Judi Love has revealed that it was hard to return to Strictly Come Dancing after her battle with coronavirus.
Judi Love
The 'Loose Women' panellist became the fifth contestant to be eliminated from the dance competition alongside her Italian dance partner Graziano Di Prima on Sunday’s (31.10.21) live results show.
The 41-year-old presenter had missed a week of the show after catching the virus and having to self-isolate and admits that she found it challenging to come back to the dancefloor
Speaking on 'Loose Women', Judi said: “The fatigue was so immense, it was unbelievable, chest wise and stuff.”
Despite her struggles, Judi was determined to dance again and credited the show for making sure she and others were healthy.
She said: "I've got to say, I really wanted to just go back, I wouldn’t put my health at risk or nobody else's. 'Strictly' have been so amazing making sure I'm alright, that I was safe, that everyone else was safe, and that it was the right time to go back.
"I was really like, 'Guys, I wanna get back on the dancefloor even if I am voted off, I wanna know that I have done it this way.'"
Despite her struggle following the aftermath of Covid, Judi was inspired to keep going.
She said: "Unfortunately this horrible virus has affected all of us, we've lost so many people. I think there was a sense of fight in me of no, it's not gonna stop me.
"I thought of all the other people who went through Covid when we were really isolated,"
Judi was not disappointed after she and Graziano lost in the dance-off to Adam Peaty and his partner Katya Jones.
She said: “It’s a bittersweet feeling, I feel really contented in the sense that I feel like I pushed 100 per cent every time, I came back after Covid and I had an amazing partner, I done something I never thought I could do.”
Graziano, who flew back to Italy after the results, made a surprise appearance through video call and he praised Judi for her fighting spirit.
He said: "I'm gonna miss my queen so much. Not sharing time with her every day, that’s the most struggling thing right now.
"The fact she came back, I could see in her eyes that she was fighting."