Hannah Spearritt has revealed she feared she would have to pull out of Dancing On Ice due to an autoimmune condition.
The S Club 7 star, 42, has suffered from the affliction since 2013 and told how she missed at least two sessions a week after a tooth infection triggered a relapse.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with The Mirror, Hannah revealed her excitement at the thought of joining the show.
She said: ‘I was so excited about joining Dancing On Ice. It was the perfect opportunity after the S Club 7 reunion didn’t work out and I wanted to get back to something physical.
‘But three weeks into training, I lost half a tooth and – though I didn’t know it at the time – it caused an infection.
Hannah Spearritt has revealed she feared she would have to pull out of Dancing On Ice due to an autoimmune condition
‘Suddenly I was crying, ill, getting headaches, and I got illness after illness.’
The star also admitted that she felt so nauseous during rehearsals that she would just end up sobbing and felt ‘guilty’ as she didn’t want to let anyone down, especially her pro skating partner Andy Buchanan.
Hannah signed up for the ITV show after pulling out of an S Club 7 reunion following the death of her ex-boyfriend Paul Cattermole last year.
The singer became emotional as she discussed Paul Cattermole’s death during the launch show and paid tribute to him before she took to the ice.
Paul was found dead at the age of 46 on April 6 at his home in Dorset, with no suspicious circumstances around his sudden death.
Hannah explained how tough it was for her after Paul had passed: ‘Me and Paul, we grew up together, he was part of the band. When he died, it was just hard. It’s been a challenging year.
‘Things will never be the same again.’
It comes after Dancing On Ice returned for another year – with Holly Willoughby making her grand return to TV.
The S Club 7 star, 42, has suffered from the affliction since 2013 and told how she missed at least two sessions a week after a tooth infection triggered a relapse
The presenter, 42, looked incredible in a dazzling silver strappy dress as she welcomed new co-host Stephen Mulhern, 46, to the show.
Hannah took to the ice with her professional partner Andy Buchanan, performing Break Free by Ariana Grande.
The singer was given a total of 19.5 out of a possible 40 points by the judges.
Judge Jaye Torvill said: ‘Well done for doing such difficult lifts. ‘We need to see more of the basic skating. It is improving but you could do more.’
Hannah reportedly ‘broke down in tears and told friends she was ready to quit Dancing On Ice ‘after struggling in intense training sessions.
The star found the long days ‘harder than expected.’
Hannah revealed her excitement at the thought of joining the show: ‘I was so excited about joining Dancing On Ice. It was the perfect opportunity after the S Club 7 reunion didn’t work out and I wanted to get back to something physical
‘But three weeks into training, I lost half a tooth and – though I didn’t know it at the time – it caused an infection
According to The Mirror, she missed a series of training sessions, which hurt her progress.
A source told the publication: ‘Before Christmas, there was a spell where Hannah was missing more than one session a week. Losing those hours has a real impact.’
They added: ‘She has found training harder than expected and at times has been in tears. She confided in pals about her struggle and told them she wanted to walk away.
‘Luckily she has really rallied since Christmas and now seems to be in a much better place.’
A spokeswoman for Hannah told the publication: ‘Hannah is loving the challenge and her body is feeling fitter from it. She has to be careful because of her immune condition but it’s been just what she needed.’
Last week, Hannah detailed her struggles and claimed her autoimmune disease left her unable to cook for herself or get on a train.
She concluded ‘Suddenly I was crying, ill, getting headaches, and I got illness after illness.’
The exclusive interview comes after Hannah became emotional last week as she discussed late bandmate Paul Cattermole’s death during the Dancing On Ice launch show
The singer left S Club’s tour and said ‘everything’ changed for her after Paul’s death, admitting she had been having ‘crippling panic attacks’ before quitting.
Hannah has spoken about her struggles with an autoimmune condition, which caused symptoms including chronic fatigue, brain fog and vertigo.
She said she first had similar symptoms in 2013 after having breast implants, and she and her husband Adam Thomas believe the condition was triggered by two miscarriages in 2022 and stress.
Hannah told Hello! Magazine: ‘I don’t think I realised how much I’d deteriorated because it happened so gradually, I had no energy and couldn’t even get on a train or cook dinner.
The singer paid tribute to her late bandmate before taking to the ice to perform along to Break Free by Ariana Grande
‘That affected my mental health, too, because I’ve always been a physical and sporty person, it’s only when you get better and can do things you love again that you realise how bad things were.’
Hannah said she has only been able to join the 2024 series of Dancing On Ice thanks to an expert in regenerative medicine, who she said used a serum derived from her blood to help stabilise her condition.
The star – who shares daughters Taya, five, and Tora, three, with Adam – admitted that last year was ‘traumatic’ due to her health woes and the death of her bandmate and ex-boyfriend Paul.
‘It’s been a tough and challenging year, and things happened that were quite traumatic,’ Hannah said.
DANCING ON ICE: MEET THE 2024 CONTESTANTS
RICKY HATTON
AGE: 44
PROFESSION: Former pro boxer
WHAT DID HE SAY? ‘If I can hold my nerve in the boxing ring I should be able to hold my nerve in the ice rink’
HANNAH SPEARRITT
AGE: 42
PROFESSION: SINGER
WHAT DID SHE SAY? ‘I’m really excited about learning a new skill. It’s so easy to live your comfortable life and that aspect of mixing things up is very appealing’
GREG RUTHERFORD
AGE: 36
PROFESSION: Athlete
WHAT DID HE SAY? ‘I like a challenge and I needed a reason to go out and do stuff again and here we are. I want to perform something that’s never been done before, that’s my aim.’
Eddie ‘The Eagle’ Edwards
AGE: 59
PROFESSION: OLYMPIC SKI JUMPER
WHAT DID HE SAY? ‘Dancing on Ice is a show I’ve always wanted to do. It’s a challenge I think I’m going to relish!’
RICKY NORWOOD
AGE: 40
PROFESSION: EastEnders star
WHAT DID HE SAY? ‘It’s come at such a great time in life. I can’t skate at all! No rehearsals as yet, I’ve just had some physiotherapy to strengthen the body.’
RYAN THOMAS
AGE: 39
PROFESSION: Corrie star
WHAT DID HE SAY? ‘Everyone keeps asking me, “are you doing it?” I’ve told everyone!’
CLAIRE SWEENEY
AGE: 52
PROFESSION: ACTRESS
WHAT DID SHE SAY? ‘I am stepping into the unknown here. I don’t know how I will feel. But I am very excited.’
AMBER DAVIES
AGE: 26
PROFESSION: WEST END STAR
WHAT DID SHE SAY? ‘I would definitely say that I’m an adrenaline junkie but I do get more nervous as I get older and I hope that I can contain them’
MILES NAZAIRE
AGE: 27
PROFESSION: REALITY STAR
WHAT DID HE SAY? ‘I’ve always loved to dance but it’s usually on a dance floor on a Saturday night and Dancing on Ice looks so difficult.’
LOU SANDERS
AGE: 37
PROFESSION: COMEDIAN
WHAT DID SHE SAY? ‘I’m nervous about cracking my head open, or just bashing the old head. I can’t afford to lose any more brain cells.’
ADELE ROBERTS
AGE: 44
PROFESSION: RADIO PRESENTER
WHAT DID SHE SAY? ‘It’s ”bricking it on ice” for me! I think the hardest part is putting myself out there as I usually hide away’
ROXY SHAHIDI
AGE: 40
PROFESSION: Emmerdale star
WHAT DID SHE SAY? ‘I can’t ice-skate. I haven’t really said anything to anyone but mainly because I’m so nervous about it!’