Many of Strictly Come Dancing's past contestants will likely take joy in watching the new stars take part in the BBC dancing competition.
However, Rachel Riley, 35, has admitted she cannot watch the show after she took part with her now husband Pasha Kovalev, 41.
Speaking exclusively to OK!, the soon to be mum of two revealed: "No, I needed cognitive behavioural therapy after competing in 2013 and developed post-traumatic stress disorder.
"If I heard the theme music, I’d start reliving the experience. It was scary and unnerving, so my way of dealing with it is to avoid watching."
Despite this, the Countdown host revealed the show still has a place in her heart after meeting the father of her children when she competed.
"Mind you, if I hadn’t competed, I wouldn’t have met Pasha," the star gushed.
"When it was announced that he was going to be my dance partner, all the dancers and crew congratulated me because everybody loved him."
Rachel said further: "He’s brilliant. And when you need a bit of support, that’s when you know you’re with the right person."
It comes after Rachel warned her celebrity friends against taking part on the show as it "messes with your head".
The pregnant star has opened up about the "mental pressures" she experienced whilst dancing on the programme and advised friends "not to do the show".
In an interview with The Times, Rachel spoke about her late friend Caroline Flack's legacy on Strictly after the Love Island favourite took her own life in February 2020.
Become an OK! VIP and see all our exclusives – for free!
Become an OK! VIP and you will unlock access to all of our big exclusives…
Be the first to meet the latest showbiz babies, see the most sought after wedding pictures of the year, or take a guided tour around your favourite star's lavish multi-million pound home – all for free!
Sign up here
Caroline took part in Strictly with Rachel's husband Pasha, leading them to be crowned as winners in 2014.
Rachel said Pasha "struggles to talk about it" to this day as she added that "Caroline Flack's was such a tragic story".
She continued: "I would prefer not to [speak about it], apart from to say, I read some of her interviews where she discussed her depression after Strictly and, I agree, it does mess with your head."
The star then explained she knows people who have had to drop out after signing up to the BBC competition for the sake of their mental health.
Rachel said: "I advise friends not to go on the show and I know people who have dropped out of it due to the mental pressures involved."
At Sixes and Sevens: How to Understand Numbers and Make Maths Easy by Rachel Riley is out now (HarperCollins, £14.99)
For all your updates on Rachel Riley, her work commitments and romantic life, sign up to our daily OK! newsletter.
Source: Read Full Article
