Fern Britton's Strictly ordeal laid bare in shock new details as pro who made her cry 'revealed'

The former professional dancer who made cry has been revealed as new details of her experience on the popular TV show emerged.

The 67-year-old television icon, who co-presented Breakfast Time in the 1980s, hosted cookery game show Ready Steady Cook between 1994 and 2000, and presented ITV's from 1999 to 2009, was a contestant on Strictly in 2012. She was partnered with Russian dancer Artem Chigvintsev and was booted out of the competition in week five.

But after more than a decade, Fern still has strong memories about . She has previously spoken about her experience on the dancefloor, but offered a more in-depth insight in her book "The Older I Get", which reveals how she went through "grief and loss, rebuilding confidence and exploring new passions."

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The title, which will be released on November 7, is now being serialised by the , with the publication reporting that Fern would cry before her "challenging" rehearsals with Artem. She 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."

Fern said she would try and do anything to please her frustrated dance partner, but nothing seemed to work. In the book, the TV presenter also revealed Artem's reaction when they were paired for the show. She 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." She then went on to recall an incident after a rehearsal, saying: "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'.''

Artem appeared on Strictly as a professional dancer from 2010 to 2013 and then joined the US version of the talent show, Dancing with the Stars. Earlier this year, Fern spoke to The Times about her time on Strictly, claiming that Artem "" her during rehearsals.

She said: "[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 added: "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," she concluded. In response to the claims, Artem told the Daily Express: "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."

The has contacted the and Artem Chigvintsev's representatives for comment on the new claims in Fern's book.

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