Strictly has left me no time for love, says Saffron

STRICTLY star Saffron Barker says 11-hour days of gruelling dance training have left her no time for love.

The 19-year-old social media star and professional partner AJ Pritchard, right last night, are battling to stay in the show.

Saffron said she had been “gutted” to have been in the dance-off last week. But after her performance with AJ last night she said: “I was terrified for the Samba but I actually had so much fun.”

The couple scored just 26 points after judge Craig Revel Horwood said her footwork had been “too sloppy” while Motsi Mabuse conceded “it’s a very difficult dance, well done”.

Saffron and Alex Scott, 35, were joint bottom while Karim Zeroual, 26, and Kelvin Fletcher, 35, were joint leaders on 38 points.

Saffron has revealed that due to the training she has been “exhausted every single day but it’s all worth it on the

Saturday night and I’m so thankful for all those hours I’ve put in and how much AJ has pushed me”.

Quizzed about making time for romance, she said: “To be honest I don’t really have time. I’m devoting all my time on Strictly, dancing all day.”

She added: “This week my calves are absolutely killing me from the samba dance and having to wear heels, it’s painful. I had to see the physio a lot the week after we did the contemporary dance. I really hurt my back and that was a struggle.”

Saffron said her marathon training sessions have helped to keep her mind off a burglary at her family home in Brighton last week. She has been so tired from her rigorous training she has not lost sleep.

She added: “The support and fans has really helped.”

● Strictly Come Dancing: The Results, BBC One, tonight, 7.15pm.

‘I’m exhausted every day’