The former ‘This Morning’ presenter has blasted the professional dancer she was paired with during her stint on the BBC dance show in 2012, accusing Artem Chigvintsev of ‘manhandling her’.
The 57-year-old described the Russian-born dancer as ‘all teeth and muscles’ who was difficult to work with at an event hosted by The Times newspaper.
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Fern Britton and Artem Chigvintsev came 10th on the 2012 series of 'Strictly'
“He would look at my feet and just kick me or shove me,” she revealed.
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Imitating his accent, Fern said the dancer told her: “You just stand there and don’t move, I dance round you.”
She added: “He was like, ‘Shut your face. Go home before I kill you’.
“I would say, ‘Oh please just kill me, it would be easier’. Or what was his other one? ‘If you go for a cup of tea now, I will blow off like an atomic bomb.’ I thought, well I won’t correct him on that one.”
She added: “We did love each other for a moment or two but he wasn’t charm personified.”
Artem, who ended up in a relationship with actress Kara Tointon after the pair won the show in 2010, reportedly told Fern he was used to dancing with people ‘younger and with dance ability.’
Fern jokingly responded: “Well I think I’m young and when I’m drunk I dance really well’”.
Despite there being no love lost between the pair, Fern insists she did enjoy her time on the BBC dance show.
“I did kind of enjoy it but it was grim at the same time.
“We would be in hold and he would look at my feet and just kick me or shove me.”
This isn’t the first time Fern’s rocky relationship with Artem has come to light.
While she was on the show, a source claimed the pair had fallen out over comments the professional dancer made about weight.
“Artem made jokey comments that they would have a better chance of winning if she lost some weight. But she didn’t find it funny,” a source told The Sun.
“I think he thought it would spur her on. But she’s been fighting with her weight for years so it wasn’t very helpful.”
Artem, who has yet to respond to Fern’s comments, has since left ‘Strictly’ to work on the US version of the show, ‘Dancing With The Stars’.
'Strictly' Curse Victims
Rachel Riley(01 of10)
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The 'Countdown' presenter announced her split from her husband just weeks after her stint on the show. Earlier this year, it was confirmed that Rachel and her partner Pasha Kovalev are dating, however, she remains insistent that 'Strictly' had nothing to do with her marriage split. (credit:Joe Giddens/PA Archive)
Sunetra Sarker(02 of10)
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Sunetra split from her husband of 10 years just before filming for the 2014 series began. (credit:Eamonn M. McCormack via Getty Images)
Susanna Reid(03 of10)
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Susanna's marriage ended in February 2014, weeks after she finished as a runner-up in the competition. Susanna is still living with her ex, Dominic Cotton, and their two children. (credit:Ian West/PA Archive)
Caroline Flack(04 of10)
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Ben Cohen(05 of10)
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Matt Di Angelo(06 of10)
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Jimi Mistry(07 of10)
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Just a year after getting together with Matt, Flavia ended the relationship after finding love with her new dance partner Jimi. The couple married in 2013. (credit:Dave Hogan via Getty Images)
Joe Calzaghe(08 of10)
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Boxer Joe and pro dancer Kristina Rihanoff initally denied romance rumours when they were paired together in 2009, however Joe split from his girlfriend just weeks later. Joe and Kristina later confirmed that they were a couple, before splitting after four years together. (credit:Mark Cuthbert via Getty Images)
Dani Harmer (09 of10)
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'Tracey Beaker' star Dani split from her boyfriend just days after filming began in 2012. (credit:John Phillips via Getty Images)
Natasha Kaplinsky (10 of10)
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Newsreader Natasha and Brendan were plagued by romance rumours when they were paired up for the first ever series of 'Strictly' in 2004. Despite being insistent that they weer just friends, Natasha and Brendan both split from their partners shortly after winning the series. (credit:MJ Kim via Getty Images)