Royle family’s Ricky Tomlinson admits he regrets turning down Strictly Come Dancing and can’t take part now because of his arthritis
The actor fell in love with dancing again after going on a cruise...
RICKY Tomlinson has missed out on appearing in Strictly Come Dancing now that his arthritis is too painful.
The star previously spoke of his desire to appear on the BBC1 show during an appearance on Loose Women in 2011.
But speaking in a recent interview, he admitted: “I wish I'd have taken part in Strictly Come Dancing when I was younger.
“I've got really bad arthritis now, but I'm a big fan of all things dancing – especially ballroom. I'd have love to have done it now. It upsets me that I didn't go on there.”
It’s the first time that Ricky has opened up about his battle with the crippling condition which has left him struggling to move his left hand.
At 77 Ricky would have been the oldest contestant the show had ever featured.
Lesley Joseph, who took part in Strictly last year, previously held that record aged 71.
In 2011 the actor, known for playing Jim Royle in the Royle Family, revealed he was inspired to start dancing again after seeing a couple grooving on a cruise.
"We've just been on a cruise, it was absolutely fabulous, to the Fjords. My wife, Rita, took five suitcases, I took a little carrier bag.
"You were taking about ballroom dancing earlier, well, we were in the restaurant and they have the music going and people got up to dance and there was a couple there - I think they were from Liverpool - and they were wonderful.
"And I used to go ballroom dancing, I got my bronze. But Rita had a car accident and hurt her back and we had to stop, but when we saw these guys we decided we are going to start again.
"Would I go on 'Strictly...'? Well, I don't know. But I love it. I think I'd be older than anyone on it this series."
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Last month Ricky appeared on Who Do You Think You Are? where viewers praised him after he got teary at his ancestors struggle with poverty.
The Royle Family actor blasted inequality and the class divide in 1900’s Liverpool which saw his great, great grandfather William Tomlinson and his wife Mary, along with their six kids, squashed into a house of eleven – with just one bathroom between them.
He raged: “It’s absolutely scandalous.
“Land of Hope and Glory – my a***!”
He then quipped: “I have four toilets in my house,” before adding: “How can you get upset about something that happened 150 years ago?
“But I am, I am so angry."