Louise Redknapp has revealed the reason she decided to join Strictly Come Dancing – she was starting to feel "left behind".
The singer has devoted her time to raising her two sons with husband Jamie Redknapp, but Louise felt it was time to be "a little bit selfish" and do something for herself.
"For me and I think so many mums will appreciate it, I was at home for quite a long time just being a mum and as much as I loved that, I did feel a little bit left behind," Louise, 41, told Lorraine.
© Photo: BBC"I really needed to do something for myself and to love doing something," said Louise
"They were getting bigger and I felt like I really needed to do something for myself and to love doing something.
"I'm in a house of boys and they play football every day and honestly they were always out and it got to the stage where I thought, 'I'm literally just at home waiting for everyone to get home.'
"When Strictly came along I thought I'm going to be a little bit selfish and take this for me and I'll look forward to getting back home and being with the boys but I'm making the most of it while it's there."
© Photo: Instagram"It got to the stage where I thought, 'I'm literally just at home waiting for everyone to get home,'" she said
Louise has thrown herself into the competition and pulled out one stellar routine after another, with the help of her professional dance partner Kevin Clifton. She is shaping up to be a firm favourite on the BBC show.
Commenting on who she got on best with, Louise said: "It's so random, I'm friends with Ed Balls, which is great. We have the odd text with each other.
"He throws himself into it every week, he's a real part of the gang, he doesn't distance himself, he comes in and we're all in it together. I've got nothing but lovely words to say about him and everybody on the show actually."
© Photo: BBCLouise has been paired with professional dance partner Kevin Clifton
Ahead of Strictly's launch Louise, a member of nineties girl group Eternal, spoke to HELLO! Online about stepping back into the spotlight.
"It's been so long," said Louise. "I actually watched back a few of my old music videos, just to try and remind myself that I did used to dance because I can't imagine doing it again. It just feels like such a lifetime ago.
"I actually sat down with my youngest son last night and we watched some music videos, and he was like, 'Is that you mum? Is that you?' And I said, 'Yeah, believe it or not!'"
"Charly, the older one, said, 'Don't embarrass me!! Don't be bad! Don't be bad!' But Beau takes it a bit in his stride. He's like, 'Oh mum it's going to be great, whatever you do.'"
