Gladiators star Jodie Ounsley has revealed she almost withdrew from the Strictly Come Dancing Christmas special after her dad’s death aged 56.
The BBC reality star (known as Fury on the show) was announced as part of the festive line-up in November alongside Scarlett Moffat, Brian McFadden, Nicholas Bailey, Babatunde Aléshé and Melanie Blatt.
On December 1, the 24-year-old shared a tribute post for her father on Instagram after he died during a hike at Pen-y-Ghent in the Yorkshire Dales.
After his death, the athlete almost decided to exit the special, for which she was partnered with pro Neil Jones, before changing her mind at the last moment.
‘I was in two minds of whether to go ahead, but my dad was so excited to come and watch and he supported me in everything,’ she told The Mirror.
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She continued: ‘I think if my mum had not encouraged me to carry on, I wouldn’t have. It sounds cheesy but he was literally my hero.
‘We trained together all the time, he’d just be there any day if I needed help. It’s weird because on the inside I am heartbroken but people like Neil and the guys at Strictly are just putting a smile on my face.;
She added that her father had been so ‘excited’ after he first discovered she had been cast.
‘At first he was a bit like: “What, dancing!?” But I think that’s why he was so excited, because he was like: “This is completely different for you and even though it’s so alien, I think it would be a great chance for you to try something new and kind of just challenge yourself”,’ she recalled.
In her emotional Instagram post announcing his death, she wrote: ‘He had hiked that peak countless times throughout his life, but none of us knew he wouldn’t walk back down that day.
‘I don’t have the words. All I can say is that he was, and always will be, my absolute hero. He encouraged me to dream big and loved me wholeheartedly, and for that I will be forever grateful.’
Ounsley is also known for her involvement in Channel 4’s Paralympic Games coverage and made history as the world’s very first deaf female rugby sevens international.
Discussing her joy at joining the Strictly Christmas cast at the time, she shared on It Takes Two: ‘I’m serious, I’m powerful, I don’t mess around, but with this, I really just want to be able to let go and just have fun with it.’
The traditional series came to an end earlier this month with Karen Carney and pro-partner Carlos Gu hoisting the Glitterball trophy.
The show also marked Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly’s final live appearance, although the hosting duo will appear in the pre-recorded festive special, for which the winner has leaked.
Strictly Come Dancing Christmas special will air on BBC One at 5:30pm and stream on BBC iPlayer on Christmas Day.
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