'Strictly was terrible and I threw a party when voted off', former star admits

01 September 2023 , 16:57

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'Strictly was terrible and I threw a party when voted off', former star admits

Former Strictly Come Dancing star Mica Paris has revealed that she found her time on the BBC dance show "intense" and a terrible experience.

The singer, 54, who found fame with hits such as My One Temptation, took part in the series in 2006 and claimed that she found rehearsals far too intense and struggled to keep up with the amount of physical endurance involved, outside of performing on the live shows.

In a recent interview, the EastEnders actress said that she was initially under the impression that it would be a good way for her to lose weight but didn't take into account how exhausting it would be to compete - admitting she found her time on the series "terrible".

Mica Paris said Strictly was 'intense' and the new series is set to return (Dave Benett/Getty Images)

Strictly star Mica Paris said her experience was terrible and was glad to be voted of after two weeks (BBC)

Speaking to the Mailonline she said: "It was terrible. There's so much training, and it's so intense. You don't even know if you're coming or going. If you're a sports person, it can work, but someone like me – who had people dancing in my [music] videos – I didn't do any of that. "I used to stand there with a piece of cloth waving it around for ages. I saw my former dance partner, Ian Waite, the other day when he came to see one of my shows, which was really nice. Ian is great."

In what has to be the most unlikely reaction to being eliminated, Mica went on to add that when she was voted off in week two - she threw a party to celebrate. She explained that she felt her body was too exhausted to have even attempted to compete in the following weeks, so she was more than overjoyed at her exit.

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As a child Mica and her family would watch Strictly and so when the opportunity arose for her to be part of TV history, she jumped at the chance. But on reflection, the reality was far from a pleasurable experience. At the time, she said she was still breastfeeding and so thought it would allow her to lose weight.

But while that particular BBC show wasn't for her she revealed that she wouldn't mind rejoining the cast of EastEnders. In 2020, the singer appeared in the soap as Ellie Nixon who was sent to prison and the star feels it is time for Ellie to return - but she's still awaiting a call from show bosses.

The mum of two states that she is single but is happy and content with that decision. And she also revealed that she has no desire at this time to get married again. Mica was previously married to her daughter Monet's father. But after that relationship ended she met German film director Andreas Neumann who she had her second child with, Russia-Mae.

Lucretia Munro