Ruth Langsford has revealed the aches and pains that come with Strictly Come Dancing have started now she’s begun her proper training.
The television presenter also let fans in on what she’s been assigned as “homework” by pro partner Anton du Beke – although it isn’t perhaps as taxing as algebra or French verbs…
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Ruth, 57, shared a video to Instagram following her first day of rehearsals, admitting her back was “killing” after a tough day of dancing.
She told fans: “I’m home from my first day of training with Mr du Beke. Well, that was interesting! My back is absolutely killing me but it was very enjoyable.
“He’s such a lovely man, so patient and so kind.
“He kept telling me I was fabulous and everything was perfect when clearly it wasn’t, but thank you Anton! I bet you say that to all the girls!”
Ruth continued to reveal what Strictly stalwart Anton’s set her for “homework”.
“I’m going to do some stretching now, because apparently that’s very important, not just to flop down on a chair,” she said.
“I’m going to stretch my back and stretch my calves – so I’m going to do my homework!”
Ruth admitted before Strictly started that she’d had last minute nerves about signing up, thinking she was “too old and too fat” to compete.
She told The Sun: “I had a real jitter. I got up very early yesterday and did that thing of, ‘err, what day is it? Where am I supposed to be?’
“Then every negative thought I could possibly think about doing Strictly suddenly was there.
“I was thinking I haven’t trained enough, I’m too fat, I’m too old, I’m too busy, I can’t do it.”
But Ruth has plenty of support from her Loose Women colleagues, viewers and, of course, husband Eamonn Holmes, who has already jokingly warned Anton to “take care” of his wife!
Ruth, meanwhile, has said she’s doing the show for other women of her age.
Ruth told The Express: “I am fully in the menopause, there is no denying that.
“I think viewers of This Morning and Loose Women are predominantly women of my age and over, and I’ve had such a fantastic response from them, and they are all saying ‘we’re rooting for you Ruth, we’re right behind you’.
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“And I really feel like I am kind of representing the more mature woman, possibly in the menopause.
“That’s why I said I’m looking forward to a hot dance rather than a hot flush. I feel I’m out there for the menopausal women of Britain!”
Good luck, Ruth!