Strictly Come Dancing star Vicky Pattison has apologised after being forced to pull out of the BBC spin-off show Strictly: It Takes Two at the last minute.
The 37-year-old reality star was scheduled to appear on Monday’s episode but had to cancel due to illness the same issue that also sidelined her dance partner, Kai Widdrington, 30.
Sharing an update on Instagram, Vicky wrote, “Man, or should I say ‘men’, down. Huge apologies to anyone expecting to see me and Kai on It Takes Two tonight. We’re doing all we can to get back to our best and return to the training room as soon as possible.”
Fans quickly flooded Vicky Pattison’s post with well wishes for a speedy recovery. Her update included a photo showing the remedies she’s relying on throat lozenges, cough medicine, a ginger shot, oranges, and juices confirming she’s battling illness.
Vicky has been open about the nerves she’s feeling while competing on Strictly Come Dancing, despite being no stranger to new challenges since first rising to fame on Geordie Shore 15 years ago.
Since then, she’s gone on to win I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! and has become a familiar face as a Loose Women panellist, podcaster, and radio host.
However, she admits that dancing live on television has been one of her most daunting experiences yet. Speaking to The Mirror, Vicky said she feels grateful for the opportunity but also extremely anxious, confessing, “I love my job and I’m scared all the time that it will just go away. I probably do have imposter syndrome.”
“But I’ve never spent much time thinking about it because it makes me uncomfortable. I’ve never thought, ‘I’m the duck’s nuts’ that feels gross. It would just make me complacent and arrogant. I’d rather stay nervous.”
She also shared how she’s learned to handle criticism since entering the public eye. “Dealing with that level of scrutiny in my formative adult years was a baptism of fire,” she said. “I was probably always going to be hyper-sensitive, but that made it even harder.
“I’m not going to complain I love my life but I also won’t pretend it doesn’t bother me, that would be ridiculous. It’s human nature to want to be liked. Some of it rolls off, but some of it really stings.”