Television icon Fern Britton has explained the sad way she was allegedly treated by her Strictly Come Dancing partner Artem Chigvintsev in the rehearsal room.
The 67-year-old was a contestant on the BBC dance show in 2012 and was paired with the Russian dancer. They were eliminated from the competition in week five. However, Fern has since opened up about what she says she went through and said she would cry before rehearsals.
She previously spoke about her experience in interviews, but has now revealed new details in her book "The Older I Get". The title is coming out on November 7 and its Amazon description says Fern "candidly shares her experiences of grief and loss, rebuilding confidence and exploring new passions, as well as the importance of finding friends you can put the world to rights with over a couple of Cosmos."
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BBC/Guy Levy)The book is now being serialised by the Daily Mail, with the publication saying Fern found her rehearsals with Artem "challenging" as she wrote: "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 also claimed she would try and do anything to please her dance partner, but that she felt nothing seemed to work.
In the book, the TV presenter also made a claim about 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 make another claim about an incident after a rehearsal, writing: "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'.''
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BBC/Guy Levy)Fern co-presented Breakfast Time in the 1980s, hosted cookery game show Ready Steady Cook between 1994 and 2000, and presented ITV's This Morning from 1999 to 2009. 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.
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."
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 Mirror has contacted the BBC and Artem Chigvintsev's representatives for comment.
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