Former Strictly Come Dancing pro Natalie Lowe has said she had moments of doubt about her decision to quit the show.

The dancer left the BBC One series before announcing she will be starring in a stage show with Jay McGuiness and Louis Smith.

She told Good Morning Britain: “I’m still pinching myself saying ‘why have you left? Are you really making the right decision?’.

Natalie Lowe with Louis Smith (left) and Jay McGuiness who will tour in the new show, Rip It Up
Natalie Lowe with Louis Smith (left) and Jay McGuiness, who will tour in new show Rip It Up (Colin Thomas)

“But I’m excited to go on to do lots of other exciting things.”

She added: “I was a part of that world for 14 years. It is my life. It’s still going to be my family. I’m still going to be heavily involved. I’m hopefully doing choreography eventually.

“It’s my life.”

Three new dancers, Dianne Buswell, Nadiya Bychkova and Amy Dowden, have joined the series.

“I’m not very familiar with these new three. Good luck!,” said Lowe, who partnered with Olympian Greg Rutherford in the last series.

“It’s so intense, so full on, it’s every day of your life, even when the show’s not on it’s very much a part of you.

“Everyone’s going to shine.”

Lowe’s stage show, Rip It Up, will see the trio swing, bop, jitterbug, lindy hop, jive and ballroom to the sounds of the 1950s along with a cast of dancers.