Alesha Dixon talks 'intense' reality of being on Strictly and why she quit as a judge

Despite her initial reluctance to do reality television, Alesha decided to give Strictly a go after what she described as the "lowest point" in her life.

Ahead of taking to the dance floor, she separated from her first husband Michael Harvey, famously recognised as MC Harvey, just after a year of marriage. Around the same time, she was dropped from her record label.

Following a tough period of her "feeling sorry" for herself, she was approached by an "amazing producer" named Brian Higgins, who asked her to do some song writing.

It was during these creative sessions that Alesha penned what became her most successful single, The Boy Does Nothing.

Speaking on the Making A Scene podcast with David Walliams and Matt Lucas, David described her career turnaround on Strictly as a "magic moment" for her.

Agreeing, she went on to say: "I could feel the energy at the time, and that really was what kind of got me through as well, because it was a very emotionally challenging time.

Being in Strictly as well, it enabled me to just be in this bubble."

Alesha Dixon was a judge on Strictly Come Dancing from 2009 to 2011

Following her victory, Alesha said she experienced "intense" pressure when she re-joined as a judge.

Reflecting on that period, she confessed: "To be honest, it was quite heavy at the time and I thought why have I said yes to this? I didn't sign up for this.

"But it ended up being well in the end, it was just a storm in a teacup that I needed to get through."

After three years as a judge, Alesha moved on to the Britain's Got Talent panel.

At the time, it was reported that Simon Cowell had "poached" her from Strictly, though she says this wasn't the case.

"They thought that Simon had poached me from the BBC, but I'd actually already made the decision to leave Strictly," she explained.

"I always knew I was only going to do three years on the show."

Delving deeper into her reasons for departing, she added: "Because I didn't feel like I wanted to settle there, I wanted the experience of it, but I felt like I wanted to move on and try something new.

"I enjoy Britain's Got Talent so much, which is why I've been there for so long."

Britain's Got Talent continues tonight at 7.30pm on ITV and ITVX.