Strictly Come Dancing legend Flavia Cacace has revealed why she took a step back from the dance world to become a farmer after leaving the show over 10 years ago. The 45-year-old was a professional dancer on the show from 2006 until 2012, having joined Strictly alongside her then-partner Vincent Simone.
After leaving the show, Flavia married EastEnders' Jimi Mistry after being partnered on Strictly and in 2021, they moved to Devon to grow vegetables and farm animals. Now, Flavia has revealed why she left the dancing world and made a huge lifestyle change.
Flavia Cacace winning Strictly Come Dancing with Louis Spence (Image: BBC/Guy
Appearing on ITV's Lorraine this morning, Flavia said: "I never retired, I just needed a break. I toured for eight years and when me and Vincent started touring, we would do seven, eight shows a week in each venue. We did that for eight years - I stopped in 2018, I was just exhausted.
"It was the body and the brain, it's both things - and obviously, I'd been living out of a suitcase, from hotel to hotel. I needed that break and Covid came and it was one of those things where we said, 'Let's just go to the countryside.'"
She added that she has "a real connection and affinity with animals" and has been on the farm with Jimi for five years.
Flavia made it to the final with EastEnders star Matt Di Angelo back in 2007 and landed in second place, while she eventually won the show with Olympic gymnast Louis Smith in her final series.
Matt and Flavia began a romantic relationship shortly after their time on Strictly, with the pair dating until 2010.
Now, Flavia is returning to dance by starring in a nationwide-tour alongside ex Strictly star Oti Mabuse.
Oti left Strictly back in 2021 and has since appeared on I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here, Celebrity Bake Off and Big Brother: Late & Live. She was also a judge on Dancing on Ice, until it was cancelled earlier this year, and presented Oti Mabuse's Breakfast Show for ITV.
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Earlier this week, it was reported that Love Island winner Dani Dyer would be taking part in this year's series of Strictly Come Dancing.
The star, who wed her footballer beau Jarrod Bowen at the weekend, has signed a pre-contract for the show and is in pay deal talks, according to The Sun.
A Strictly insider told The Sun that BBC bosses are "thrilled" that she'll be taking part and are currently "ironing out her fee". They added: "She’s bubbly, down-to-earth and straight-talking and producers reckon she’ll make an ideal contestant — not to mention the bonus of having Jarrod and dad Danny in the audience supporting her."
Lorraine airs weekdays from 9am on ITV1 and ITVX.
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