Saira’s therapy after sex abuse ordeal
Upbeat Strictly dancer moves on from attack
DANCING On Ice star Saira Khan has had therapy to cope with being sexually abused as a teenager.
Saira told how she was traumatised by the horror endured at the hands of an uncle 35 years ago.
But getting professional help means that she is finally able to move on.
In an emotional interview, Saira, 48, said: “I decided to seek help. Up until that point I’d put what happened to the back of my mind.
“But then I started having therapy. I’ve managed to talk to people about what I went through. I’ve been given coping mechanisms and I’m in a good place. It isn’t so stressful now.
“I feel like when people come up to me to talk about this sort of stuff I know what advice to give.”
Saira was 13 when she was molested at home in Long Eaton, Derbyshire.
Years later she told her mother and brothers about what had happened. But she didn’t go public until two years ago, while on ITV’s Loose Women panel show.
Dancing on Ice star Ryan Sidebottom has been forced to pull out of tonight’s show.
The cricketer, 41, was told he had no choice after a crippling muscle injury.
A show spokesman said: “Everyone wishes him a speedy recovery.”
Dancing on Ice is on ITV at 6pm tonight. STRICTLY dancer AJ Pritchard has declared he’s over his attack trauma, writes Ed Gleave.
The Strictly pro and his brother Curtis were beaten by a gang of thugs while on a night out in Nantwich, Cheshire last month.
But just four weeks on AJ, 24, is refusing to let the ordeal affect him.
He said: “My bruises have all gone down so I’m all good. I’m definitely over it.
“It wasn’t the best time for me, but being able to talk to friends and family got me through it. And everyone was so supportive.
“Everyone at Strictly sent me messages, which was so kind. That really kept me going. For the past few weeks I’ve been travelling around for Strictly’s live tour, which means I get to see all the fans who supported me through what happened, which has just been amazing.”
AJ is gearing up to headline his own live show Get On The Floor which tours the UK in March.
See getonthefloorlive.com for information and to book tickets.