Mum-to-be Denise Van Outen was devastated after being axed from Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber's new talent show, insisting she wanted to continue working throughout her pregnancy.
The 35 year old was dropped as a judge from series Over The Rainbow just days before shooting was slated to begin - and reveals BBC bosses had mentioned that her pregnancy was "an issue".
But she insists she's feeling "fit" and would have easily been able to fill the role, which has reportedly been handed to mum-of-two Charlotte Church.
Van Outen says, "I am not ill, I am just having a baby. I feel disappointed and let down by the BBC. Being pregnant is not an issue for me, I feel fit and healthy.
"I am absolutely happy to carry on working... It should be up to women to decide if they feel well enough to carry on working. If I was having a tough pregnancy, I could maybe have understood the decision, but I feel fine."
When asked if BBC producers had discussed her pregnancy, she replied, "It was mentioned to me that being pregnant was an issue."
Over The Rainbow, which will seek out an actress to play Dorothy in a new production of the Wizard of Oz, is due to begin in March.
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