Former Strictly Come Dancing judge Dame Darcey Bussell has finally revealed why she left the BBC dance show three years ago. The retired ballet dancer shocked fans when she quit in 2019 after seven years as a judge.
Her exit was shrouded in mystery and Dame Darcey has remained tight-lipped about it since. But now, the 53-year-old has opened up on the circumstances of her departure.
She claimed the show's producers had wanted her to change her persona, despite hiring her for her dance expertise, reports The Mirror. Darcey was speaking about Strictly on the Royal Academy of Dance podcast.
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She said: "It was really hard because the producers on the show didn’t want me to be the ballet dancer and I was like, 'Well, sadly I am, and I think you chose me because I am the ballet dancer'. But they were convinced that the public were going to take that on board, but the public did take it on board and were happy to have me as a judge [anyway].
Dame Darcey added: "I was always going to play myself, however much I was convinced that to look like and be like the ballet dancer wasn’t the right thing. I was like, 'Well, sorry, you’re taking me as it is. This is how I look and this is how I’ll act'."
The former principal dancer at the Royal Ballet in Covent Garden went on to admit that she didn't feel suited to being a Strictly judge. "It wasn’t the easiest thing for me, because I wanted to still be the dancer on that dancefloor, on that stage." She said. "To be a judge full-time was hard. Knowing that it’s live and having the ability to be quick and responsive was hard as well, because I like to think and take my time and give value."
Darcey was replaced on the Strictly judging panel by Motsi Mabuse. When she departed the show in April 2019, Darcey said: "It has been a complete privilege for me to be part of Strictly, working with such a talented team. I have enjoyed every minute of my time and will miss everyone from my fellow judges, the presenters, the dancers, the musicians, the entire backstage team, and especially the viewers of the show, who have been so supportive."
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