‘It’s probably the oddest thing I’ve done!’ Strictly’s Caroline Quentin says she felt ‘trapped’ and ‘institutionalised’ by the time she left the show
Strictly Come Dancing contestant Caroline Quentin has opened up about how the BBC show left her feeling ‘institutionalised’ by the time she was voted off.
The actress, 60, described the experience as the ‘oddest’ thing she has ever done, as she explained she accepted the offer due to her clear diary amid the pandemic.
Detailing her time on the show with the Guardian, Caroline explained that despite being a ‘well-oiled machine’, the show can ‘become a little insensitive to individuals.’
Opinion: Strictly Come Dancing contestant Caroline Quentin has opened up about how the BBC show left her feeling ‘institutionalised’ by the time she was voted off
The Men Behaving Badly star, said: ‘It’s probably the oddest thing I’ve done… Basically, you’re trapped. I mean, thank God I liked my partner. People say it’s an institution and … I felt a bit institutionalised by the time I came out.’
Explaining what she meant, Caroline added: ‘It’s a bit like The Wizard of Oz. The wizard’s behind that screen and he is not the mighty Wizard of Oz. It’s impenetrable, opaque. It’s a machine. They all refer to Strictly as a well-oiled machine. It has to be. But, within that, I think it can become a little… insensitive to individuals.’
During her time on the ballroom show, where she was partnered with professional dancer Johannes Radebe, Caroline caused a stir online when she licked her partner during their cheeky Cha Cha routine.
‘Institutionalised’: The actress, 60, described the experience as the ‘oddest’ thing she has ever done, as she explained she accepted the offer due to her clear diary amid the pandemic
Clearly unfazed by the criticism for the ‘over-sexualised’ gesture, Caroline said: ”It was meant to be funny So get a sense of humour or f**k off. One or the other. I don’t care.’
Caroline revealed the ‘consensual’ moment was carefully planned out between herself and Johannes and he had given his permission during rehearsals.
While fans were loving the performance, many were stunned by Caroline’s choice to lick her partner, with one viewer asking: ‘Did I imagine that?’
Ooh I say! Caroline caused quite a stir on Saturday night as she appeared to lick pro partner Johannes Radebe’s arm
Fun times: The actress was keen to impress with her cha cha routine to Rescue Me by Fontella Bass, with her starring as a damsel in distress while dancer Johannes, 33, was a hunky fireman
Watching at home, Strictly fans were shocked by what they saw and rushed to Twitter to comment on the cheeky moment.
‘Let’s face it, we’d all lick Johannes if we had the chance’ commented one viewer.
While a second asked: ‘Is that the first ever choreography in Strictly history that involved a celeb trying to lick their partner?’
Reaction: Watching at home, Strictly fans were shocked by what they saw and rushed to Twitter to comment on the cheeky moment
‘What a fun routine. In fairness I’d lick Johannes too’ joked a third.
‘Did Caroline just lick Johannes mid-routine ????? Mood’ asked a fourth.
A disbelieving fifth watcher said: ‘Did Caroline just lick Johannes’s arm?? Or did I imagine that??’