Erin Boag says she turned down Strictly because of pregnancy

Strictly Come Dancing's Erin Boag has announced she is pregnant with her first child.

The 38-year-old professional dancer - who left the BBC show before the latest series began - announced on her blog that she and business executive husband Peter O'Dowd, 46, are to become parents.

Erin revealed: "There's been much speculation about my absence from this year's Strictly Come Dancing, but I can now reveal the real reason why I turned down appearing on this year's show... I'm truly excited and delighted to say... I'm pregnant!

"My husband Peter and I are expecting the arrival of our first child in the spring of next year. It's such a relief to be able to tell all. Another reason for being so quiet is that I have been battling with terrible morning sickness - I don't know why it's called 'morning' sickness as I had it morning, noon and night!"

Erin promised she will honour her commitment to perform with her professional partner, Anton Du Beke, in December.

She said: "Before baby arrives, amongst other things, Anton and I will be performing at the Royal Albert Hall this Christmas with Anton and Erin's Christmas Cracker.

"I'm sure those gorgeous gowns might need a bit of letting-out by then!"

Patrick McLennan is a London-based journalist and documentary maker who has worked as a writer, sub-editor, digital editor and TV producer in the UK and New Zealand. His CV includes spells as a news producer at the BBC and TVNZ, as well as web editor for Time Inc UK. He has produced TV news and entertainment features on personalities as diverse as Nick Cave, Tom Hardy, Clive James, Jodie Marsh and Kevin Bacon and he co-produced and directed The Ponds, which has screened in UK cinemas, BBC Four and is currently available on Netflix.

An entertainment writer with a diverse taste in TV and film, he lists Seinfeld, The Sopranos, The Chase, The Thick of It and Detectorists among his favourite shows, but steers well clear of most sci-fi.