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Rachel Riley now reported to have got PTSD from Strictly too

252 replies

chachacharcoal · 02/04/2024 18:44

Both the Daily Mail and the Mirror are now reporting that Rachel Riley also claims to have developed PTSD after doing Strictly. She went on to marry her partner though so he doesn't seem to have been the problem. One of the articles is also claiming she says that many of the other former contestants she's spoken to since doing the show have shared similar experiences. I was surprised by some of the vitriol Amanda Abington got for saying similar but I do realise most people have a fairly basic understanding of trauma. Anyone else very interested in this story?

Faye Tozer is also being reported to have had a negative experience with Giovanni. But the word trauma hasn't been used in that story as far as I'm aware.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13262881/Rachel-riley-strictly-come-dancing-ptsd-amanda-abbington-exit.html

https://www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-news/rachel-riley-reveals-bbc-strictly-32493863

Rachel Riley says Strictly left her with PTSD and calls for show therapy

Countdown star Rachel Riley has revealed she was left with PTSD after appearing on Strictly Come Dancing as she calls for therapy for its contestants following Amanda Abbington's experience

https://www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-news/rachel-riley-reveals-bbc-strictly-32493863

OP posts:
Thread gallery
11
Ger1atricMillennial · 03/04/2024 03:44

I think it's reasonable due to the intensity of the program and the hyper-competitive nature of the professionals who are trying to make a name for themselves, that people not used to that would find it very difficult and uncomfortable. Dancing is insanely body dysphoric, physically painful and dreadfully judgmental. This plus the media intrusion would have been a lot more than she is used to.

I wonder what the threshold for trauma in this situation is?

Rubylooloo · 03/04/2024 03:49

I'm sorry I cannot take this seriously. It is not remotely comparable to chronic abuse and other egs given in the ICD11. Workplace bullying - do me a favour.

Wornoutlady · 03/04/2024 04:22

Is it not because they are used to people blowing smoke up their arses, telling them how wonderful they are and then bam, they face someone who wants the to actually be BETTER and kicks their arse and they oh, cannot take it. So traumatic not to be loved...

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Ger1atricMillennial · 03/04/2024 04:30

Wornoutlady · 03/04/2024 04:22

Is it not because they are used to people blowing smoke up their arses, telling them how wonderful they are and then bam, they face someone who wants the to actually be BETTER and kicks their arse and they oh, cannot take it. So traumatic not to be loved...

I wondered this. The athletes tend to fare well on this show, because conquering physical challenges and the tough talk is what they are used to. However, people who are successful in other streams i.e. intellectually for RR have an extra challenge because of the high standard they are trying to reach in the show.

If you are a perfectionist, then of course you can't compete with someone who is already training in complicated physical movement and I could imagine if you are used to winning at life, this would have been a big wake (public) wake up call.

Also, their obvious sexual chemistry on the floor wouldn't have helped the public scrutiny.

Garlicked · 03/04/2024 04:38

I dunno. (I don't watch Strictly or follow slebs, just reading posts & links.) We're just average internet insomniacs here, and we all know that a dance bootcamp to professional standards is going to be brutal. Showbiz bods are at least as likely to know as we are - plus they have access to dancers, previous Strictly contestants, and probably the show's team.

They can't not have known what they were committing to. For that, they were getting massive exposure, a paycheck and a super-toned physique for a while. I can see that they might have talked themselves into it for the benefits, preferring to ignore the real difficulties involved ... and then been mightily shocked when the reality turned out to be as hard as they knew it would be.

I think they're wrong to throw accusations around, though. Nobody can gently coax a non-dancer to show standard in a few weeks, they'll have to push and keep pushing. Unless the professionals were actually beating them up or yelling targeted insults at them, they were doing their job. Which was to make a few pampered celebs train very, very hard.

If the contestants couldn't stand it, they should have come out and said "I can't hack it, sorry" instead of claiming psychiatric injury. They might have sacrificed some of the career benefits by dropping out, but the public would've treated them sympathetically and they'd probably get lots of interviews.

Jk8 · 03/04/2024 04:44

I can imagine she struggled quite a bit to be honest - I know its an unpopular opinion of her but her entire popularity/respect/idolisation is based on being hired by the BBC as opposed to ITV when applying for ANY telly position as she "didnt like having to get up early to work a normal job"

Then she was moved/thrown into reality tv money wise where she was being judged for herself & in the midst of it she was having an affair & about to go through a divorce

The seeds of self doubt would have been sowed so deep during that time period

But I agree it wasn't PTSD in the traditional sense & she had the option to quit/withdraw and no one would have questioned it outside of strictly fans

Ger1atricMillennial · 03/04/2024 04:46

"If the contestants couldn't stand it, they should have come out and said "I can't hack it, sorry" instead of claiming psychiatric injury. They might have sacrificed some of the career benefits by dropping out, but the public would've treated them sympathetically and they'd probably get lots of interviews"

Do you think this is where the workplace bullying is coming in though? They have signed a contract, and they may have wanted out, but as Strictly is a flagship show and if celebs are dropping out would be bad news the stakes would have been very high. I can imagine a possibility they could have been coerced into continuing until the public vote out.

I agree that they had to opportunity to find out if it was going to work for them. They would have been "cast in a role" to fit the narrative of the show i.e. elderly lady for laughs and gets partnered with Anton vs. "thinking mans crumpet" sex symbol which RR was definitely there for.

I still can't decide regarding the PTSD- my gut feeling is it is disproportionate response, but I have worked in a coercive environment (for 3+ years mind) and it does do some damage.

Trez1510 · 03/04/2024 04:50

As someone who 'earned' her cPTSD the really hard way, I think it is possible to have PTS without it being a disorder. It's something a few sessions of EDMR will 'cure' i.e. it's not a lifelong/life inhibiting condition.

Similarly, I believe someone having Obsessive Compulsive tendencies around, say, making sure their curtains are 'just so' is not having a disorder. Someone with the actual disorder is likely to have hands that bleed due to compulsive washing in Fairy Liquid three or four times per hour, or who launders their entire wardrobe because someone else in the home cooked some bacon. Sadly, someone I know is in the situation of having OCD.

If anyone wants to take everything that comes with a genuine disorder, give me a shout because I'd pay you to take mine. If we could backdate it a few decades, that'd be grand too.

TheTimeIsNowMaybeNow · 03/04/2024 04:53

Wornoutlady · 03/04/2024 04:22

Is it not because they are used to people blowing smoke up their arses, telling them how wonderful they are and then bam, they face someone who wants the to actually be BETTER and kicks their arse and they oh, cannot take it. So traumatic not to be loved...

Most likely

cerisepanther73 · 03/04/2024 04:53

@chachacharcoal

I thought for a min or two 🤔 this story comes across April fool's kind of story or jok

Ridiculous

Birdbrained13 · 03/04/2024 05:05

Sophie Ellis Bexter has also talked on her podcast about needing therapy after doing Strictly and the huge pressure it put on her marriage, although she wasn't specific about whether it was her partner or the circus around the show in general.

chachacharcoal · 03/04/2024 05:27

I didn't know SEB had also spoken publicly about a similar experience. We're at half a dozen or so now who have spoken publicly about this.

OP posts:
Realdeal1 · 03/04/2024 05:33

Oh god, Rachel Riley makes me cringe. She's so awful on tv

Garlicked · 03/04/2024 05:34

Birdbrained13 · 03/04/2024 05:05

Sophie Ellis Bexter has also talked on her podcast about needing therapy after doing Strictly and the huge pressure it put on her marriage, although she wasn't specific about whether it was her partner or the circus around the show in general.

Oh, it was her husband who got therapy! He felt the show was taking Sophie away from him ...

I really like the way she wrote about it, here: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-10052707/SOPHIE-ELLIS-BEXTOR-Strictly-took-toll-marriage-husband-ended-counselling.html

SOPHIE ELLIS-BEXTOR: Strictly took such a toll on our marriage

SOPHIE ELLIS-BEXTOR: Some of the show was pure joy and exhilaration. But some of it was seriously intense and, even for a strong marriage like we have, it gave our foundations a good shake.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-10052707/SOPHIE-ELLIS-BEXTOR-Strictly-took-toll-marriage-husband-ended-counselling.html

2021x · 03/04/2024 05:42

I have noticed it’s a DM article and they are on a mission to get rid of the Beeb so they will be very biased.

MH is full of nuance so I am unlikely to trust this report in its entirety.

BeethovenNinth · 03/04/2024 05:52

For goodness sake

MiddleParking · 03/04/2024 06:03

Surely an easy way to reduce her stress levels would have been to not have an affair?

LittleWeed2 · 03/04/2024 06:14

You put yourself in front of an audience of millions attempting something you've not done before and risk making a complete Tit of yourself - no, not stressful or traumatising in the least!!!!!!!!!!!!!

underscorer · 03/04/2024 06:20

m00ngirl · 02/04/2024 21:46

There's a big difference between "a shit time" and "PTSD"

This. PTSD comes from feeling your life is in danger. She might have had a rubbish time but I doubt she actually thought she would die.

Corinthiana · 03/04/2024 06:24

LittleWeed2 · 03/04/2024 06:14

You put yourself in front of an audience of millions attempting something you've not done before and risk making a complete Tit of yourself - no, not stressful or traumatising in the least!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It's not compulsory.
Everyone participating knows that it's physically and mentally demanding. The upside is that t's financially and professionally beneficial. You make it choice. I'm always impressed by the Paralympians and others with disabilities who take part eg Katie Piper. They have extraordinary determination.
Rose Ayling Ellis won, partnered with Giovanni, and is deaf. I would like to hear her take on this.

underscorer · 03/04/2024 06:25

MiddleParking · 03/04/2024 06:03

Surely an easy way to reduce her stress levels would have been to not have an affair?

Ha! Well, quite...

SoupChicken · 03/04/2024 06:37

Garlicked · 03/04/2024 05:34

Oh, it was her husband who got therapy! He felt the show was taking Sophie away from him ...

I really like the way she wrote about it, here: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-10052707/SOPHIE-ELLIS-BEXTOR-Strictly-took-toll-marriage-husband-ended-counselling.html

Therapy for that? really? And he’s in the entertainment business. The show lasts what, 3 months tops, and it’s quite clear it’s going to be an intense 3 months, but I’d imagine the publicity that comes off the back of it, not to mention the fee is worth it.

fieldsofbutterflies · 03/04/2024 06:40

MiddleParking · 03/04/2024 06:03

Surely an easy way to reduce her stress levels would have been to not have an affair?

You'd think so wouldn't you?!

Sillypede · 03/04/2024 07:03

Lucythecleaner · 02/04/2024 22:52

PTSD is thrown around like anything these days. Ask a soldier that has gone to war and seen people blown to shreds what PTSD is! I'm not suggesting it's just soldiers that go through PTSD but going on a dance show definitely wouldn't be a situation that I think PTSD would exist

https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/conditions/post-traumatic-stress-disorder-ptsd/causes/

nhs.uk

Causes - Post-traumatic stress disorder

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can develop after a single very stressful, frightening or distressing event, or after a prolonged traumatic experience.

https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/conditions/post-traumatic-stress-disorder-ptsd/causes

TheAlchemistElixa · 03/04/2024 07:19

illbehonestnow · 02/04/2024 22:51

On live TV? Which was your example? Absolutely give over. You'd probably be in breach of contract, for a start.

gove over. The poster want suggesting that anyone should have quit live on TV! They are around the producers and their managers all week off camera. And no-one, especially a public body like the BBC, is going to sue a celebrity for breach of contract for quitting a show they feel is abusing them and causing them trauma.

give over

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