Fiona Phillips was "on the brink of tears" and was "traumatised" after working with Strictly Come Dancing's Brendan Cole. The former GMTV host, who is battling Alzheimer's disease after being diagnosed at the age of just 61, has opened up about her appearance on the BBC programme two decades ago.
During her time on the show, Fiona, now 64, competed with professional dancer Brendan Cole, 49, but admits that while some may have viewed the show as full of glitz and glamour, her reality was far from this. Instead, Fiona was left close to tears on a regular basis and questioned her decision to take part.
Now, two decades later, she says she has "blocked out" the memories from the programme after being kicked out in the fourth week, which she says was a relief.
Fiona is set to release a book documenting her career and her journey since her diagnosis in 2022, which the Mirror revealed during an in-depth interview with the broadcaster.
In the memoir, titled Remember When: My Life With Alzheimer's, published by the Daily Mail, the veteran broadcaster said: "He [Brendan Cole] could also be seen looking at my dancing and saying, 'Pathetic, it's not good enough!' Then I'm begging him to 'stop shouting' and worrying that I look completely ridiculous.
"There's a clip where I say to the cameraman that Brendan is looking at me like he's stepped in something. I really don't remember much of that time now – maybe I blocked it out because all I recall is the sense that it was incredibly traumatic."
She went on to say that she was on the brink of crying during the majority of the time and felt 'exhausted'. Fiona went on to say that she questioned her time on the show as she had just put her mother in a care home and didn't know why she was taking part in the competition.
"Fortunately (although I don't think Brendan saw it that way), we were voted out in week four. It was all over on Bonfire Night. What a relief," she added. Brendan's contract for the show was not renewed in 2018, with the dancer becoming tearful on ITV's Lorraine when he shared the news that year.
Following the news, Fiona said it was "karma" and hit out at the dancer, saying he was "really naughty." Speaking to the Daily Star, she said: "Brendan was a real b****r, actually. He wasn't very nice. He was really naughty.
"He's not on the show now. Karma indeed. It works its way every time." Since her heartbreaking diagnosis, Fiona has tried to remain positive and has kept herself busy with walks in the park and having coffee with friends.
Speaking to the Mirror's former editor, Alison Phillips, she said in 2023: "I'm living with it by not letting it ruin things. I am just carrying on as much as I can. It's when I talk about it that I can't quite believe I’m talking about myself - I'm used to talking about it in relation to my mum and my dad having it...
"My whole family have been slaughtered by it. I'm not sure if the drugs are working or not... I don't think anyone would know there is anything wrong with me.. but who knows? Would they?"
