Natalie Cassidy claims she was fat-shamed by ‘Strictly Come Dancing' producers.
Natalie Cassidy has reflected on her Strictly Come Dancing experience
The ‘EastEnders’ star - who competed on the BBC's Latin and ballroom show in 2009 alongside pro dancer Vicenzo Simone - has recalled an "out of order" comment allegedly made behind the scenes referencing her weight, as she noted she was "about four stone bigger" at the time than she is now.
Appearing on the 'Ry-Union' podcast, she told host Rylan Clark: "I was about four stone bigger than I am now.
"Vincenzo was quite little. And I remember one week, it was like, ‘Oh we're going to do this dance, but you’re going to pick up Vincent’.
"And I think about it now and I think, ‘Oh, that was out of order. It was a bit out of order to me.’ You couldn’t do that now.”
However, Natalie - who has played Sonia Fowler on the BBC soap on and off since 1993 - loved being on 'Strictly', despite finishing in fifth place.
She said: "'Strictly' was the best job outside of 'EastEnders'. I mean, job? That’s a laugh! Getting up, dancing all day, learning how to dance."
And Natalie gushed over the “brother and sister” relationship with her dance partner and the “glitz and the glamour” of competing for the Glitterball.
She added: "I had lovely Vincenzo next to me. We were like brother and sister. All week we just laughed the whole time. We just had the best time and I loved it. I loved the glitz, the glamour."
In 2019, Natalie ran the London Marathon in honour of Albert Square legend Dame Barbara Windsor - who sadly died in December 2020 after a battle with Alzheimer's disease - and credits changing her diet helped her get in shape.
She said: "I cut out rubbish. I cut down on alcohol too, even though I love white wine."
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