Andrea McLean has revealed that she was actually a reserve to step in for Strictly Come Dancing, but was ‘relieved’ it never reached that point.
The former Loose Women star opened up about almost dusting off her dancing shoes for the ballroom, which this year has seen the likes of Helen Skelton and Will Mellor.
Speaking to Metro.co.uk, Andrea admitted the peak into Strictly as a reserve showed her it was ‘too scary’.
‘No, no,’ she told us, when asked if Strictly Come Dancing would be one for her.
Andrea continued to Metro.co.uk and other publications: ‘I know people say this being really coy and hoping they’ll get asked, but no.
‘Many years ago, I was actually a reserve and I was so relieved when I didn’t get called up because I got a glimpse into what it’s like.
‘And I just said, this is too scary and actually I was really happy that I didn’t have to do it.
‘So I had a little taste and it was great. And now I never, ever want to try it.’
However, Andrea didn’t reveal who her Strictly partner was, adding: ‘I don’t want to say because it will spoil it – because we did a routine and everything, and he was super nice.
‘Really, really nice and I was relieved and I think he was relieved because I looked nice in the dress and that was as far as it went!
‘And then I moved and everything… I just knew that if I actually ended up on the show, everyone would do that, “Ah! Ohhhhh…” and it wouldn’t be good.’
This comes after Andrea moved to Florida after growing tired of life in the UK.
Andrea made the move with her third husband Nick Feeney, and her two children, Finlay, 20, and Amy, 15.
Earlier this year, she told the Sunday Post: ‘When you get to your 50s you really take a long, hard look and think, “I am at the crest of the hill and looking down, is this where I want to be?”
‘I am 52, I may only have 30 winters left. Do I want to spend them in Britain? No, I don’t. I want to be somewhere warm and feel the sun on my skin.
‘One of the good things about the pandemic is that it has made us realise we can literally be anywhere. We are booked to go to Florida for at least a month to try it out.’
Strictly Come Dancing airs tomorrow, Saturday, at 6.50pm on BBC One.
