RUBY BLUESDAY

0 Comments | Sunday Mirror, Oct 15, 2006 | by LARA GOULD, TV Reporter

STRICTLY Come Dancing star Louisa Lytton fled weeping from rehearsals yesterday after panicking about her quickstep.

The EastEnders actress - who plays gangster's daughter Ruby Allen - broke down in tears as she watched fellow contestants Carol Smillie and Georgina Bouzova rehearse.

The 17-year-old sobbed to co-stars: "I'm not good enough. I can't do it."

A show source said: "Panic set in when Louisa watched the others going through their moves in the dress rehearsal. It was like she had a mini-breakdown - it took a while to convince her to return to the studio."

The source said show bosses were worried she was going to walk out, adding: "She became convinced she was going to forget her steps and embarrass herself on live TV.

"The pressure really got to her and the more she watched the others, the more worried she became.

"Eventually it got too much and she left the rehearsal area in floods of tears.

"She'd been working hard all week. She was feeling confident and when the judges saw her dance in week one they had high hopes for her - but that all just disappeared."

Ex-Spice Girl Emma Bunton and Casualty star Georgina rushed to comfort Louisa, the show's youngestever contestant. She was coaxed back into the studio and reunited with her worried dance partner Vincent Simone.

Later the couple wowed the judges with their quickstep to The Pretenders classic Don't Get Me Wrong.

An insider added: "Louisa's confidence had taken a real knock. But she picked herself up like a trooper."

But co-star Jimmy Tarbuck was forced to pull out of last night's show due to a heart murmur.

Bosses fear Tarby, 66, may not be well enough to take part in the rest of the BBC ballroom dance show.

An insider said: "Jimmy has been struggling since the series started. He has been complaining of feeling unwell during the last two rehearsals."

A BBC spokesman said: "Jimmy was told by a doctor it was high blood pressure and he's been given tablets to reduce it. We hope to see him back performing the tango next week."

lara.gould@sundaymirror.co.uk