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Mel Giedroyc explains surprising reason she turned down Strictly

It's not because she has two left feet!

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Mel Giedroyc has turned down the chance to star on BBC show Strictly Come Dancing.

The 48-year-old former host of The Great British Bake Off revealed in an interview with the Radio Times magazine that she was approached to compete in the BBC talent competition.

However, she declined, because she thinks it’s difficult for a woman of her age to be on the programme.

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“You’re not the comedy old bag yet, which would be the joy of going on Strictly,” she told the publication. “If I did it, I’d want to be Ann Widdecombe. I’d want to be out there getting the laughs, being dragged around.”

There’s another reason as well that Mel turned down the offer – because she’s such a huge fan of the show.

“I love watching it so much I almost didn’t want to spoil the pleasure by being on it,” she smiled.

Mel has had a difficult year, following Channel 4 acquiring The Great British Bake Off from the BBC after a fierce bidding war. While she, co-host Sue Perkins and judge Mary Berry all opted to stay with the BBC, judge Paul Hollywood moved with the programme to Channel 4.

The turbulent time saw paparazzi queue up outside Mel’s house – a concept she admits she was less than happy about.

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“The press were camped out on my doorstep. My eldest daughter actually saw a few of them off, which I was very, very proud of,” she said, labelling it a “pretty weird time”.

“I’m not the kind of person who would court that sort of attention. I have a very private existence and I had to slightly clench my buttocks during that.”

Mel has landed a huge new gig though in the form of hosting Saturday night show Let It Shine alongside Graham Norton.


Kaggie Hyland
Editor-in-Chief