Chelsee Healey 'almost rejected Strictly after gang attack'

Strictly Come Dancing star Chelsee Healey has confessed that she nearly declined to appear on the show after a gang attack.



The Waterloo Road actress was beaten by four girls at a nightclub in Manchester, and became so terrified of a repeat incident that she almost refused the BBC contest in order to keep a low profile.

"We noticed four girls staring," she recalled to The Sun. "It was clear they knew who I was... when I went to the toilet they pounced on me.

"One punched me in the back of my head then the others grabbed and hit me. Bouncers pulled them off but the damage had been done - both mentally and physically."

"That is one of the perils of fame - there are nasty people out there. I don't know if they are jealous or just cruel. People are usually supportive but there are nutty fans who want to hurt you in any way they can."

She added: "It did cross my mind that Strictly would make more people recognise me and that something bad could happen again. But mum said I couldn't let that hold me back. You can't let people like that win. I decided to challenge myself and I'm loving every minute."

However, Healey confessed that she was struggling to brush off abuse from Twitter members, who have commented on everything from her dyslexia to her Strictly outfits.

"I was diagnosed at 16 and struggle with writing and reading, so it's hurtful," she said. "I wonder why people have to be so cruel. Why do they take the time to be so nasty? It's difficult to be slagged off and simply ignore it."

Healey, Jason Donovan and Nancy Dell'Olio were confirmed as the first stars to join the upcoming Strictly tour on Thursday (November 10).