CATHERINE Tyldesley has revealed how her hormones led to a ‘secret struggle’ during her time on Strictly Come Dancing.
The Coronation Street actress, who starred in the 17th series of the hit dance show in 2019, spoke about the negative effects of social media.
During her interview for the February 2025 issue of Prima, which is now on sale, the magazine cover star spoke about her struggles with online comments about her fluctuating weight.
She said: “I remember when I was doing Strictly, I was really struggling with my hormones. I remember someone put, ‘Oh my god, is Cath Tyldesley pregnant?’ And I wasn’t. I was just hormonal.”
She went on to say: “I can go up a dress size. I retain water like a sponge. And it started a thread.”
“People were saying, ‘I think she’s pregnant. Look, her tummy’s poking out a bit, her face looks fuller and her boobs look huge.’”
The Holby City star said that being in the public eye often led to unwanted scrutiny and harsh criticism.
She said: “I stopped reading and watching the news a long time ago, and I try not to look at comments. I try to get back to the positive ones, if it’s about my work or if it’s something joyous, or something that might help people.“
“But in terms of the negative, I would never dream of commenting on someone’s picture and saying, ‘Oh, you don’t look great.’ That makes me feel a bit sick. If you’re fragile, it’s a very dangerous thing.”
While the 41-year-old actress acknowledged it had ‘become part and parcel’ of being in the public gaze, she said: “That needs to go away. To be removed. It’s really toxic for everyone and for the next generation.”
“If you don’t agree with someone on something, unfollow them. I have read stories about my friends, about me, when not a single word of it is true, but suddenly the entire world believes it.”
“That’s really, really hard because when things are printed that aren’t true, the more you speak about it, the more they’ll talk about it. And so you’re backed into a corner of silence.”
The actress, who shares two children Alfie, 10, and Iris, two, with husband Tom Pitfield, also addressed her relationship with her body during the interview.
“My relationship with my body is probably like most women: up and down.”
“I found it very difficult after my second child. I hate the words ‘spring back’ because you’ve achieved something so amazing. But I’ll be honest: I didn’t feel like myself. “
Admitting she felt ‘unfit, weak, and vulnerable’ she revealed she had suffered from chronic sickness and pregnancy insomnia.
“I was just losing my mind, mental health-wise, trying to manage on two or three hours of sleep each night.”
During the interview the actress also opened up about the joy of filming The Good Shop Murder with former Corrie co-star, Shayne Ward.
Season one of the TV crime drama series, set on a luxury Mediterranean cruise ship, was filmed after she had just had a baby, with the TV star admitting Shane had ‘kept her sane.’
“I’d just had a baby, and his other half, Sophie, had also just had a baby, and so we kind of propped each other up emotionally while we were both missing the kids.”
“He’s seen me cry a million times. So I thought, “It’s fine, I can be a hormonal mess around Shayne.”‘
