Carol Kirkwood: Strictly Come Dancing was 'terrifying'

Former BBC weather presenter Carol Kirkwood, 63, described her experience on Strictly Come Dancing as 'terrifying' during an appearance at the Hay Festival in Hay-on-Wye, Powys. Kirkwood, from Morar on the west coast of Scotland, initially hesitated to join the show, fearing she would look foolish. She eventually partnered with dancer Pasha Kovalev, calling the experience 'amazing' and unforgettable. Kirkwood admitted that getting physically close to a stranger was uncomfortable, stating, 'We're not Love Island kids.' During rehearsals, she often forgot her steps at the top of the illuminated stairs and would look for fire exits, thinking, 'I'm out of here.' Despite the fear, she felt relief after each performance. Kirkwood also revealed that contestants' costumes were frequently taken in due to weight loss, and detailed the rigorous Saturday schedule: hair and makeup for two hours, then costume fitting involving a leotard with a sewn-on skirt. She noted that the crew gave her her only four 10s. Kirkwood ruled out appearing on I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!, citing a fear of snakes, but expressed interest in Race Across the World, joking she would head straight to Raffles in Singapore. She mentioned having upcoming presenting jobs but declined to elaborate, saying weather was 'in the back window.'