LES DENIES
Les Dennis hits back at Strictly ‘fix’ claims as West End star completes line-up
LES Dennis insists he doesn't have an unfair advantage on Strictly because of his stage career.
The veteran performer has starred in Hairspray, Chicago and High School Musical, to name but a few productions, however, he describes his dance skills as limited.
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Appearing on today's Good Morning Britain, he disagreed when host Ben Shephard suggested Strictly will be a walk in the park for him.
He said: "I do those shows, but when it comes to those things what I do is movement.
"I do a little soft shoe shuffle with Michael Ball in Hairspray, but when it comes to... I'm not trained at all and certainly not when it comes to ballroom and Latin. I don't know about the Cha Cha Cha."
Fans of the show have also mentioned Les's stage credentials after he was revealed as the final star signing for this year's series.
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One said: “He is a trained dancer, OK he might not be as good as he used to be but, he will not be a John Sergeant.”
A second said: “I saw Les as Wilbur in Hairspray, he was brilliant. Les you’re Timeless to Me.”
The popular telly star was previously asked to sashay onto the dance floor but was unable to because of a soap role.
He played Michael Rodwell in Coronation Street from 2014 to 2016.
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Les explained: "I was asked when I was in Corrie, but when you're in Corrie you can't do it, you do it when you come out. I'm so excited by it, I can't believe it."
The actor will turn 70 in October and is the second oldest star of the series behind Angela Rippon, 78.
He said: "The whole thing about the age thing, I had a knee replacement two years ago and remember thinking to myself 'it's time to slow down', but you get offered something like this and it puts a spring in your step. I'm excited and terrified. People of any age can do anything."
Les, who was previously married to Amanda Holden in the 90s, found fame on talent show New Faces in the 70s.
His TV career includes roles in Extras, Brookside, Death in Paradise and Midsomer Murders and two years in Coronation Street.
On stage he’s starred with the Royal Shakespeare Company, the English National Opera, and in hit plays and musicals such as Hairspray, Legally Blonde The Musical and 42nd Street.
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