Dancing has always been a passion for me, one that I will probably never be rid of.

I danced so intensely, I learned the hard way that sometimes you can push your body too far.

Dancers are working their bodies just like a marathon runner would, and you have to eat to make it through a three-hour performance. Dancers put their bodies through incredible strain.

If I'm dehydrated, my muscles feel almost squeaky.

When I had kids, I had to work out how to keep my stamina up. I learned the power of protein and eating a variety of foods.

On Boxing Day, we always go for a walk in our wellies with the dogs, no matter where we are.

We only open a couple of presents on Christmas morning; we're all about the stockings - we even get them for the dogs!

I had once been told my ability to read would only reach that of a ten-year-old, but I was determined to achieve more.

The orthopaedic surgeon said that if ever I had hip or groin pain, I should rest until the pain went. However, resting is not part of a dancer's life - so I just danced through the pain.

I need to have dark chocolate in the cupboard - Green & Black's is good, but any will do.

I'm a size 8-10. I never weigh myself - I go on how tight my jeans are.

I am not a big vitamin-taker. I have vitamin C during the winter, but eating lots of fruit and veg does the trick.

Since finishing my professional dancing career, I've been conscious of not letting myself go.

I would love more children, but no. I'm very lucky to have had my two.

When I coach dancers, I always like to get on the dance floor with them or describe something by showing them.

There are always younger and better dancers fighting to get your place. You get worn down by the fight to try to stay at the top.

I worked very hard to be a diva. But it never worked.

I've come to realise that being on 'Strictly' is like being in another theatre company and performing a live production.

This perception that we can be stars without any work and just appear is rubbish.

I was pretty rubbish when I first started dancing. I didn't understand the discipline of working on one step over and over again. If you look at it from the outside, you'd think, 'Why would anybody want to do that?' But you just want to get it perfect. It is that constant inner striving that you fall in love with.

Everything is not beautiful at the ballet. It's tough.

I've always been quite famous for my nose.

Ever since I've given up dancing, every physiotherapist or Pilates teacher has said you have to keep moving. If I don't, I'll have a hundred times more injuries because you get weak areas on your body.

I was incredibly supple and did gymnastics as well. So half of my injuries are because I am over-supple and the joints could always go that little bit further. But I was happy to push, and I have no regrets. That is important to say.