Hannah Spearritt and Roxy Shahidi - 'Our surprise pregnancies made us pull out of Dancing On Ice, now we're finally here'

ok.co.uk:

Emmerdale actress Roxy Shahidi, 40, and S Club 7 ’s Hannah Spearritt, 42, almost appeared on the show before - but pulled out after falling pregnant.The stars both auditioned to join the line up before discovering they were to become mothers for the first time. “I auditioned years ago but about two weeks after that, I found out I was pregnant,” says mum-of-one Roxy. “And this happened to Hannah, too.” Hannah adds, “I auditioned five years ago and the same as Roxy, things were looking good and then I found out I was pregnant with my first child, so I couldn’t do it.” Roxy and her actor husband, Arsher Ali, welcomed their daughter in 2018, but Roxy reveals she wishes she had taken part in Dancing On Ice before becoming a mother. “Part of me almost wishes I could have done it then,” she says. “I was fearless.

Going back into the show as a mum there are different stresses, like being away from your child.The experience so far has actually taught me some self-acceptance because I can be hard on myself. “And I got really frustrated with my anxiety, which I want to work through. “But equally, it’s OK to feel like that.

I’m a mum and I’m just going to be as good as I can and try to have a nice time.” While Roxy and Hannah may be very supportive of one another, do they expect their competitive side to come out once the show kicks off? “I have got a competitive nature,” admits Hannah. “But I don’t feel it, because we’re in the same boat and I want to see everyone do well. “It’s so inspiring seeing all my competitors on the ice.

I can see first hand how much people have improved and it’s a nice feeling to see everyone doing their best.” “There’s so much love between everyone,” Roxy adds.