Paul Merson reveals heartbreaking real reason he signed up to Strictly after he's axed amid fix claims

PAUL Merson has revealed the heartbreaking reason behind his involvement in Strictly Come Dancing following his exit from the show.

The football legend, 56, is the latest celebrity to be axed from Strictly after a tense dance-off with JLS star JB Gill.

Paul Merson has revealed the real reason he joined the Strictly cast

The football legend and Karen Hauer left the show on SundayCredit: PA

Paul, who lasted five weeks on the BBC show, has now revealed why he decided to take part.

Sitting alongside his Strictly pro partner Karen Hauer, Paul touched on his former addiction to drugs, alcohol and gambling.

Paul has overcome his demons and hopes his appearance on Strictly will show other addicts that “anything can happen”.

In his and Karen’s appearance on Strictly: It Takes Two, Paul said he had received countless messages of congratulations and support following their departure.

He said: “It’s nice. I’ve got a lot of messages, which is nice.

“You know, my thing when it started, one thing was for my mom because of what she did, but the other thing was to help people who are struggling with addiction, because it takes your life, addiction.

“Just to show people that anything can happen. You can go and do anything when you stop doing something that’s ruining your life.

“And Karen was a big part of that, for which I’m very grateful.”

Paul and Karen found themselves dancing after performing an aa samba to Motown legend Rose Royce’s disco hit Car Wash.

They finished bottom of the leaderboard and danced with JB and his partner Amy Dowden.

Paul Merson AX from Strictly after shock danced with the series favorite

Fans and judges alike were left breathless when it was revealed that JB, arguably one of the stronger dancers on the show, would have to dance again for his place in the competition.

The judges decided to save JB, but the outcome led some viewers to accuse the outcome of being a “fix” due to the show’s format.

One fan took to social media to say: “I think they pick anyone to dance. Votes don’t really mean anything. Waste of money. They have probably already decided who is the main one in the dance. All fixed.”

Another added: “They always say it’s about the dancing but it couldn’t be because Paul was a better dancer in it so it feels like a fix.”

And a third said: “They knew they were going to save JB even though his jive was messy and boring. Paul was great to watch and needed saving. What a fix.”

In his and Karen’s exit interview with Fleur East on It Takes Two, Paul said he “couldn’t have done better” over the weekend.

He joked: “If you saw me in rehearsals, it was amazing.

“I thought, ‘Why did Karen get that wrong?’ But that was me!”