Strictly's Judi Love says show is helping her cope with grief after beloved dad's death

Judi Love has told how Strictly Come Dancing is helping her cope with the death of her dad.

The Loose Women star, 41, lost Albert just six months ago and opening up on it, she said: “The pandemic has been one of the hardest times of our lives.

“For me it has been one of the hardest years. I lost my dad. But I think Strictly definitely helps people going through grief. I am open with emotions and how I’m feeling and seeking help.

“Dancing just brings something – it helps you physically and emotionally. It can only be something that makes you better.”

Judi has survived the first two dreaded dance-offs of the series alongside hunky pro partner Graziano Di Prima, 27.

She added: “My dad and my mum, who has also passed, would be so proud. They would be honoured.

“Any parents hope the next generation can do more than them.

“So this would give them their peace of mind for all that they sacrificed.”

Judi also opened up about suffering from secondary trauma on Loose Women, as she shared her feelings after sitting down to watch a documentary on slavery.

She said: “I get this really nervous feeling sometimes.

“Black history is important, but if I speak from my heart, the nervousness comes from Black History Month only being about the negative things, the negative impact.”

Judi added to the panel: “[The documentary] knocked me for about three weeks.

“I felt emotional and drained and I realised it’s secondary trauma. It’s entertainment for a lot of people, but it’s secondary trauma, it makes me emotional.

“It might be something simple, like a black mother picking a school in an area, but she’s thinking, ‘Will he be safe while he’s travelling there?’ It’s constant. A lot of people in the black community have seen this for a long time.”

Judi continued: “It’s hard and there are so many beautiful things about the black community. There are so many things to be celebrated. People need to be educated about what’s going on, because it’s not a lie. We’re tired of it, it’s emotional and it affects our mental health, it’s secondary trauma.”

Strictly airs weekends on BBC.

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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk