Dragons’ Den star Deborah Meaden suffered from a debilitating condition in her feet for years following her stint on Strictly Come Dancing.
The star, 65, appeared on the BBC dancing show back in 2013.
However, after months of training, Deborah – on Sunday Brunch this weekend (November 3) – said it took a toll on her.
What did Dragons’ Den star Deborah Meaden say?
Speaking to the Daily Mail in 2017, Deborah shared: “You don’t complain when you do the show because everyone has injuries, but now I need to have steroid injections every six weeks to keep my feet supple. I have to visit my specialist, who tuts at me and says: ‘It shouldn’t have got to this stage.'”
She also opened up to Closer magazine in 2018. Deborah said: “I still have permanent pain in the balls of my feet, which is a constant reminder that I did the show. It started after I spent 10 hours a day waltzing and I put too much pressure on them.
“Everybody is injured in some way [on the show] but now I need to have steroid injections in my feet to keep them supple.”
Deborah added at the time: “I should probably have them every six weeks, but I leave it until they hurt too much and then I go to see my specialist, who tells me off for letting it get to that stage.”
Speaking with the Belfast Telegraph in 2020, Deborah she the pain “wasn’t as noticeable as it used to be”.
Basically the show brought out a weakness in my feet that would probably have happened anyway but 10 years later on.
She shared: “I’m healthy and fit but training and dancing 12 hours a day on Strictly caused metatarsalgia – pain in the balls of the feet. Basically the show brought out a weakness in my feet that would probably have happened anyway but 10 years later on.
“Steroid injections enabled me to stay in the competition and I continued treatment for a few years afterwards for the pain, but nowadays it’s not as noticeable as it used to be.”
The star danced with the late Robin Windsor on the programme. She was eliminated on week five.
A&E trip
More recently, Deborah suffered more pain after fracturing her wrist while horse riding.
In June 2021, the star revealed she had suffered an accident and had to be taken to A&E.
She said on Instagram at the time: “Thank you to the brilliant A and E #tauntonmusgrovehospital. Every one of you so caring, careful and very reassuring. We must never stop appreciating our amazing #nhs.”
Deborah added: “There when you need them in bucketloads me, my newcast and the lovely @becky00117 and @lowri_harding.”
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When asked what had actually happened, Deborah revealed: “I thought I could do the side of the mounting block…turns out I couldn’t thanks for checking.”
Read more: The One Show fans share same concern about Deborah Meaden’s appearance ahead of new Dragons’ Den
Catch Deborah on Sunday Brunch this weekend (November 3) at 9.30am on Channel 4.
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