Stephenson: 'Strictly saved my life'

Pamela Stephenson has credited Strictly Come Dancing with saving her from an unhealthy and unhappy lifestyle.

The 60-year-old psychologist, who is partnered with professional dancer James Jordan, spoke of her delight at having undergone "a miraculous transformation" on the show.

"How on earth did I get lucky enough to be catapulted into the glittery world of Strictly Come Dancing?" she asked aloud in an self-penned Daily Mail article. "A world where youth’s last gasp can be realised within the twinkling of one’s tired old toes. A world where excess body fat drops off faster than a ­crystal bead from a whirling bodice. And a world that has totally reignited my self-confidence and put the spring back in my step.

"[Before Strictly] disgusting, unhealthy gobs of fat were clustered around my thighs, bottom, tummy and even arms. I was upset with my body and knew this put me at risk of serious illnesses such as cancers and heart disease.

"So Strictly saved me... Dancing is a physical expression of our emotional selves and something inside me is being miraculously unlocked. Quite simply, in dancing I’ve found joy again. It has lifted my mood, made me feel optimistic and wonderfully happy. I have been reconnected with my body and have made peace with it."

Last month, former Strictly judge Arlene Phillips described Stephenson's performances as "the sexiest things I've seen on TV".