Vicky Pattison became emotional as she discussed her mental health struggles while preparing to appear on Strictly Come Dancing later this year.
The 37-year-old former Geordie Shore star, who has also appeared on ITV's I'm A Celebrity, said she had experienced anxiety linked to reality television and returned to therapy. Speaking on her Get A Grip podcast with fellow TV presenter Angela Scanlon, Pattison said she "went back to therapy, but I pretty much cried for three hours straight." She said she has been seeing This Morning psychologists Nick and Eva Speakman for support and described being "super honest" in sessions.
Pattison spoke candidly about the pressure she felt ahead of her Strictly debut, saying that the stress surfaced despite her familiarity with high-profile reality TV. "It started off like, why I'm so stressed about Strictly. They always find, like, the easy way in," she told Scanlon, who competed on Strictly in 2023. Pattison's comments came as she reflected on the toll public exposure and television formats have taken on her wellbeing.
On the podcast, Pattison also spoke about her ambitions for a long-term career in television and the emotional impact of navigating public life while maintaining mental health. Her candid account, which included moments of tears, detailed both the immediate emotional response to returning to therapy and ongoing efforts to manage anxiety ahead of the BBC dance show.
Pattison's openness follows a wider trend of public figures discussing mental health challenges connected to participation in reality television. Producers and clinicians have increasingly faced scrutiny over contestant welfare, and some programs have introduced expanded psychological support in response to concerns. Pattison's mention of seeking professional help underscores the role therapists and media-embedded psychologists can play when participants prepare for and recover from high-profile appearances.
Strictly Come Dancing, which traditionally airs in the autumn and features celebrities paired with professional dancers, has drawn attention in recent seasons for the intense rehearsal schedules and the emotional vulnerability contestants often display on live television. Pattison's confirmation of her involvement in the upcoming series was paired with her frank discussion of the personal cost of re-entering competitive, televised environments.
Representatives for Pattison did not immediately respond to requests for additional comment. The Speakmans, who work publicly as psychologists on television, have previously provided guidance to celebrities navigating the pressures of public life and broadcasting.
Pattison's account on Get A Grip adds to a continuing conversation about duty of care in entertainment production and the supports available to those who participate. By sharing her experience, she has highlighted the personal steps some performers take, including returning to therapy, to manage anxiety and prepare for the demands of live, competitive television.