Susannah Constantine was the first contestant to leave this year’s Strictly Come Dancing and it was an emotional exit.
Now the presenter has spoken out about the real reason behind those tears.
Speaking on Thursday’s Lorraine, the TV star blamed her heightened emotions on her son, Joe, going to university and the empty nest syndrome.
Susannah, 56, told Lorraine Kelly: “I think I was slightly feeling self-pity, because I was doing so terribly with my dancing and then that was exacerbated by my son leaving. It’s difficult.
“You encourage them to be independent and that’s what I want for them more than anything else but it’s a big moment!”
It followed an emotional video on Instagram, where Susannah cried about Joe’s departure.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BoDonstAVAo/?hl=en&taken-by=susannahconstantine
Watching back a clip of herself from her time on the BBC talent show, Susannah added: “I gave it my all but I’m sorry Lorraine, look at that! She is a total mess, look at her, what a disaster.
“I don’t know [if I would have improved], to be honest. But it was an amazing experience. I’ve made lifelong friends. They’re not just for TV friends, or born through absolutely terror of doing the show, they are real friends.”
Susannah added that her professional dance partner Anton Du Beke in particular has “become a great friend.”
She also encouraged Lorraine, 58, to sign up for the popular series, saying: “You’ve got to do it, Lorraine!”
Lorraine replied: “No, honestly, no, not in a million years. I love it, I love watching it, I really do. I think it’s a great, great show, but I don’t think I could do it.”
Read more: Shirley Ballas at odds with other judges as another celeb bites the Strictly dust
The chat was part of a wider conversation about World Menopause Day, a topic close to Susannah’s heart.
“The menopause is something that affected my life from an early age,” she told the Scottish presenter. “My mum, who was a manic depressive, went through the menopause and really nosedived. So I was always terrified of the menopause approaching.
“I never felt the physical side effects. I went through, and am still going through, the mental menopause.
“As women of, kind of our age, you start to lose so much. You stop getting your period, your children leave home, you may be thinking about retiring, your whole world is changing and it’s a really tough time for women.”
She added that it had impacted her decision to do Strictly, too, saying: “I think it was to help me feel that I was relevant to myself, not anybody else, to myself and to push myself.
“Also, with age and wisdom and experience, it didn’t matter so much if I failed as long as I tried. I had that on my side. I really encourage women to go out and try something new and give it a go. If it doesn’t work, it doesn’t matter. That’s what we say to our children all the time, now I’om saying it to myself.”
Read more: Mel B ‘to face trial for defamation’ over claims she called ex-nanny ‘homewrecker’
We’re missing having Susannah on Strictly, but there’s no denying they’re keeping it exciting. We can’t wait to see how Hollywood actor Alfonso Ribeiro gets on with the panel this week!
Who do you want to see on Strictly one day? Leave us a comment on our Facebook page @EntertainmentDailyFix and let us know what you think.