Seann Walsh details harrowing effect Strictly has on him six years later

07 April 2024 , 10:13

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Seann Walsh has revealed he still suffers from time on Strictly

Former Strictly Come Dancing star Seann Walsh has revealed that he still suffers from the after effects of his time on the BBC show where he was embroiled in a cheating scandal.

Back in 2018, the 38-year-old comedian was caught kissing his professional dancer Katya Jones and this caused a ripple effect of destruction. Katya split from her husband and professional dancer Neil Jones, while Seann's relationship with Rebecca Humphries also came to an end. Soon after news broke of the cheating scandal, Seann spiralled out of control and suffered with depression and panic attacks.

But it seems six years later, he is still not fully recovered. Speaking of his post-traumatic stress, he said in a recent interview: "I do not dance. What it is more actually is when you turn up to any car park or something, and it says, ‘Strictly No Parking’. I still just go, ‘Arghh’, every time I see it." In a candid chat with fellow comedian Russell Howard on his Wonderbox podcast, he added: "I can hear the word — like a dog hearing something — I can just hear the word strictly and I still go, ‘Arghh!’”

Desperate to put the ordeal behind him, Seann decided to jump straight back into stand up shows and performing. But now on reflection, he admitted it was too soon. He continued: "I went back too soon — that’s for sure. You’ve got to kind of let audiences, or the public, almost let them get over it. But I wanted to kind of fight it. I didn’t want this thing that was happening to my life to take away the only thing that I had."

Seann Walsh has revealed he still suffers from cheating scandal when on Strictly (Enterprise News and Pictures)

And speaking of his gaunt appearance as he struggled to cope with his shattered life, he said: "I would have looked unwell. I was extremely thin and gaunt. It was so difficult. The audiences didn’t know how to feel. They’d get up, they’d leave. Sometimes they’d tell me that they were appalled by me."

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One person who stood by his side was Mark Rothman, who is the owner of The Top Secret Comedy Club, as he continued to book him - and at one point was forced to intervene when he noticed the audience was becoming harsh towards the star. He recalled: "One instance I remember where he took someone’s phone and he deleted the video that they had filmed of me having a tough time."

Seann started to rebuild his life and in 2022 he quit alcohol and went on I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here - in the hope of changing public opinion. And it certainly seemed to have worked as he found himself in fifth place. The TV star is now a father and in a relationship with dance teacher Grace Adderley, who he met in 2019.

The Mirror has contacted Strictly for a comment.

Lucretia Munro