Chizzy Akudolu reveals Strictly Come Dancing exit caused ‘massive low’ with her depression

Chizzy Akudolu has revealed that she suffered a ‘massive low’ with her depression after appearing on Strictly Come Dancing.

Speaking on Loose Women, the former Holby City star opened up about leaving the BBC ballroom show's 2017 series in the very first week.

“I do suffer from depression. I’m not ashamed to say that at all. It’s not something I asked for.

"It’s something I’m dealing with, I’m still on anti-depressants. I have therapy. I had quite a bit of therapy after Strictly.

"I just want to say that the show did offer me a therapist, I said, ‘No I’ll be fine, it’s just a show, just a show’.

“I did hit a massive low with my depression after Strictly.”

She also went on to reveal that she had apologised to her professional dancing partner Pasha Kovalev as he had never left the competition so early.

“I apologised to him, he’s never been out that early. He’s never been out first.”

“There was a bit of embarrassment and there’s all these plans you have in your head of future dances.

Akudolu continued: “And I’ve wanted to do the show for so long, and to get to do it, and I was getting fitter, and then for it suddenly just to be taken away, it was crushing.”

Loose Women continues weekdays at 12.30pm on ITV and Strictly Come Dancing returns to BBC One later this year.