ExCLUSIVE: The former Geordie Shore star talks about growing body confident and starting a family with Ercan Ramadan.
Vicky Pattison says her stint on Strictly has been the perfect preparation for becoming a parent as she finally puts to bed the ghosts of her past.
The television actress has struggled with self doubt in her career, and body confidence issues have caused her to worry about her appearance “from a very young age.”
But that all changed when she signed up for Strictly and now she says she’s ready for her next chapter, becoming a mum for the first time.
In an exclusive chat with the Sunday Mirror, Vicky praised her loyal husband, Ercan Ramadan, and admits while she’s anxious about the impact a baby will have on their marriage, she knows she’s ready.
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“I love him so much”, she says during rehearsals for Strictly’s nationwide tour. I’m already prepared. You know what I mean when I say that I still have a fear of closing a chapter in my life without children and moving on to the next chapter?
“I love our marriage, our relationship, our dogs and the little life we’ve got now, we’re so blessed. I do worry about that dynamic changing because I’m very happy as it is. So I’m always like, ‘Oh gosh, maybe one more summer of fun?’ But I turned 38 back in November and with these things, you don’t have the luxury of time.
“I do believe that will be at the back of my mind during the tour, and I’m going to enjoy myself because, who knows, we might have started our family this year,” he said.
It’s the next chapter in an impressive life which saw Vicky explode onto the small screen in 2011 when she joined the cast of MTV’s Geordie Shore.
She quickly became synonymous with the show’s party-loving lifestyle, but has firmly left that part of her life behind, winning I’m A Celebrity in 2015 and more recently with a raft of hosting jobs and campaigning work.
And Vicky acknowledges that the “final piece of the puzzle” was getting a spot on Strictly last year, allowing her to show off how much she has changed.
She was paired with Kai Widdrington, who she’ll be reunited with on the tour which kicks off in Birmingham next weekend.
They had a rollercoaster of a ride in the competition which saw the Geordie favourite go from hero to zero as she topped the leaderboard in week seven only to get the boot the following week.
Regardless of her premature exit from the competition, Vicky says Strictly has been truly transformative, not just for her career but personally too.
She acknowledges that she has been concerned about her body since she was just a boy. Since I was about 11 years old, I’ve been looking at my body. But I can honestly say Strictly’s helped me really feel a level of contentment and comfort about my body. I’m not concerned about having bingo wings or having cellulite or anything similar.
The entire show celebrates what your body can do, what you can learn, and what you can accomplish. And that’s actually a liberating feeling for a woman, to get out of her head and stop seeing herself as something that has to be desired or loved. It’s been a liberating experience of body acceptance.
She’s also come to terms with the fact that her life has a lot of nerves, and she’s frequently acknowledged that she struggled to remain composed while dancing in front of the crowd.
But Vicky says she hopes she’s shown women watching at home that on the other side of nerves can be pride in your achievements.
“I think it was incredible to go from being so anxious and completely overwhelmed and almost completely crippled with nerves to the top of the leaderboard in one of my final weeks,” Vicky admits.
I was able to demonstrate to myself that I was capable of doing things that I didn’t think I could, by wearing all the gorgeous costumes, learning a new skill, and becoming somewhat soppy with it. I’m really proud that I was transparent. I could have walked around the block every week and act as though everything was fine, but that’s not how I feel.
“I believe that by exposing my flaws, my fear, and other things, I hope to have ensnared some others to do the same for them.” Because on the other side of that fear is something amazing. It’s accomplishment, and it’s pride. It’s been fantastic, and I really enjoyed it.
She adds: “I went and presented Stand Up for Cancer not long after I left Strictly and that is something that would have absolutely terrified me at the start of the year.
“Hosting in front of a live audience and with huge names like Clare Balding, Adam Hills and Davina McCall, I just don’t think that would have been something I had in me locker. I would have been so grateful for the opportunity and I would have let my nerves get the better of me.
“I’m much less afraid because of Strictly, doing this enormous production, and with a huge audience, and all of these things.” Because I want to do things well and because these things are scary, I still feel anxious and anxious in my stomach. But ultimately, I know I can do it. I’m also very appreciative of how it gave us a real sense of self.
Vicky, who has her own podcast as well as regularly presenting on Heart Radio, knows hosting on TV is part of her future.
And with two jobs up for grabs on Strictly, is that a challenge she’s ready to take on?
I am a huge fan of Tess and Claudia, she says, “like everyone else.” It’s a difficult task because I don’t know who will fill their shoes. If I ever got the call, I would feel unbelievably flattered. Of course, I’d try it out for the first time in college.
In the end, I do believe there is currently a queue of people who are far more qualified and knowledgeable in front of me.
For now she’s focused on the 30 date tour which will see her travel the country performing in arenas from Glasgow to London’s O2.
After the pressure of the main series, she fully anticipates it to be a sizable party.
Vicky laughs: “I had been told by all my friends like Angela Scanlon and Sara Davies and everybody else, do the tour, it’s so much fun.
“You’ll absolutely love it, it’s nothing like the show. There is no pressure, and you have fun, time with all your friends, your dance partner, and everyone else.
“But actually, I’m starting to feel those little nerves again, which I’m sure will go away with after a few shows. I’m feeling very excited but very nervous too. But that’s who I am as well. And I suppose that includes the nerves, too?
“I’m not a natural performer. Never have been who I am. And the more I push myself outside of my comfort zone, the less anxious I’ll become, the more of these things I do. So I’m hoping that’ll happen very quickly and I’ll just be able to enjoy it”.
One element that still sends shivers through her bones is facing the judges again.
Vicky and the cast, which includes finalist George Clarke and former Emmerdale star Lewis Cope, will be judged by Anton Du Beke, Shirley Ballas and Craig Revel Horwood. And while Vicky’s nervous about seeing them again, she knows one woman who is relishing the chance to chat to them without the nation watching at home.
Vicky responds, “The judges still terrify me!” Whether or not there are cameras or not, is irrelevant.
” Anton doesn’t, he’s always been my pal, I love him. There’s no way I’ll just be scared little ball like I always am because Shirley and Craig have a fear in my heart. However, I’m really looking forward to having some back chat and spice from La Voix.
“Although I thought she did that on the show, so I dread to think what we’re in for without the cameras”!
One thing is for sure, when the tour reaches Vicky’s home town of Newcastle, she’s ready to raise the roof with her Cheryl Tweedy inspired Couple’s Choice routine.
And she can’t wait to dance for her fellow Geordies.
She remarked, “I loved my homage to Cheryl because everyone knows how fangirl I am when it comes to her.
Cheryl is a challenging task. It’s a hard dance. There is a lot of movement. I feel very alone. It’s very independent.
“I’m just keeping my fingers crossed that the crowd, the energy, the vibe, maybe from Newcastle, Cheryl being a Geordie hero, will just come together and make it amazing,” I said.
Source: Mirror
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