Celebs who slated Strictly Come Dancing – Piers Morgan, Mary Berry and Louis Walsh

Strictly Come Dancing reaches the final stretch this weekend as Fleur East, Hamza Yassin, Molly Rainford and Helen Skelton battle it out for the crown.

While an invite to appear on the prestigious hit BBC dance competition is on the wishlist of many a famous face hitting the dance floor isn’t for everyone in the entertainment business.

In fact, there are plenty of celebs who find the idea of glamming up in an array of spandex and glitter every Saturday night far from an appealing option.

READ MORE: Strictly’s Rose Ayling-Ellis supports Giovanni Pernice as he lands TV job away from show

Here we take a look at 15 famous faces who have sworn they will never hit the dance floor to try and win the coveted Glitterball Trophy.

Piers Morgan

Piers has previously confessed to turning down “vast sums” of money when he was offered the opportunity to appear on Strictly.

The broadcaster has a simple reason why he doesn’t want to take part – he isn’t a dancer at heart.

He told The Sun in 2018: “Dancing is not for me. They’ve offered me vast sums of money to go and humiliate myself on national TV. But I prefer to do it with a bottle of Jack Daniel’s in the privacy of my own home.”

Barbara Windsor

When Strictly launched back in 2004 the late Dame Barbara Windsor was on the list of celebs show bosses wanted to join the line-up.

However, things didn’t go to plan because EastEnders producers had other ideas and “wouldn’t let her” take part.

Back in 2017, Babs admitted that she was too old to hit the dancefloor while speaking at the Television and Radio Industry Club’s Christmas Lunch

She said: “Now I’m 80, they wouldn’t ask me in case I had an accident because I could sue them for a lot of money.”

Mary Berry

Being 86 years old isn’t the only reason that Mary wouldn’t want to take part in Strictly Come Dancing.

The famous foodie jas previously admitted that her family wouldn’t approve of the move either.

Speaking in 2016 she told the Radio Times: “My husband and children would kill me. I have two left feet and would make a terrible fool of myself.”

Mel Giedroyc

Mel may have taken part in a one-off version of Strictly when she performed a 90s style routine for the 2021 Strictly Christmas special but that is where she draws the line.

A full series isn’t for her as she told the Radio Times in 2017: “I love watching it so much I almost didn’t want to spoil the pleasure by being on it.”

Louis Walsh

Louis has already been offered a space in the Strictly line-up – but he turned it down feeling the time wasn’t right, despite the temptation to take part just to annoy Simon Cowell.

He previously told Heat: “The funny thing was, the day before the call from The X Factor, I got a call to be a contestant on Strictly Come Dancing!

“I thought ‘I’d love to do it, just to annoy Simon!’.”

Noel Edmonds

While Noel used to be a staple of Saturday night entertainment on the BBC, he has no desire to do it again and has turned down the Strictly gig numerous times.

He previously told The Sun: “They approach me every year,” before adding that when he wife suggested he should go for it he retorted: “Do you really want to see me spending eight hours a day for four months draped over some half-naked woman?”

Martin Kemp

Martin Kemp is no stranger to keeping a crowd entertained but the singer/actor draws the line at hot-footing it around a dancefloor.

Despite being asked several times Martin just isn’t confident he has the skills to deliver a good dance routine.

Speaking at the National Television Awards in 2017 he said: “They ask me a lot, but I think they’re so used to me now saying no.

“I can’t dance. There’s some things I have to admit I can’t do, and dancing is one of them.”

Bradley Walsh

Bradley is a definite entertainer having built a rapport with his audience over the years that’s earned him a legion of adoring fans.

But sadly for them he won’t be swapping quiz shows for the dance floor anytime soon

He told The Sun: “I’m not a dancer. I don’t even think I’m a good dad dancer. I’m a bad dad dancer, which makes things even worse.”

Noel Gallagher

It may not come as such a big surprise that Oasis star Noel isn’t so keen on kicking up his heels in the Strictly ballroom of a Saturday night.
However, someone, somewhere, thought it was a good idea to put in a call to Noel’s agent about the show.

Noel told BBC Radio 6 listeners: “It was just when Oasis split up and I didn’t do anything for like a couple of years.

“There’s obviously someone there going, ‘You know what? He’ll be up for it now. He’ll be desperate now.’

“My manager called me up, saying ‘I don’t really want to, legally, I have to inform you of this. Are you aware of Strictly Come Dancing?’ EEE the phone goes.”

Maya Jama

New Love Island host Maya Jama apparently wanted to wait until she was more famous to take a shot at appearing on Strictly when she got the call.

Appearing on Good Morning Britain in 2018 she said: “I don’t think now is the right time. I think I want to let people know who I am a bit more. I don’t want to be the one where everyone goes, ‘Who’s that?'”

Mel C

Never one to beat around the bush Mel didn’t hold back when she explained why it is she wouldn’t want to take part in Strictly.

She cited unwanted attention as one reason – and another was the amount of money on offer.

Talking to the Daily Star she said: “The problem is if you do Strictly it’s so high profile and you’ll find yourself in the news every day. And the money’s shit.”

Jamie Redknapp

Jamie has bad feelings about Strictly after his marriage to Louise Redknapp collapsed not long after her stint on the show.

Louise hit the dancefloor in 2016, and by the end of 2017, she and Jamie had gotten divorced.

A source told The Daily Mail: “Strictly used to be a show that no celebrity ever turned down. But the Curse has changed all that.

“There is now a genuine concern that appearing on the show can negatively impact relationships. Jamie only has negative feelings about Strictly now. There’s absolutely no way he would appear.”

Michelle Keegan

While Michelle’s hubby Mark Wright had no issue taking part in Strictly, she isn’t so keen on the idea of hitting the dancefloor.

The actress has received a few offers to join the cast but she has declined as she doesn’t want to face the scrutiny of a live audience.

Asked if she had been asked to appear during The Jonathan Ross Show last year she said: “I have a few times. But for me, it’s the live audience… it’s a skill. It takes a lot of dedication and skill.”

Greg James

Radio 1 DJ Greg almost took part in Strictly – before making a u-turn on his decision and declining the offer.

Talking to the Evening Standard in 2014 James said: “I was asked to do it but I decided that I didn’t want to this year.

“Even though it’s a brilliant show, I decided it was best not to. I wasn’t quite ready for it yet, I wasn’t quite ready for the sequins.

“I said yes as I thought it would be hilarious and great fun. But I just woke up one morning and it didn’t feel right.”

Alan Titchmarsh

Alan may be a dab hand with his fingertips in the garden, but footsteps on the dance floor are certifiably not this thing.

The popular gardener has previously admitted he would rather be an “old fogey” and stay at home than put himself through the gruelling training regime.

He told The Mirror: “I’ve been asked to go on both Strictly and I’m a Celebrity and you won’t see me on either.

“I’m very flattered to have been asked, but all things considered, I’d rather sit down and watch Doc Martin, which my children call ‘old fogey television’. I’m happy to be an old fogey.

“I don’t go a bundle on reality TV, but I got hooked on Netflix’s Selling Sunset, which is about Beverly Hills estate agents and so outrageous – my younger daughter and I would talk about it.”

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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk