Strictly Come Dancing Judge Darcey Bussell has opened up about the birth of her first child, saying it was a horror and that she owes her doctor her life.
The former ballerina suffered pre-eclampsia when she was pregnant with her first daughter in 2001, and the traumatic experience gave her a new attitude to her life.
She opened up about the experience while speaking to the Daily Star Sunday.
“My first child was premature and I had pre-eclampsia and I nearly didn’t get through that,” she said.
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“So I feel very lucky to be here… not to be overdramatic but I did nearly die. I was very lucky.”
The horrific labour was overseen by medic Professor Mark Johnson.
She revealed that she was so grateful for him because the condition is still quite “unknown” and that science just doesn’t know enough about why it happens.
“Mark saved my life,” Darcey said. “I don’t mean to be over-dramatic, he certainly did. I owe everything to him.”
But the experience didn’t put Darcey off pregnancy – she and husband Angus Forbes welcomed their second daughter just three years later in 2004.
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She claimed that the experience changed her attitude to life and that she appreciates everything around her now.
Darcey has been part of the Strictly judges panel since 2009, and sits alongside Craig Revel Horwood, Shirley Ballas and Bruno Tonioli to mark the celebrities taking part.
Strictly has come under fire in the last few weeks for being fixed. Firstly, favourite to win Aston Merrygold was voted out in a dance off against Mollie King.
And now it’s being claimed by The Sun that Susan Calman is being awarded higher marks in order to keep her in the show longer as she’s signed up for the tour.
New head judge Shirley Ballas has also been blasted for her critique and scores.
Last night saw her called out after she advised amputee Jonnie Peacock how he needed to strengthen his posture so the “legs operate much better”.