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Strictly star Sophie Ellis-Bextor has her confidence 'dented' after training accident

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She secured a very impressive score of 28 for her first Strictly Come Dancing performance, but Sophie Ellis-Bextor has had her confidence "really dented" after an accident during training this week.

sophie ellis bextor© Photo: Rex

The 34-year-old singer and her professional partner Brendan Cole were perfecting their moves for a Charleston ahead of Saturday night's show, when a daring move went wrong and Sophie was dropped on her head.

Now bumped and bruised, the star has said the accident has made her nervous about performing the high-energy routine.

"I had to lie down in a dark room afterwards. I am so scared of it, but I know we should just do it… I don't want to be frightened of it," she said.

"The routine that we are working on is pretty high energy, quite a work out. I have got some impressive bruises and I end the routine out of puff. When I first fell on my head, my confidence was really dented."

SOPHIE ELLIS BEXTOR© Photo: Getty Images

Professional dancer Brendan, who has appeared on Strictly since it began in 2004, has never performed a Charleston in the four years since it was introduced.

"Previously I've always avoided it; it's not really my bag" he admitted. "I can do it, and I have actually really enjoyed putting the choreography together."

One of the tricks in particular, I lay back and flip Sophie over my head, and unfortunately in rehearsals she actually landed on her head - first fear was, 'Are you alright?'

"It is a very ambitious routine, I don't believe in doing the minimum but the maximum. I say push her and see what happens."

Despite her unexpected tumble, Sophie has bounced back. Earlier in the week, she told fans, "Bumped my head training yesterday. I just checked - still know the raps in Shoop and Let's Get Ready To Rumble so all vital cells in tact."

Later that same day, the mum-of-three tweeted, "Just danced our new routine at home. Sonny rolled his eyes and said 'ah mummy, you're trapped in strictly world again'."