Kaye Adams Says Being Voted Off “Strictly” First Affected Her Mental Health

Kaye Adams has opened up about the emotional toll of being the first contestant voted off Strictly Come Dancing. The Loose Women presenter participated in the BBC series in 2022, with professional dance partner Kai Widdrington.

After the public vote in the first episode of that season, Adams and Widdrington found themselves in the bottom two couples. They were subsequently eliminated by the judges in a dance-off against Bros musician Matt Goss and his partner Nadiyah Bychkova.

Adams, 61, confessed that while she met some “wonderful” people, the rigorous training was “tough,” and being voted off first was particularly “destabilising.”

When asked about participating in another reality show, such as I’m a Celebrity…, Adams told The Mirror: “I just don’t know if I’m desperate to be judged again in that way.”

She expressed concerns about the potential for being voted out first in another competition, saying it could make someone “feel like a loser.” Adams added, “I don’t think I need that in my life.”

She mentioned that being judged puts you in a vulnerable position emotionally. She would be more inclined to participate in Celebrity Race Across the World, which doesn’t involve public voting.

Adams shared that she had hoped Strictly might transform her from a “klutz” who’s “uptight about dancing in public,” but that wasn’t the case.

“In retrospect, it was probably naïve to think that you would go on a television show, where you are exposed to a massive audience, and suddenly you would turn into a different personality,” Adams reflected. “That was a ridiculous idea and so it proved to be, but I’m not in therapy, it’s all good!”

However, Adams clarified that her personal experience with Widdrington was extremely positive amid ongoing allegations of bullying by some dance partners on the show.

“Kai was an absolute gentleman from start to finish. I was so pleased to be paired with him and I couldn’t have asked any more of him,” she said.

This comes after the BBC director general issued an apology following accusations of “gross misconduct” by previous contestants against Strictly professional dancers Giovanni Pernice and Graziano Di Prima.

The two dancers will not return for this year’s series after Love Island star Zara McDermott and Sherlock actor Amanda Abbington alleged “abusive” behavior.

Source: PA Wire, The Mirror