedly experienced behind the scenes on Strictly Come Dancing.
She claimed Artem, 44, made a comment when they were paired up.
The ex-This Morning host penned: "I asked him if he was OK with having me as a partner, and he said, 'Well, I am used to someone with some dance ability, and younger.'
"My confidence took a hit at that, but I laughed and told him I didn’t feel 55, and that, when I had a drink in me, I was a sensational dancer. He did not laugh."
Fern said she would cry before rehearsals for Strictly Come Dancing.
The author wrote: "As the weeks went on, I found it increasingly hard to gather up my self-confidence and there were days I was crying before I even got into the rehearsal room."
She added: "Late one evening, when I simply couldn’t get the steps in my head, and we were both tired, he looked at me and said, 'Go home before I kill you.' It was a joke. I laughed. 'Kill me, please.'"
At an event for The Times newspaper in 2024, Fern made more claims about Artem during rehearsals.
She alleged: "He would look at my feet and just kick me or shove me."
Fern added: "[He would say] 'You just stand there and don’t move, I dance round you.' He was like, 'Shut your face. Go home before I kill you.' I would say, 'Oh please just kill me, it would be easier.'
"Or what was his other one? 'If you go for a cup of tea now, I will blow off like an atomic bomb.' I thought, 'Well I won’t correct him on that one.'"
She continued: "We did love each other for a moment or two, but he wasn’t charm personified… I did kind of enjoy it, but it was grim at the same time."
Artem denied all of Fern's claims, telling the Daily Express: "Recent statements apparently made by Fern Britton, whilst not reflecting any situation I recognise, are difficult to ignore.
"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.
"I just want to thank all my fans and friends for their support and belief in me."
