Jo Wood says Strictly Come Dancing saved her from divorce misery
Jo Wood has admitted her 2009 appearance on Strictly Come Dancing dragged her out of the depths of an emotional hole caused by her divorce from Ronnie Wood.
Jo Wood says Strictly Come Dancing saved her when she was in an emotional slump following the breakdown of her marriage to Rolling Stones guitarist Ronnie Wood.
The 71-year-old former model competed on the BBC One ballroom and Latin show in 2009.
She was partnered with professional dancer Brendan Cole and the duo made it to week six of the competition after failing to impress the judges with a lacklustre samba routine.
Jo has opened up on her Strictly Come Dancing experience, admitting the opportunity to dance on the show came at just the right time as it provided a much-needed confidence boost and distraction following her divorce from Ronnie that same year, bringing an end to 24 years of marriage. The couple had initially separated in 2008 after she discovered he had been cheating on her.
Jo exclusively told BANG Showbiz on behalf of BetWright Casino: "I had just come out of my marriage, and after that I was worn down. I had no confidence in myself at all, actually, and my mum was the one who pushed me into doing it. It gave me that confidence and that happiness and drive to get out and go and live my life. It really helped me beyond what you could imagine.
“If I hadn't done Strictly, I don't know what I would have done. I needed something like that - I used to be a model back in the day, and I needed something to get me back up again.”
Strictly Come Dancing is back on our screens with three new presenters, Emma Willis, Josh Widdicombe and Johannes Radebe, and an array of celebrities trying to impress the judging panel of Dame Shirley Ballas, Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse and Anton Du Beke.
Those competing for the glitterball trophy this year include former EastEnders actress Lacey Turner, Dani Dyer, content creator John Nelis and actress Jaime Winstone, among others.
Jo is still an avid watcher of Strictly Come Dancing 17 years on from her own appearance.
She revealed: "I love to sit down and watch it. I didn't catch it last Saturday because it was my son's birthday, so we had to go out, but I'll definitely be watching it from now on. I sit down every year to watch it.”
Jo has some words of advice for this year's celebrities - don't take the judges' criticism to heart, especially Craig's acerbic observations.
She said: "The criticism can be hard to take, but they're really just trying to make you better and make it a better show.
“I got really upset with things Craig said to me - he told me I was dancing like a kangaroo. I just thought I'd done a great dance. You work so hard, you get out there and do a dance, and then you get slaughtered - but you have to remember it's there to make you better.
"If you think about it too deeply, it gets more pressure. You've got to forget it, just remember your dance and do it.”
