Strictly Come Dancing's new judge Motsi Mabuse has already had to go some grovelling - and the show hasn't even started yet.
The ballroom expert, who takes Darcey Bussell's place this year, was forced to apologise to the town of Blackpool after branding it 'ugly' in her autobiography.
She had first visited the seaside resort in 1988, writing in her book: "Every dancer knows the town, which is the ugliest that I had ever seen."
But at last night's Strictly red carpet launch, Motsi was keen to make amends with the dancing hotspot that will play host to the show's special episode later in the series.
"Oh come on guys give a girl a break! It was 20 years ago I was young and innocent," she told the Sun .
"Blackpool is absolutely huge in Strictly but when you come from South Africa and you have your first impressions and you arrive in Blackpool, well it's different.
"It's different, let's put it that way. But what I'll also say, if you walk into the ballroom it's absolutely spectacular."
Asked whether she felt nervous about revisiting Blackpool, Motsi laughed: "Because I'm going to get a boycott? No I'm cool. What is life about? Forgiving, come on!"
She added: "I'm looking forward to going back to Blackpool because there are such strong memories in my head."
The new judge - older sister to Strictly professional dancer Oti Mabuse - said Blackpool was a special place it was the first town in the UK she visited from South Africa, and "where I was being seen for my talent".
The 38-year-old expert arrived on the red carpet alongside fellow judges Craig Revel Horwood, Bruno Tonioli and head judge Shirley Ballas, who beamed in their show-stopping outfits.
, saying: "People love change! I can only speak for Motsi, I've been judging her all of her competitive career.
"She's an amazing dancer, I was always a fantastic judge for her. Her inside is as beautiful as her outside and she has got to be the funniest person I’ve ever met in my entire life. So her sense of humour, my sense of humour really goes well together you know.
"And I feel as though she will judge without fear or favour - it’s always a question about her sister and her being in the show but I know her integrity and her family and it’s just second to none. She’s amazing."
When asked if Motsi will be a harsh judge, Shirley added: "She's firm but fun - she says it as it is, she’ll deliver them a message every week so they can improve. She’s not a harsh person, she’s really very loveable."
*Strictly Come Dancing launches on Saturday September 7 on BBC1
