EXCLUSIVE: Strictly Come Dancing professional Ian Waite has hinted at a potential return to the BBC show and clarified he was not sacked

 

A Strictly Come Dancing legend has teased a possible comeback to the BBC programme that catapulted him to fame 21 years ago.

Professional dancer and choreographer Ian Waite became part of Strictly during its second series in 2004 and reached the final on two occasions with celebrity partners Denise Lewis and Zoe Ball.

He departed the programme after seven series in 2009 before taking on a regular role with Strictly’s BBC Two companion show It Takes Two until 2021.

It has been announced that main show presenters Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman will step down from the Beeb’s premier entertainment programme at the conclusion of the current series.

The BBC is yet to reveal who will succeed them, and Ian believes his former colleague Anton Du Beke, who currently sits as a judge on the programme, could be in the running, reports the Mirror.

Ian Waite

Ian Waite has teased a possible comeback to Strictly Come Dancing (Image: Instagram)

Speaking to Reach on behalf of Zingo Bingo, Ian remarked: “My prediction is Anton would be great. He’s basically Bruce Forsyth’s love child isn’t he? Everybody loves him.

“I’ve been doing Dancing with the Stars in Australia and their main presenter on the show, very much like Claudia, is Sonia Kruger, who was the original Tina Sparkles in the movie Strictly Ballroom.

“She is phenomenal, She’s funny and she’s a brilliant presenter.

Ian Waite

The professional dancer became a regular fixture on It Take Two (Image: BBC)

“She would be amazing on our show but she’s probably got exclusive rights with Channel 7 over in Australia.

“She would be a fabulous one because everybody knows who she is. It will be interesting to see what happens.”

Ian elaborated: “I wasn’t sacked from Strictly, I was repositioned into my role on It Takes Two, and I think to myself I had so many more years left in me.

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Strictly Come Dancing

Ian says he would love to replace Anton Du Beke if he became Strictly host (Image: CREDIT LINE:BBC/Kieron McCarron)

“I’ve been touring, so I’ve been loving that and that’s where I get my creative and performance outlet but never say never.

“I think the public love all the old pros from Strictly so if they asked me to come on and take Anton’s place, for instance, I’d say ‘yeah, it’s a brilliant idea’. I’d love it.”