Good Morning Britain presenter Ben Shephard jokes he would do Strictly Come Dancing 'for the curse' after 25 years of marriage

The presenter revealed he had been approached this year
Natasha Sporn3 August 2018

Good Morning Britain presenter Ben Shephard has joked that he would do Strictly Come Dancing for the infamous curse.

The breakfast host revealed that he had been approached by the show to join up for the upcoming series but turned it down due to weekly commitments elsewhere with his Sky show Goals on Sunday.

But Shephard quipped that the temptation of the now-infamous “strictly curse” after 25 years of marriage would be the only reason he’d swap West Ham for the Waltz.

He said: “This is the first year I’d be asked, the very first year I’d be asked but I can’t do it because I do a football show on Sundays.

Knocked back: Ben Shephard has revealed he turned down Strictly Come Dancing
ITV

“One of the rumours I understand is that they’re struggling because lots of people are nervous about the curse of Strictly.”

The presenter joked: “That’s absolutely the only reason I was going to do it. After 25 years with Mrs S and she’s like that as well ‘oh just go.’”

On Friday’s show, Shephard and co-host Charlotte Hawkins – who took part in the show last year – were joined by another Strictly alumnus, Laura Whitmore.

Past contestant: Laura Whitmore took part in the show in 2016
Guy Levy/BBC

Trying to sell the show to potential contestants, Whitmore admitted that while the show is “so much fun”, it’s the “press around it” that isn’t great.

Although a rising star with a solid place on Capital FM, reports claim that the show is struggling to attract big names because of the so-called curse, which sees relationships broken apart by the show.

Good Morning Britain airs weekdays from 6am on ITV.

Strictly Come Dancing 2017 - In pictures

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