She may have the dancing skills of a ‘bush kangaroo’ but Jo Wood is insisting she has never worked harder than for her routines on Strictly Come Dancing. The mother-of-three admitted that her rigorous regime to get performances up to scratch is ‘tougher’ than child birth.

The 54-year-old said: ‘It’s by far the hardest thing I’ve ever done. Even childbirth was easier – at least my children arrived quickly!'She confessed dance partner Brendan Cole is a hard taskmaster and that the gruelling six hours of training each day often left her in tears. ‘Brendan does work me hard. Sometimes I wonder if he’s thinking: "Oh my God, this woman is a joke.

Despite her extensive training, the former model, who was married to Rolling Stone Ronnie Wood for 23 years before he left her for 20-year-old Russian Ekaterina Ivanova, is struggling on Strictly Come Dancing.

On Saturday she was ridiculed by judges Craig Revel Horwood and Bruno Tonioli for her waltz. Tonioli likened Miss Wood to a 'grasshopper', prompting Revel Horwood to interrupt adding: 'I don't know about grasshopper. I'd say bush kangaroo. I'm sorry to destroy your confidence by the way.'Their comments prompted Cole to storm off the dance floor.

Miss Wood has seen some effects of her dancing on her figure however. She said: ‘I’ve definitely firmed up. My tummy’s much tighter. But I’m hungrier too. I ate a doughnut last week. ‘I’ve eaten pretty much only organic foods for years but the doughnut was fabulous.’