Judy Murray was teamed up with Anton Du Beke back in September 2014 for the 12th series of Strictly Come Dancing. The mother of Andy Murray survived eight weeks of the gruelling ballroom competition, before being eliminated during the Blackpool special. Now the 59-year-old has looked back at her appearance, saying she “didn’t really realise just quite how big” the programme was. The tennis coach from Scotland said it was “huge thing” for her to sign-up, with it opening up a whole new audience.
Speaking in The National, Judy commented: “When I got asked to do it, I could not believe it.
“I thought: ‘Wow, what an opportunity.’ I didn’t really realise just quite how big it was.”
Strictly, which is expected to return to BBC One in the coming weeks, is regularly watched by millions, with the final last year attracting 13 million.
She continued: “The Saturday night was something else.
“You had to perform something that you are not good at in front of a live audience and a TV audience of millions, with the lights, cameras… What I realised afterwards was my confidence grew and grew.”
During her stint, Judy was tasked with everything from the Waltz and Cha-cha-cha to the Tango and Paso Doble.
Her highest score came in her final week, when she achieved 24 from the judges for her Viennese Waltz to Let’s Go Fly a Kite.
Judy went on: “It opened me up to a brand-new audience of people who don’t follow tennis. It allowed me to show how I really am, even if I was terrified on the night.
“I had so much fun with my partner Anton and you make so many friends for life. It opened up a whole lot of other stuff for me in terms of appearing on other shows like The Chase, Catchphrase, Have I Got News For You.
“I never imagined that I would be able to do that sort of stuff.”
The star was up against the likes of Mark Wright, Jake Wood, Pixie Lott and Steve Backshall.
But it was Caroline Flack who was eventually crowned the winner in the finale against Simon Webbe and Frankie Bridge.
The run was the first one without Sir Bruce Forsyth as host, prior to his death in August 2017 age 89.
The series also saw Donny Osmond step in as a guest judge for week three.
Meanwhile, it comes just weeks after Judy Murray revealed her “pet hate” in a cheeky Richard Gasquet post.
It came after she spotted a photo of the tennis star on the court and hit back at his fashion choice.