Fern Britton: Strictly revealed the 'real me'

Fern Britton, one of this year's celebrity contestants in BBC1's Strictly Come Dancing. (PA)

Fern Britton said her performances on Strictly Come Dancing had shown people "the real me".

The presenter, who was voted off the BBC ballroom show last month after dancing a steamy salsa with Artem Chigvintsev, said she revelled in her new glamorous image.

She told Hello! Magazine: "You all think I'm mumsy, mumsy, but I'm not.

"That's the real me. I know how to have a good time, I like to be extrovert and I don't mind making a fool of myself.

"I comfort myself with the feeling that the audience know me and that I'm prepared to have a go at things.

"I don't think they're ever shocked by anything that happens to me. I got such lovely messages saying, 'Go, girl'."

The 55-year-old, who hosted ITV's This Morning for 10 years, said she had impressed Chigvintsev.

She said: "At the end, even Artem said, 'You've made me a better person', and gave me a big bunch of flowers."

Read the full interview in Hello! Magazine, out now.

PA