Strictly Come Dancing favourite Judi Love opened up about her devastating financial woes on an emotional edition of Loose Women and how she managed to get help
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Judi Love Returns To Loose Women For First Time Since Dad Died
Judi Love is on top of the world right now as she competes in Strictly Come Dancing – and it’s a far cry from some of her darker times.
The popular Loose Women panellist has been lighting up our screens every weekend while dancing with pro parter Graziano Di Prima.
Judi has been balancing the intense training schedule with her regular Loose Women duties and being a single mum to her two children.
The comedian and presenter has suffered devastating trauma, including the deaths of both her parents, as well as heartbreaking money troubles.
In June this year, Judi bravely opened up on her financial woes during a discussion with her Loose Women co-stars about managing money.
She told the rest of the panel and viewers at home the heartbreaking story of how she struggled one Christmas during a “frightening” time in her life.
Judi has opened up on her anxieties of raising two children alone, especially in the pandemic
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Image:
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Judi was working on a zero hours contract job in a single-parent household and supporting two children at Christmas – with just £87 to her name.
“I had these two kids, I had the bills and my debts that accumulated from just trying to take care of my kids. I wasn’t out partying. I just wanted to look after my kids.
“My mum had passed by then, so there was no, ‘Mummy, can you square me at 50’ or whatever. It was just really, really frightening.”
It was only thanks to the kindness of a stranger that Judi was able to get back on her feet.
When Judi’s credit rating wasn’t good enough to get help from a loan firm, the woman she spoke to kindly signed up in her own name.
Judi is taking part in this year’s Strictly
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Image:
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“This is the place you’d go to when you ain’t got nothing,” explained Judi.
“You know what this woman did? She got the loan out in her name, she gave it to me. It’s just one of those moments where you can’t believe you’re in that situation.”
Loose Women viewers were left in floods of tears at home and praised Judi for her honesty.
Addressing those others going through difficult times, Judi added: “We’ve all been through different stuff and anybody that’s dealing with debt.
“There’s places and people that you can go to,” she added, urging viewers to seek help.”
Early this month, Judi spoke about how she balances being a single mum with the intensity of Strictly.
Judi told The Mirror: “I’ve been edging them in! Over the last few weeks, I’ve been saying, ‘You’re not going to see Mummy as much and these particular days are when I’m really away, but I’ll try to make sure I’m here on these days after school.’
“I’m just looking at my network and doing all I can to make sure there’s always someone at home – if it’s not me, then it’s a family member – because that’s what I worry about.”
She also opened up on what her late mum would think of her competing in the dancing competition.
The Loose Women star added: “My sister texted me the other day asking how things were going, and I told her we were starting soon, and she said, ‘Don’t forget, Mummy used to love dancing.’
“That really warmed my heart because all these memories of her dancing around the house during my childhood came back to me. She would be the proudest Jamaican mum ever! She’d be the only person allowed to come and see me. And she would love Graziano.”
*Strictly Come Dancing airs tonight on BBC One at 7pm
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