Susannah was the reason so many of us were watching Strictly

Head held high: Susannah Constantine with Anton du Beke

I, and thousands of other women of a certain age, are currently in a massive strop over the news that Susannah Constantine, of Trinny and Susannah’s What Not to Wear fame, has been the first to be voted off Strictly Come Dancing.

I interviewed Ms Constantine a couple of weeks ago, and was bowled over by her wit, emotional intelligence and sheer (glitter) balls. Rather than having strutted her stuff in a pop group, or possessing Olympian athleticism, Susannah’s only previous experience comprised the not-so-great British teen disco.

She embarked upon her training having just lost a beloved father-in-law and while seeing her oldest off to university – the kind of lacerating but routine hurdles we all face in the muddle of middle age.

And she took every last step – including the ghastly, drawnout hoopla of her departure – with wry dignity. Moreover, at 56, she boasted the best pair of pins on the show.

Sure, there were better dancers, but you won’t find a better person. Susannah was my heroine – and why I was tuning in.

Readers, we were robbed. Book this woman now for the Strictly Christmas special.