Kelly Brook 'couldn't watch Strictly for years' after quitting over family heartbreak

Kelly Brook has admitted that she 'felt like she let everyone down' after she quit Strictly Come Dancing. The model, 45, was taking part in the 2007 edition of the hit BBC competition alongside Brendan Cole when she was dealt family heartbreak following the death of her father and had to pull out.

The TV star was on her usual seat on the Loose Women panel during Wednesday's edition of the ITV chat show alongside anchor Christine Lampard, columnist Jane Moore, and former EastEnders actress Nadia Sawalha when the lunchtime ladies were discussing the sudden departure of Dani Dyer.

The Love Island winner, 29, had to quit the programme before the live shows had even kicked off after fracturing her ankle and Kelly, whose father Ken passed away at the age of just 57 after a long battle with lung cancer, admitted that she could 'relate' to the whole situation.

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Kelly said: "I can relate so much. I did it, and I had to pull out week eight. My father passed away when I was on the show and it is like a breakup because you and your partner become so close, you spend so much time together and also, they're very competitive and they want to do well.

"So you feel like you're letting them down, you feel like you're letting the whole team down. People call in and they vote for you. I couldn't watch it for years after. I'm sure she'll feel the same way. It's really hard to watch when you have to leave."

Dani took to social media to share her devastation of the news in an emotional statement., and the news was met with sorrow from her fellow dancers on the hit BBC show.

Taking to Instagram, Dani, who shot to fame on the ITV2 dating show in 2018, said: "I had a fall on Friday in rehearsals and landed funny. I thought I had rolled my foot but it swelled up badly over the weekend and after an MRI scan yesterday, it turns out I have fractured my ankle.

"Apparently doing the quickstep on a fracture is not advisable (!!) and the doctors have said I am not allowed to dance so l’ve had to pull out of the show. To say I’m heartbroken is the biggest understatement. I am so going to miss dancing with Nikita but will of course be watching closely and cheering all the couples on."

Following the news, Sarah James, Executive Producer, BBC Studios added: “Dani has brought so much passion, joy and enthusiasm to Strictly, and her partnership with Nikita was off to the most sensational start.

"Everyone on the show is incredibly sad that she's no longer able to compete in this year's series. We send her all our love and best wishes for a swift recovery, and we very much hope to welcome her back to the ballroom in the future."

It's not the first time Love Island star Dani had to drop out of a programme due to an injury. Back in 2018, she took part in ITV2's Survival of the Fittest.

She had to quit before she could show off her survival skills, as she dislocated her shoulder while zooming headfirst down a waterslide while filming a challenge.

The reality star was treated by the medics on site and later taken to the hospital, a day after she entered the show's lodge in the wilderness. Unfortunately, producers said she wasn't able to finish the show due to the injury.

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