ALL Saints star Melanie Blatt says taking part in the Strictly Come Dancing Christmas special stripped away her confidence.
The 1990s girl group singer, 50, said she did not feel comfortable in the flowing yellow dress she wore, which she said made her “look like custard”.
Speaking to Good Housekeeping UK she said: “I felt extremely vulnerable.
“It’s taken me 50 years to feel as good as I have ever felt about myself and Strictly stripped it away from me. Nothing dodgy went on — I think they’re on their best behaviour — but I just didn’t feel comfortable in a dress.”
Mum Mel and her professional dance partner Kai Widdrington finished fifth out of six couples after performing an American smooth in the telly extravaganza.
It was won by TV host Scarlett Moffatt and Vito Coppola, who got a perfect 40 score for their cha-cha-cha.
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Despite finishing second from bottom, Mel and Kai scored 36 out of 40 and she was hailed “fabulous” by judges Shirley Ballas and Anton Du Beke.
Mel had been tipped to take part in the full series this autumn but her comments suggest there is no way back.
Yet following her Christmas Day dance on the BBC One show, watched by 7.75million at home, Mel told host Tess Daly: “I really enjoyed it.
In a telling remark, she added: “It’s been amazing yet challenging, getting out of my comfort zone, having to wear a dress, having to look like custard . . . all of these things.”
A source insisted that Mel had taken her own dress which was “styled and adjusted” by the Strictly costume team to her specifications.
They added: “Strictly would never make anyone wear something they felt uncomfortable in.”
Mel, who had five No1 singles with All Saints, revealed last year that she was serving burgers at a North London boozer.
She is no longer in the pub but wants to start a new career in the food industry.
Mel, who performed in All Saints with Shaznay Lewis and sisters Nicole and Natalie Appleton said: “The main thing I want from life is peace and happiness.
“My dream is to do a cookery book or have my own cookery programme, something like ‘Cheeses of the World’. I will make it happen.”
- Mel’s full interview can be read now in April’s Good Housekeeping.