Strictly Come Dancing is known for lighting up the lives of the millions of viewers from August, when the celebrities are announced, to December, when the winner is awarded the glitter ball trophy. But many of the stars of the show, including the judges, professional dancers and celebrity contestants, have gone through their fair share of shocking personal tragedies. From Bruce Forsyth's sad death to Shirley Ballas opening up about her brother's tragic passing – HELLO! has taken a look back at how the stars of Strictly have found the strength to overcome sad and tragic personal circumstances…
Faye Tozer
Steps star Faye Tozer has revealed that she was facing an emotional challenge at the same time she appeared on the series in 2018. Faye revealed to HELLO! magazine in July that while her dance training with Strictly professional Giovanni Pernice was in full swing, her mother Dorothy was undergoing treatment for stage 3 breast cancer. "While I was putting on sequins, mum was putting on a cold cap," Faye told HELLO! "That kept everything in perspective. If I was having a bad day, I knew that mum was going through so much more." Explaining why she kept her family's heartache a secret while on the show, Faye added: "It was mum's journey, not mine. I didn’t want people to feel sorry for me or ask how I was because it wasn’t about me. I wanted to get on with the job, and mum wanted that as well. She was so incredibly positive." Thankfully, Dorothy has now successfully completed most of her treatment.