Strictly star felt ‘pressured’ to continue before quitting due to agoraphobia-Meghna Amin-Entertainment – Metro

Will Young has opened up about his experience on Strictly (Picture: BBC)

Will Young has said he tried to pull out of doing Strictly Come Dancing due to the severity of his agoraphobia but felt ‘pressured’ to continue by his team.

During his spell on the BBC show in 2016, the Pop Idol winner dropped out after three weeks, citing ‘personal reasons’ at the time.

The singer, 45, said that he left the competition with ‘joy in my heart that I have been able to take part in one of the most loved shows on British television’.

‘To be a part of Strictly has been a long time ambition of mine. As a performer, a viewer, and a fan of the show, to dance as a contestant was an experience I always hoped for,’ he added.

However, Will has now revealed he felt ‘pressured’ to remain on the show before quitting.

Speaking to Rylan Clark on his BBC podcast How To Be In The Spotlight he said: ‘I tried to pull out of it, but I was sort of pressured to do it.

Will quit Strictly after three weeks due to his agoraphobia (Picture: BBC/Guy Levy)

“It was sort of like “Well, if you pull out, the BBC will never work with you again”.

‘That was one of the things that was said to me, so I did it, but I knew I wasn’t well enough.’

He continued: ‘You know, when you’re getting flashbacks and all those kind of things, for me, it was agoraphobia.

‘So agoraphobia was really bad for me. So literally throughout that stage, I didn’t even know where I was.

‘I’m on that show. If you ever watch it back, I was not even in the room.

‘I had people messaging me going, this isn’t good, you’re not well. But I tried to get out. I was just so agoraphobic. I could barely get to the studio to rehearse.’

He’s opened up about his mental health struggles (Picture: Ken McKay/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)

Will, who was paired with professional dancer Karen Clifton on the show, revealed that after his Bollywood performance, he knew he had to leave the show.

The singer added: ‘Even though the Bollywood dance was good. Sometimes I still watch that back because I’m really proud of it.

‘I thought “No, no, this isn’t going to work, I’m not doing this anymore.” Literally after that night.

‘Also, people put pressure on for money… I didn’t necessarily have the most supportive people behind me at that stage.’

According to the NHS, agoraphobia is ‘a fear of being in situations where escape might be difficult or that help wouldn’t be available if things go wrong.’

Will previously revealed he considered breaking his legs to quit the show (Picture: PA)

The anxiety disorder can lead to panic attacks and changes in behaviour.

Will previously revealed that he was prepared to break his legs in order to quit the show, saying in 2018: ‘Mental illness is mental illness. I was unwell.

‘In the weeks leading up to Strictly, all I could think about was how could I get out of doing the show.

‘I knew I didn’t have the strength, that I wasn’t in the right place and that I would do myself real damage.’

Will added: ‘I actually looked into the easiest way to break my legs so I couldn’t dance. That’s how bad it was.’

Strictly Come Dancing returns to BBC One and iPlayer later this year.

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