Douglas Bader.

It's in the press today that Cilla Black has turned down the Xmas show (phew)


I never want Eamon Holmes anywhere near Strictly. He is obnoxious (personal experience not just feelings)

Thank God- she's utterly dreadful.

She was in the press a few years ago saying she'd turn down Strictly because she'd expect to win!

Of a similar ilk, Barbara Windsor either rejected this year out of hand or signed up and then dropped out.

Nicky Campbell has said he has turned it down

Zara Philips/Tyndall has confirmed that she was asked a couple of years ago & declined.

I wonder if all those named above have genuinely turned down the 'invitation' or whether they've been turned down by the bbc?

The BBC apparently get inundated by agents trying to get their people on to the show, and have a waiting list long enough to take them through another 10 series!

Good one.

Not far off it, is it?

Did Paul Hollywood turn it down? He seemed to be heavily rumoured for a long time and even implied that he'd do it at one time, but that was before his private life went tits up.

I've heard that Tim Henman has said no as well. Very shocked to hear that Peter Andre, such a rabid self publicist said no, but that could be to do with his ITV commitments. I don't think ITV allow their "stars" to do Strictly, do they? There were rumours a few years ago that either a Ant or Dec, can't remember which, was desperate to do it but because of their golden handcuffs deal with ITV it will never happen.

Probably clashed with the opening of an envelope which he HAD to attend

Good!

The inevitable brown-nosing from the hosts and judges would have been truly nauseating.

Richard Osman said recently on Twitter that he turned it down this year. Also that he'll never do it!

I seem to recall Lord Sugar tweeting that he'd turned down the Christmas Special last year, or perhaps the year before.

He would have done it but realised that if he got into a dance off and made a glaring mistake he wouldn't have a leg to stand on.

That's a shame

Lord Sugar, that's a bit of an oxymoron if ever there was one.
Glad we haven't had to suffer his miserable ugly face on our screens.

I don't think any of them should have said they had been asked to appear as they never know how their career will be going in a few years.

Best example is Jerry Hall, who in about 2006 she'd never, ever do Strictly or DWTS because of the stigma it carries.

6 years later and... the rest is history

On Sunday Brunch Tom Ellis, Matt Goss and Johnny Vegas all said they'd been asked bit turned it down

Oh my.

Alan Carr has said they ask him every year but he always turns them down. He is my fantasy contestant.

And yet they turned down Olympian, gorgeous girl Rebecca Adlington. Why????

I can't decide if her grandchildren were horrified that she'd even been asked, or horrified that she turned it down

Paul Hollywood turned it down to spend more time with his son following his "personal issues" this year. I reckon Dave might have been a substitute.

John Barrowman has been asked a few times but has always been to busy to commit to the full series (he's spoken about it a few times, think he mentioned it in his Christmas special, plus has said it on his concert tours).

I also think Alan Sugar has been approached but not sure if it was just for one of the Specials.

I also think I remember Penny Smith talking about it once a few years ago? Not 100% sure on that.

People are crazy for turning it down IMO. I'd be on there's like a shot.

I can only imagine she's too tall. Brenda's about the tallest male pro and she'd probably be taller than him in heels.

They need a taller male *cough* Ian *cough* change the record tabitha *cough*

Richard Bacon has said on the radio that he's been asked.

He was interviewing some agent (possibly that bloke who used to represent Charlotte Church) and Richard asked 'Is it a good idea to do it?' and the agent was like 'Hell yeah'.