Strictly’s Katie Piper determined not to let health problems hold her back

Strictly Come Dancing’s Katie Piper has revealed how her health problems could impact training.

Katie is a best-selling international author, inspirational speaker, TV presenter and charity campaigner. Katie made the decision to share her story in a remarkable film for the Cutting Edge strand on Channel 4 called Katie: My Beautiful Face, which was watched by over 3.5million viewers and nominated for Best Single Documentary at the Bafta Television Awards in 2010.

Katie suffered horrific injuries after an acid attack ten years ago and says it’s made rehearsals all that more difficult.

But not one to give up, Katie is determined it won’t hold her back.

In a new interview, Katie recalled: “I remember when my challenge was to walk without a walking frame.

“The respiratory problem makes training a bit harder. I tried to practise some steps and can’t really move my head back because of a band of scar tissue that starts at the top of my head.

“Everyone will be like, ‘Why’s she pulling that funny face?’ and I’ll be like, ‘No, that’s my face!’”

She added: “It will be hard with my eyesight. If you cover one eye and think you can’t see your peripheral, that is harder with dancing, steps and anticipating your partner.”

However Katie says it’s not just her physical injuries which could make things difficult for her.

“I’m like an elephant with no rhythm,” she told the Mirror. “When I was practising I was stamping on feet and banging into people.

“I’ll just have to work really hard at the training.”

All fifteen celebrities on the Strictly Come Dancing 2018 line up have now been announced.

Joining Katie on the cast of Strictly 2018 are documentary maker Stacey Dooley, TV doctor Dr Ranj, Cricketer Graeme Swann, radio DJ and TV host Vick Hope, YouTube vlogger Joe Sugg, Steps singer Faye Tozer, actor Danny John-Jules, television presenter and fashion journalist Susannah Constantine and Casualty actor Charles Venn.

Joining them are Paratriathlete Lauren Steadman, Popstar turned soap actor Lee Ryan, Pussycat Doll singer Ashley Roberts, BBC journalist and newsreader Kate Silverton and comedian Seann Walsh.

Strictly Come Dancing starts on BBC One in September with its red carpet launch show.