Strictly Come Dancing star Robert Webb has spoken candidly about the frightening health reality that forced him to quit the BBC competition, revealing he is simply grateful to still be alive.
A Dance Floor Dream Cut Short
The actor and comedian, best known for Peep Show, was partnered with professional dancer Dianne Buswell during the 2021 series. However, his time in the ballroom was tragically brief. Webb was compelled to withdraw just days before the fourth live show, a decision that followed serious ongoing health issues related to a major heart operation he had undergone the previous year.
At the time, the pair released a joint statement where Webb expressed his deep regret at having to "let Dianne down". The physical demands of the intense training schedule proved too much for his recovering body, ultimately making it impossible for him to continue.
"I Very Nearly Died": A New Perspective on Life
Speaking recently at the Rose D'Or awards, Webb reflected on the severity of his health ordeal with stark honesty. "I very nearly died," he stated. "And yet I made a full recovery and so that is an amazing gift, to have got that close but to come out of it with a normal life expectancy and normal everything else."
He described his survival as a "beautiful miracle", adding that this perspective now helps him through difficult moments. "Every now and again when things bum me out slightly I can look out of the window and remember that it is a beautiful miracle to be alive. It’s a really good thing," Webb shared.
Strictly as a "Bungy Jump": A Challenge Taken Too Soon
With the benefit of hindsight, the 52-year-old admitted that accepting the Strictly challenge came too soon after his life-saving surgery. He told the Mirror that while aspects were positive, his body was not prepared. "It was a positive experience but my body just wasn’t ready for it at all," he confessed.
Webb likened his decision to join the show to a reckless test of his new lease on life. "Strictly was my bungy jump. I was like, okay I’ve got this whole new body, let’s take it out for a spin and see what it can do."
He elaborated further in an interview with The Times, explaining his initial thought process. Having recently faced mortality, he felt compelled to seize the opportunity. "Well, these opportunities don’t come along very often... And I’d just nearly died, so I thought, this is no time to be sitting on the edges, why don’t you contribute and participate? It all sounded like a good idea at the time."
However, the punishing routine of rehearsals quickly became overwhelming. "On paper I was in quite good shape, but then that schedule just hit me like a sack of dancing potatoes," Webb said. "That schedule is a law unto itself and I just wasn’t anywhere close to being able to do that."
Despite having made a full recovery since, the actor doubts he would ever attempt the show again, citing the immense physical pressure and even a struggle to remember the choreography. His story stands as a poignant reminder of the hidden struggles some celebrities face behind the glittering facade of Saturday night entertainment.
