BBC Strictly star says series 'helped me become me' after split from music icon
Former Strictly Come Dancing star Jo Wood has admitted that the show gave her a 'confidence boost' following her split from Rolling Stones guitarist Ronnie Wood.
The star, 70, appeared on Thursday's (July 3) episode of Loose Women alongside panellists Christine Lampard, Sunetra Sarker, Kelly Brook and Gloria Hunniford as she promoted her new novel, The Resurrection of Flo.
Just minutes into the chat, Gloria pointed out: 'When you read through it there are great similarities some may say between your own life because it's about a woman who has been married for 30 years, which you were to Ronnie.'
She then asked: 'How difficult was it for you to re-invent yourself after your long marriage?' Jo admitted: 'Well It didn't take too long fortunately because I was offered Strictly Come Dancing and I think for me it was a wonderful confidence boost.
(Image: ITV)
'I had been a wife and mother for all those years and I suddenly was dancing with Brendon Cole and it really helped me become me again so it didn't take too long."
She continued: 'The book is about finding yourself and I think so many women go through a break up or lose their husband.
"I bumped into a friend of mine and whilst I was thinking about what a great story, she said that she split up with her husband and she said to me 'my life is over Jo isn't it?' I said 'no it's not'.
'Just because you're in your 50s it doesn't mean that your life is over you can still get back out there and I hope she has. I sort of thought about all those things when I was writing it and there are things in there that I think are important to do when you become single.'
(Image: ITV)
The star admitted: 'Forgiveness, that is very important I think. Forgive yourself and the one that ran off and I think that is very important.
"It's a very tough thing to do but if you mean it, it sets you free because by not forgiving you are tied to that person but by forgiving you let it go.'
Christine asked: 'How did you do it? Was it family and friends who helped you with that or was it something you tackled by yourself?' Jo revealed: 'I was fortunate enough to have my family of course around me.'
The former model married guitarist Ronnie, 76, in 1985 and the pair went on to have two children together Leah, 45, and Tyrone, 40.
Loose Women airs weekdays from 12.30pm on ITV1 and ITVX
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