As we reported earlier this week, DJ Chris Evans hit out at Strictly Come Dancing contestant Denise Van Outen, claiming that she shouldn’t be on the show given that she has prior dance training…

But in an interview with the Daily Mirror today, Denise has hit back at Evans, saying that she’s not the only one of this year’s crop of celeb competitors who have had professional dance training.

And her fellow contestant Sid Owen – who shot to fame in his EastEnders role as Ricky Butcher – has also revealed that his ex-girlfriend told him he shouldn’t appear on SCD because he’d make “a fool” of himself. More on that in a moment…

But first, during the interview with the paper, Denise also revealed that she’s hoping that her overall fitness level will improve with all the training she’s doing, because she wants to be in peak condition as she and hubby Lee Mead are hoping to have a baby.

Denise, who’s mum to toddler Betsy, explained, “We’d like to have more. We’ve been thinking that after this, because I’ll be so fit, it would be a good time to think about having a second one.

“Sometimes being really in shape just helps you to fall pregnant.”

But getting back to Radio 2 DJ Chris Evans’ criticism of Denise, she hit back, “Chris Evans is speaking completely out of turn…

“And also I don’t really know why he has chosen to pick on me because there are other contestants who have similar [dancing] experience.

“I think it’s harsh, and a bit rude really. Kimberley [Walsh] has just done Shrek in the West End and she’s in a girl band who dance.

“I just think it’s really harsh to suggest that I should be dumped from the show.

“If he’d watched it he would know that several past competitors have been in exactly the same position as me.

“Tom Chambers danced before, Kelly Brook went to stage school, Emma Bunton went to the same stage school as me, Lisa Snowdon trained as a dancer.”

But of sharing the Strictly experience with her friend Kimberley Walsh, Denise said, “We’ve literally been texting each other about other stuff and both saying ‘well, I’m quite busy at the moment’, and not in a million years did either of us put two and two together!

“So I was so, so pleased. We both climbed Kilimanjaro for Comic Relief so we’re made of tough stuff.

“In fact we’ve got a really great group of people this year – it’s a great panel of judges too.

“I was excited when I found out Jerry Hall was doing it – I just love her and I can’t wait to hear a load of real rock and roll stories.”

Finally, Denise said, “I’ve come into this show to learn a new skill, to have a really brilliant laugh with my dance partner and the rest of the team, and to just see what happens.

“I’m not going to beat myself up over it. It’s basically entertainment, a bit of fun.

“If I go far I will start to get competitive, it’s just the way people are and we’ve already been warned.

“But we’ve got athletes among us, they’re machines, they can really go for it – Victoria [Pendleton] is going for gold and Louis Smith is so strong.”

Back now to Sid Owen who has revealed that his former girlfriend warned that he would “make a fool” of himself if he competed on SCD.

He explained, “My ex-girlfriend told me not to do Strictly, because I can’t dance.

“She said I’d look a fool, and I’ve got two left feet.

“So I’m doing this to show her. Lots of people did tell me it was a bad idea.

“But I’m the kind of person that if someone tells me not to do something it makes me want to do it even more.”

Well fingers crossed for Sid; I hope he proves his ex wrong!

Strictly Come Dancing is of course back on BBC1 tonight at 6.30pm.