Kimberly Wyatt: Ashley is my best pal

Kimberly Wyatt says her former Pussycat Dolls bandmate Ashley Roberts is still one of her best friends.

The singer-and-dancer left the girl group in 2010, with Ashley announcing her departure shortly after. Despite forging their own successful careers in different areas, Kimberly has remained close to her Ashley. They are seeing even more of each other now, after Ashley landed a role as a judge on UK TV show Dancing on Ice, while Kimberly is on the judging panel for fellow talent series Got To Dance.

"Yeah, I am still in touch with them," she told Closer magazine when asked if she sees her bandmates. "I've been so thankful to have Ashley over here in the UK. She's probably my closest friend."

Kimberly is known for giving honest opinions on the dance acts competing in her TV show. She insists she would never be unnecessarily unkind to wannabe performers and has dismissed comparisons between herself and the famously scathing music mogul Simon Cowell.

"I never see myself as being overly critical, I'm never out to put people down," she explained. "I'm there to be as constructive and honest as possible. There's a £250,000 prize at stake and you do have to work for it!"

Although Kimberly is determined to give truthful feedback to contestants, she admits it can be intimidating if her comments upset the audience.

"It was terrifying," she recalled of being booed by the crowd. "My whole body was shaking afterwards!"