Tennis coach Judy Murray took part in Strictly Come Dancing in 2014 alongside the BBC competition’s legend Anton.
The Scottish mother-of-two is a central presence in the tennis world, always cheering on her sports star sons Andy and Jamie Murray at Wimbledon.
Yet for a brief stint she swapped her tennis shoes for some sparkly ballroom dancing heels, whipping across the dance floor with her British professional dance partner, and the pair managed to get through to the iconic Blackpool round just before the finale.
Now, ahead of this year’s batch of brand new contestants, the 59-year-old has spilled all on a hair-raising moment that could have sent her straight out of the competition.
In one of their more intense dances to the Tango, Judy reflected on how there was so much going on in the complex routine she nearly “smashed” straight into the live audience.
Speaking to Express.co.uk, she revealed: “There were a lot [of standout moments]. I think probably when Anton threw me across the floor in the Tango, which he termed the chuck and slide – the technical term – he called it that because he knew I would understand that!”
“He threw me across the floor,” the television personality continued. “But with the mix of adrenaline on show night, and I had quite a flouncy shiny dress on and was on the studio floor at Elstree, well, I absolutely took off.
“I just saw myself hurtling toward the first row of the audience and realising I was going to have to put my hand out to stop myself from smashing into them.”
The star went on to explain how she fought to get back on track in the moment, while still staying in character for the viewers.
“And in my head I was trying to remember he’d told me ways to stop myself,” Judy laughed. “And also ways to get up that looked elegant and not just putting your hands down and clambering up like you normally would, [he said] there was a dance-y way of of getting yourself up.
“I just remembered flipping my head up and then remembering it was a Tango and I had to be mean, moody, and sexy and having to completely change my facial expressions, and clock back into the thing.
“Because you know, I was not from the entertainment business, so for me I was having to remember so many different things about the actual performing act, never mind the steps.”
Despite the awkward moment, which may have led to an unlucky injury for the contestant in the worst case scenario, Judy only had fond memories of her experience on the BBC hit series.
Sharing another favourite, the TV star carried on: “I think maybe the other one was the dancing at Blackpool in the Blackpool ballroom with Anton.
“The routine that we did was Viennese Waltz and at the end of our routine, because it’s Mary Poppins, I went up into the roof, on a platform, just holding these balloons which looked like I was floating off into the sky.
“It was probably a perfect ending for me to go out on – we got voted out on that night.”
“But that was a really special, special memory,” Judy added.
Speaking about this year’s line-up and some of the criticisms about the lesser-known stars, Judy advised: “Every year I don’t think it really matters who’s on it, I think you engage with the people who are in front of you on the first night.
“And I think it’s up to the contestants to show their personality and get stuck in and all the rest of it.”
Strictly Come Dancing debuts tonight at 6.30pm on BBC One.
