Strictly star Sam Quek insists the BBC One show IS a ‘safe’ place for women following Amanda Abbington ‘bullying’ scandal as she breaks silence on shock A Question of Sport axing

Strictly star Sam Quek insists the BBC One show IS a 'safe' place for women following Amanda Abbington 'bullying' scandal as she breaks silence on shock A Question of Sport axing

As I delve into Sam’s heartfelt words, it’s evident that she is a woman of remarkable resilience and determination. Her journey from being a gold medal-winning athlete to a budding entertainment presenter is nothing short of inspiring. The way she juggles her family life with her professional aspirations, particularly while participating in Strictly Come Dancing, is a testament to her indomitable spirit.


TV personality Sam Quek, known for her work on Strictly Come Dancing, emphasizes that the program remains a secure environment where women can excel in competition, despite allegations surrounding past instances of bullying causing fewer female stars to participate in this year’s edition.

To TopMob, the ex-Team GB hockey star (aged 36), who is now speaking publicly for the first time, shared insights about the unexpected cancellation of A Question of Sport, a popular show that has been running for 53 years. This decision was made after only two series with her as team captain.

The mother-of-two is hoping to make a return to prime time television following her endeavours on Strictly, in which she’s safely progressed through to this weekend’s Halloween special alongside pro partner Nikita Kuzmin, 26.

2021’s performances have been eclipsed by the recent controversy surrounding bullying within the show, leading to the departures of dancers Giovanni Pernice and Graziano Di Prima after allegations from their partners, Amanda Abbington and Zara McDermott.

Despite this imbalance, Sam encourages more female stars to consider joining upcoming series, as just six females, in contrast to nine males, were selected for the 2024 line-up.

Inquired about suggesting Strictly to other women, Sam replied affirmatively, stating, “Indeed, yes! This show has been among the most fulfilling experiences I’ve had.

‘It’s easy to say you can learn how to dance, which is amazing, but you also learn a lot about yourself. With dancing, I struggled a lot with my self-belief of being able to execute a dance but if you put the work in you can get the product out on a Saturday night.

The key is truly in having resilience and pushing your limits. In other words, the more effort you invest, the more you stand to gain.

She went on to say: “Behind the scenes of the dance and the television program, there’s a world full of joy. The team, the employees, the performers, the professional dancers – everyone is just delightful.

Strictly star Sam Quek insists the BBC One show IS a 'safe' place for women following Amanda Abbington 'bullying' scandal as she breaks silence on shock A Question of Sport axing

Strictly star Sam Quek insists the BBC One show IS a 'safe' place for women following Amanda Abbington 'bullying' scandal as she breaks silence on shock A Question of Sport axing
Strictly star Sam Quek insists the BBC One show IS a 'safe' place for women following Amanda Abbington 'bullying' scandal as she breaks silence on shock A Question of Sport axing
Strictly star Sam Quek insists the BBC One show IS a 'safe' place for women following Amanda Abbington 'bullying' scandal as she breaks silence on shock A Question of Sport axing

My preferred moment is when I visit on Fridays and Saturdays, as I truly enjoy being among others.

When Sam expressed his sense of security, he mentioned, “I’ve always felt secure with Strictly. It’s something I’ve never experienced before, yet stepping into the training room, we exchange greetings, chat pleasantly, and everything just seems familiar and comfortable.

Sam making an appearance on Strictly Come Dancing marks her first significant BBC appearance since the cancellation of A Question of Sport back in December of the previous year.

The Olympic Gold medalist became involved in the show’s contentious change, where Sue Barker was replaced by comedian Paddy McGuinness as the host, and Sam along with rugby star Ugo Monye took over from Matt Dawson and cricketer Phil Tufnell as team captains.

2021 saw a shift in the roster that left some fans and I scratching our heads, with even the renowned Jeremy Clarkson voicing his concern via Twitter, “I’m baffled! What on earth is going on with A Question of Sport?

After being cancelled following only two seasons, the reworked program didn’t sit well with some, but Sam, a gold medalist for Great Britain at the 2016 Olympics, maintains that she isn’t resentful towards the BBC’s choice and emphasizes that she received ample encouragement from viewers instead.

She shared: ‘To be truthful, I didn’t find the online criticism as severe as you might think. It seemed like people were generally supportive and friendly towards me.’

In the past fifty years, I became the first woman to hold the role of captain, with people praising it as an overdue recognition. Being deeply passionate about sports, my extensive knowledge seemed to flow effortlessly.

Strictly star Sam Quek insists the BBC One show IS a 'safe' place for women following Amanda Abbington 'bullying' scandal as she breaks silence on shock A Question of Sport axing
Strictly star Sam Quek insists the BBC One show IS a 'safe' place for women following Amanda Abbington 'bullying' scandal as she breaks silence on shock A Question of Sport axing
Strictly star Sam Quek insists the BBC One show IS a 'safe' place for women following Amanda Abbington 'bullying' scandal as she breaks silence on shock A Question of Sport axing
Strictly star Sam Quek insists the BBC One show IS a 'safe' place for women following Amanda Abbington 'bullying' scandal as she breaks silence on shock A Question of Sport axing

I continue to keep myself updated with sports headlines from both worldwide and local sources, as I find a strong connection with Olympic athletes in particular. I cheer for every one of them.

‘I was really fortunate to be honest with you, I didn’t experience too much trolling.’

Speaking about her ambitions for television, she mentioned: “It’s my dream to return to hosting in the entertainment field, particularly during evening hours.

As a devoted enthusiast, I find an unbounded affection for man’s best friend and the innocence of children. There’s something about home improvement projects that truly resonates with me, as if I’ve found my perfect niche in life. With every step, it feels like I’m returning to where I belong, now that my world has expanded to include my little ones.

Appearing on Strictly Come Dancing is expected to bring her back into the spotlight, and many betting odds suggest she’ll advance deeper in the contest.

However, there’s a particular element of the series that she’s yet to fully adapt to – it challenges Sam beyond her usual comfort, specifically, donning revealing attire.

Sam explained: ‘I have been apprehensive about the outfits, I’m not going to lie.

When someone instructs me about my attire, hairstyle, and makeup upon entering, I’m taken aback, feeling far from my comfort zone and slightly self-conscious, fearing I might look absurd. However, I trust the expertise of hair, makeup, and costume teams, who have proven their skills in the past and know what works best.

Strictly star Sam Quek insists the BBC One show IS a 'safe' place for women following Amanda Abbington 'bullying' scandal as she breaks silence on shock A Question of Sport axing
Strictly star Sam Quek insists the BBC One show IS a 'safe' place for women following Amanda Abbington 'bullying' scandal as she breaks silence on shock A Question of Sport axing

When everything aligns perfectly and you find yourself dancing with your partner, it becomes clear. A vow I’ve held within me is that if I choose to embark on a task, I will always strive to do it right.

Sam openly acknowledges that her dancing abilities are overshadowed by those of her fellow performers, Tasha Ghouri, Jamie Borthwick, and Sarah Hadland. However, her innate drive, stemming from a career in sports, fuels her ambition to advance as far as she can within the competition, with the hope of ultimately winning the Glitter Ball trophy.

At the moment, she manages to juggle her training with taking care of her two kids, Molly, aged three, and Isaac, who is two. Her husband Tom Mairs, an active participant in property management, assists her when she’s away filming and rehearsing. This work takes her to both the southern and northern parts of England, where she resides.

And being apart from her husband and young family has been harder than Sam anticipated.

Sam shared: ‘It’s been quite challenging for me. Being a very involved mother suits me well since I genuinely enjoy it, and my husband shares the same sentiment, being equally engaged. Consequently, I couldn’t manage this on my own.’

This week has been quite challenging for me, as I haven’t been at home since last Wednesday. My older children have noticed my absence and expressed their longing for me to return. Despite this, I’m confident they are doing just fine, keeping themselves occupied. And with Strictly Come Dancing, you never know when it might wrap up.

Although she’s a gold medal-winning athlete, Sam acknowledges that maintaining fitness is an ongoing challenge for her, and she enlists the help of a personal trainer to stay motivated in her workout routine.

But she has admitted her body has changed since doing Strictly – likewise her appetite.

Sam added: ‘I have noticed some changes to my body. With the hours of training, I need to make sure I’m eating enough.

‘The hunger I have doing Strictly is the same as the hunger I felt with Team GB because your body is burning a lot of calories. I have lost a bit of muscle mass too actually so I can tell the difference.

To maintain a healthy back and prevent discomfort, it is crucial that I build sufficient muscle mass in both the glutes and core. Given my history of two C-sections and over fifteen years playing international hockey, maintaining my strength is essential.

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2024-10-26 10:25

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