Dr Ranj Singh admits coming out as gay to his wife was the toughest moment of his life 

He is the popular TV doctor who is set to light up the ballroom on this year’s Strictly Come Dancing.

And ahead of his dancefloor debut, Dr Ranj Singh has opened up about the toughest moment of his life, coming out as gay to his wife, in a new interview with The Mirror.

 The This Morning medic, 39, said he realised he was unhappy around five years into his marriage, after wedding in his early 20s. 

Candid: Strictly Come Dancing’s Dr Ranj Singh has opened up about the toughest moment of his life, coming out as gay to his wife, in a new interview with The Mirror

Past: The This Morning medic, 39, said he realised he was unhappy around five years into his marriage, after wedding in his early 20s (pictured with Mandy Saligari on This Morning)

Past: The This Morning medic, 39, said he realised he was unhappy around five years into his marriage, after wedding in his early 20s (pictured with Mandy Saligari on This Morning)

He said: ‘I accepted that it wasn’t right and it had to end.

‘It was so hard and I still don’t like thinking about it. I felt like my heart had been wrenched out of my chest.

‘I was completely broken. It was the lowest point in my life. I can only imagine how hard it was for my wife, though – she didn’t deserve any of that. I feel so incredibly sorry for what she had to go through.’

The star previously called on BBC1 bosses to partner him with a male professional dancer rather than a woman, saying it was an ‘incredibly important’ issue.

He said: 'I accepted that it wasn't right and it had to end. 'It was so hard and I still don't like thinking about it. I felt like my heart had been wrenched out of my chest'(pictured with fellow Strictly contestant Ashley Roberts)

He said: ‘I accepted that it wasn’t right and it had to end. ‘It was so hard and I still don’t like thinking about it. I felt like my heart had been wrenched out of my chest'(pictured with fellow Strictly contestant Ashley Roberts)

He said: ‘I would love to dance with a same-sex partner. I would value a time when same-sex couples could dance on shows like Strictly. It is incredibly important. We are making progress but I think there is still time to go.’

 As he gears up for his time on the hit Saturday night show, Dr Ranj admitted that his co-star, Ruth Langsford, who appeared on the show last year, has been giving him plenty of advice.

The CBeebies hunk exclusively told MailOnline at the show’s launch: ‘We’ve only been doing a small amount of [training], it’s tiring, it’s really physically demanding and I think it was a bit of a shock to the system.

‘But OMG it’s so much fun, what a great way to knacker yourself out, last week I was broken, this week I am ready to go!

Heartbreak: 'I was completely broken. It was the lowest point in my life. I can only imagine how hard it was for my wife, though – she didn't deserve any of that. I feel so incredibly sorry for what she had to go through'

Heartbreak: ‘I was completely broken. It was the lowest point in my life. I can only imagine how hard it was for my wife, though – she didn’t deserve any of that. I feel so incredibly sorry for what she had to go through’

‘[Ruth’s] been such a sweetheart, she gave me her number and said call me anytime it’s about to all go bonkers, just give me a buzz, today she gave me some tips she said: “When you come down this runway, make sure you have a little routine planned out!”  

Talking about his ideal dance partner, he added: ‘Any of the girls would be amazing, they are all incredible dancers, I am limited by height, one of the shorter girls it would have to be.

‘I’m nervous, I’m excitedly nervous, I really want to get stuck in and do it, but I want to do my best and give it my best shot.

‘It is the nation’s favourite show, everybody can get into it, older viewers, younger viewers, I work with a lot of children particularly in healthcare, I’m hoping that kids are going to watch this and be like: “I want to take up dance!”‘

The official launch show will be filmed on August 31, with the celebrities pairing up with their professional dance partners, airing on September 8.

Call: The star previously called on BBC1 bosses to partner him with a male professional dancer rather than a woman, saying it was an ‘incredibly important’ issue

Call: The star previously called on BBC1 bosses to partner him with a male professional dancer rather than a woman, saying it was an ‘incredibly important’ issue

 

 

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk