Sophie Ellis Bextor says Strictly Come Dancing a 'cult' which drove her into marriage therapy

Pop star Sophie Ellis Bextor has opened up about her time on Strictly Come Dancing in 2013 and the impact it had on her marriage to The Feeling's Richard Jones

Pop sensation Sophie Ellis Bextor will be performing her new single Freedom Of The Night alongside Strictly professional dancers Neil Jones and Nadiya Bychkova on Strictly Come Dancing this evening.

The star, who appeared on the BBC hit show in 2013, previously revealed that the behind-the-scenes pressure was so immense it led her and hubby Richard Jones to seek marriage counselling. The mum-of-five, who danced with the then-married Brendan Cole, admitted that counsellors were available during the show, which she likened to being lost in a fog and a completely different world.

In her book "Spinning Plates", which came out in October 2021, Sophie shared: "Some of the show was pure joy and exhilaration. But some of it was seriously intense and, even for a strong marriage like we have, it gave our foundations a good old shake."

During her dance journey, Sophie, aged 42, witnessed three marriage breakups and celebrated two Strictly babies. She recalled how her pro partner Brendan advised her to include her husband and friends in the experience to prevent it from becoming too much.

Sophie also commented on the show's habit of referring to the dancers and celebrities as "couples" and the high level of physical intimacy involved, noting that it can lead to real tensions in personal relationships. She described being so consumed by the challenge of mastering complex dance routines that her husband was eagerly awaiting the end of the show to have his wife back.

Sophie shared her reflections on the hit series, praising the myriad of positives like the fitness benefits and the sheer fun of it all. However, she also acknowledged the impact the show had on her personal life. When it came down to the last interview, Sophie wrote about the probing queries that made her reassess everything: "We were asked questions such as: 'Is this the best thing you've ever done?', 'How incredible has your dance partner been?', 'What will you do to fill the hole after Strictly?'"

It was in this moment she compared Strictly to "a cult" as she said: "And I had the epiphany that, oh my God it's like a cult! Trigger words and the constant repetition of how much it must mean to you." Having young children, Sophie disclosed that it took an extended period before her husband could even bring himself to talk about her stint on the show post-finale - but she expressed profound appreciation for the strength of their marriage.

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