Advertisement

Strictly's Ellie Simmonds says she's already been trolled over joining dance contest

Ellie Simmonds
Ellie Simmonds has already been trolled for taking part in Strictly Come Dancing. (BBC)

Strictly Come Dancing contestant Ellie Simmonds has revealed she has already been the target of online abuse for taking part in the show.

The Paralympic swimmer and broadcaster is 4ft tall as she has dwarfism and made her dancing debut on the live show performing the Cha-Cha-Cha with professional partner Nikita Kuzman, who is 5ft 11in.

Simmonds, 27, told The Sun about trolling: "I’ve had it already. Some people have said, ‘How’s the dwarf going to dance?’ It’s sad and it does get to you.”

Read more: 'Strictly' viewers in tears as Rose Ayling-Ellis returns to dance on launch show

The Gold-medal winner confessed that when producers first approached her to take part in the show, she was unsure herself.

Watch: Who is Strictly's Ellie Simmonds?

Ellie Simmonds received 26 for her Cha-Cha-Cha with professional partner Nikita Kuzmin. (BBC)
Ellie Simmonds received 26 for her Cha-Cha-Cha with professional partner Nikita Kuzmin. (BBC)

She said: “When I got the call I did wonder whether I should do it. Then I thought I’d do a leap of faith. You don’t know until you try.”

Simmonds has achondroplasia, a type of dwarfism that results in short limbs and normal-sized torso.

As well as winning gold medals at the Paralympics and World Championships, she was the youngest person ever to receive an MBE at 14-years-old, and now has an OBE.

She revealed previously: "I’ve been watching Strictly from as far back as I can remember; it’s a traditional lead up to Christmas with my family and it’s a genuine privilege to be part of it.”

Queen Elizabeth II meets Ellie Simmonds in 2016.
Ellie Simmonds has an OBE from Queen Elizabeth II. (PA)

Simmonds was awarded 26 points for her debut dance, putting her in joint sixth place on the leader board with Countryfile star Helen Skelton.

Skelton has revealed she ran away through a fire escape ahead of the first live show, and had to be coaxed back by partner Gorka Marquez.

She said: “I got on the dancefloor and they said, ‘When the audience come in...’ and I went, ‘Oh crikey, yeah, there’s people. I was like, ‘There’s a fire door, there, I can get out of it,’ and I did."

Helen Skelton
Helen Skelton has confessed she tried to run away from the Strictly live show. (BBC)

Skelton started out as the bookmakers favourite to win the show, followed by former X Factor contestant Fleur East.

But the first live show saw CBBC wildlife presenter Hamza Yassin and soap star Will Mellor top the leader board with scores of 34 from the judges.

Read more: Strictly Come Dancing: Helen Skelton fled through fire escape ahead of live show

And pop star Matt Goss scored just 20 for his first dance, putting him just ahead of Former footballer and England legend Tony Adams at the bottom of the score board.