Although Debbie, 59, lost out on winning the competition to actor Joe McFadden, her journey on the show has afforded her some much needed comfort.
Her husband of 28 years, magician Paul Daniels, died aged 77 from a brain tumour last year.
“When Paul died I completely lost my sparkle,” she divulged in an interview with The Mirror. “I laughed but I wasn’t happy. Strictly has given me the clear feelings of happy back.”
Debbie enjoyed praise throughout the competition and was a favourite to win from the start of the BBC series.
She was also at the centre of a Strictly Come Dancing romance rumour after she shared a kiss with her 29-year-old dance partner, Giovanni Pernice.
However, Debbie was quick to put those rumours to bed: “We do have chemistry and we’re great mates and I think that’s probably more special than if there was anything else going on.”
This wasn’t the first time Debbie’s love life found itself under the media spotlight as she was subject to cruel jibes when she and Paul first began a relationship.
Their 21-year age gap lead to harsh criticism as many branded Debbie a “gold digger.”
“It always hurt Paul more. He stood up for me, rung people up who wrote bad things,” she confessed.
While Paul was not there to watch his wife in the final, Debbie said she believed he was with her all the way.
“I felt Paul was with me the whole time. When I walked down to the studio floor there was always a moment I thought of him,
“I could imagine if Paul was alive and watching, he would give me notes.”
Daily Express :: TV and Radio Feed
