Strictly's Angela Scanlon admits 'I was lonely' as she details 'full breakdown'

This weekend, BBC audiences will witness Angela Scanlon appearing on Michael McIntyre's hit game show, The Wheel.

The show is scheduled to broadcast following Strictly Come Dancing as the remaining competitors progress to the quarter-finals.

Angela is well-acquainted with the sparkle and glamour of Strictly, having taken part in 2023 alongside professional partner Carlos Gu. The duo managed to secure sixth place, whilst Coronation Street actress Ellie Leach ultimately claimed victory in the series.

Yet, behind her cheerful public image and hectic timetable, Angela has admitted to experiencing profound isolation, feelings that intensified during a CoppaFeel! Charity expedition in the Himalayas last November, reports Wales Online.

During the trek, Angela served as a team captain alongside personalities including Emma Willis, businesswoman Sara Davies and Great British Bake Off champion Candice Brown.

When discussing the journey, the 41-year-old disclosed she endured a 'full breakdown'.

Writing in a Substack piece, she revealed: "A couple of days in - I cracked. Full breakdown. Ugly crying into my yak-themed duvet."

Looking back on her state of mind during that period, Angela elaborated: "What the actual f*** was I thinking? How arrogant was I to believe I'm equipped to hold these brilliant women at such a tender time?"

The television personality acknowledged that her sense of isolation, which had been affecting her intermittently for years, became overwhelming.

She explained: "I was lonely. Not the cute, 'oh I miss my mates' lonely.

"The hollow, I have an incredible following of 436K people on Instagram, a full family life, a busy work life and still feel like I'm shouting-into-a-void kind of lonely."

This charitable expedition inspired Angela to establish a grassroots movement dubbed Hot Messers, a space that celebrates flaws and disorder, which has led to coordinated group rambles.

Despite expecting nobody to turn up, the inaugural gathering proved triumphant, with the subsequent organised walk being 'double the size' of the first.

Strictly Come Dancing is available to watch on BBC iPlayer.