Debbie McGee, 59, admits people ‘treat her differently’ after Strictly Come Dancing
DEBBIE MCGEE has revealed how Strictly Come Dancing changed both how she looks at herself and how the general public see her in a candid new interview just days after the second anniversary of her husband Paul Daniels’ death.
The reality star, who reached the finals of Strictly Come Dancing back in December, admitted that she is now “treated differently” in the street.
The 59-year-old lost her spouse Paul Daniels on March 17, 2016, after nearly 30 years of marriage, the tragedy she says has changed her altogether.
Debbie stunned viewers and the judges alike in the BBC competition, which saw her waltz into the finale thanks to her impressive skills and romantic routines with Giovanni Pernice.
The radio DJ commented: “I know much more in my head now about who I am and where I’m going, thanks to the passage of time.”
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It’s been two years since Paul died and doing Strictly Come Dancing was quite a character changer for me
Debbie continued: “It’s been two years since Paul died and doing Strictly was quite a character changer for me.
“It was much tougher than I thought it would be, but because people have got to know me through it, I’m being treated differently when I’m out and about than I was before.”
The television regular, who is currently appearing on Pilgrimage: The Road to Santiago, went on to say her home “means the most to me” in the world in an interview with The Sun.
She stated: “I look out on the river [in London]. The riverside of the house has big windows, so I wake up in the morning and I can see swans and ducks.
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“My ideal weekend in the summer is going to the Henley Festival because I live near it. I love having friends and family to stay and going out on my boat and having a picnic.
“In the winter, my favourite thing is going to the theatre, having a lovely dinner and just pottering at home.”
Meanwhile, Debbie also addressed the struggles of her latest project, which sees her star alongside Ed Byrne, Heather Small, Kate Bottley, Raphael Rowe and JJ Chalmers.
She quipped: “I don’t even do the gardening without my make-up on, so doing Pilgrimage [a 15-day trek across France and Spain with other celebs] was completely out of my comfort zone.
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“We were only allowed to take walking trousers, T-shirts and fleeces with us. It made me realise I can cope without my lipstick on, but I never want to go over the Pyrenees again!”
Debbie’s comments come after she was pictured enjoying a dinner date with a television producer following her appearance on The One Show last week.
Her spokesperson confirmed there was nothing romantic going on, however Debbie did previously say she was ready to date again.
Pilgrimage: The Road to Santiago continues tonight at 9pm on BBC Two.