Strictly's Vicky Pattison speaks out after sparking fears she'd quit series after no-show

Fighting fit Vicky Pattison has finally put to bed speculation that she's been forced to withdraw from Strictly Come Dancing.

The reality TV star was due to appear on BBC programme Strictly: It Takes Two on Monday but a last-minute issue meant the Geordie Shore star was unavailable - and it only added fuel to the fire. Vicky previously revealed the intense nerves she is facing while appearing on the show, and how she has been in therapy to prepare herself for what's ahead on the dancefloor.

Since her debut on the MTV show, Vicky has appeared on I’m A Celebrity...Get Me out of Here, where she won the show and she is also a Loose Women panellist, podcaster and radio host. But she admits dancing on live television is pushing her well out of her comfort zone.

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So when she didn't appear on the Strictly spin-off show, It Takes Two, it sent the rumour mill churning. She took to social media last night alongside professional dance partner Kai Widdrington, 30, to say they are both feeling so much better and are ready to go this weekend after being struck down by illness.

Posting a smiley selfie with Kai in the back of a car, Vicky told her followers: "There seems to have a bit of a miscommunication! @kaiwidd was poorly earlier on in the week and I wasn't 110% so we had to pull out of our weekly appearance on It Takes Two... that's it."

Going on to clarify, the Geordie lass put: "I have not dropped out of Strictly... I'm having a lovely time and really grateful for this experience! Plus, Kai is feeling better now so we're back in the rehearsal room AND back on It Takes Two tonight... just thought I'd clear that up."

Vicky, 37, also took to social media on Monday to share an apology with viewers who were expecting to see her on the settee that night. She wrote on Instagram: "Man, or should I say 'men', down. Huge apologies to anyone expecting to see me and Kai on 'It Takes Two' tonight. Doing all we can to get back to our best and back to the training room asap."

Speaking to the Mirror, she admitted she feels lucky to have the opportunity, but it very nervous about appearing on the live shows over the next few months. She said: "I love my job and I’m scared all the time that it will just go away. I probably do have imposter syndrome.

"But I’ve never sat there and thought about it for long because it makes me uncomfortable. I’ve never thought, ‘I’m the duck’s nuts’ – that’s kind of gross. It would make me complacent and arrogant. I’m happier being nervous."

And she also explained how she had learned to deal with criticism since being thrust into the public eye. She continued: "Learning to deal with that level of scrutiny and criticism in my formative adult years was a baptism of fire. I was probably always going to be a really hyper-sensitive person, but that exacerbated it.

“I’m not going to complain, though. I love my life. But I’m also not going to tell you it doesn’t bother me, that’s ridiculous. It’s human nature to want to be liked. Some of it’s water off a duck’s back, some really stings.”

She candidly shared that the reason she returned to therapy was to cope with her nerves last Friday. In a lengthy post, Vicky told fans: "I knew before strictly even started I was going to struggle with my nerves and anxiety... so much so, that I almost said no to this incredible opportunity. I almost let my fear stop me from doing something amazing...

"But I absolutely don't want that nasty little inner critic to dictate my life.. I don't want it to convince me that I'm not capable of doing brilliant things once in a while. So I put on my big girl pants and instead I tried to get myself in the best possible place before I started this little journey."

She admitted she nearly turned down Strictly this year over anxiety but vowed not to let it hold her back. She added: "You might not be doing Strictly, but we all get the opportunity to do exciting and amazing things in our lives, and I just wanted this to be your sign to go for it. Whether it's the career change, the blind date, the solo trip... Just go for it. Anxiety is our brain trying to convince us that the worst possible outcome is going to be your reality... but it doesn't have to be."

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