Judge Bussell denies being too nice (From Hampshire Chronicle)

Judge Bussell denies being too nice

12:08am Tuesday 11th September 2012 in National Entertainment News © Press Association 2013

Darcey Bussell has denied being too nice when she appeared as a guest judge on Strictly Come Dancing - and warned that she is about to get tougher.

The former ballet star, 43, who had a role in the BBC One show in 2009, replaces Alesha Dixon on the panel of the new series.

"It was odd when I came in last time because I was only brought in at the end, by which time the contestants were all very good. It would have been wrong to have been too critical at that point," she told the Radio Times.

"Now that I am in from the start it will be very different. When you have been brought up in a world where everything you do is scrutinised and judged you have to develop a thick skin, which is what I am going to encourage the contestants to do. They have to learn to take in our comments and thrive on them.

"What I am looking forward to is spotting people with potential and being tough on them in order to bring it out of them. If they don't improve and get better week on week, then they're out as far as I'm concerned."

Darcey revealed she will draw on the nerves she experienced before the closing ceremony of the Olympics.

"I had a year to get in shape, but I hadn't 'danced' for nearly four years. My body changed so much when I stopped dancing - I became soft! And finding the courage to get into an all-in-one leotard was a big deal," she said.

The new series of Strictly starts on Saturday.