Fans of EastEnders were overjoyed when it was announced that actress Emma Barton would be joining this year’s Strictly.
But reports claim that the actress, 42, said 10 years ago that she had ‘too much dance experience’ for the show and that it would be ‘unfair’ if she appeared.
Waltzing in from Walford welcome @EmmaBarton! @BBCEastEnders Honey Mitchell to #Strictly. ✨ https://t.co/loGoq7pDYj pic.twitter.com/VlmsbouRUd
— BBC Strictly ✨ (@bbcstrictly) July 31, 2019
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The Sun reports that Emma – who was one of the first stars announced for this year’s series – spoke to the Birmingham Mail in 2009.
In that interview Emma, who was appearing in the musical Chicago at the time, said: “I might consider doing it, though after all this time dancing in Chicago, maybe it wouldn’t be fair.
“I would feel a bit like I shouldn’t take part because I have too much experience.”
The interview also claimed that Strictly producers had approached her ‘on numerous occasions’ but ‘nothing came of it’.
Emma, who plays Honey Mitchell in the BBC soap, joins the likes of ex-Corrie actress Catherine Tyldesley, Anneka Rice, ex-England goalkeeper David James and Made In Chelsea star Jamie Lang in this year’s series.
Speaking on The One Show, Emma said that she was “over the moon” when she took the call.
“I’m the biggest fan, it is sort of weird cause now I’m not going to be able to sit at home and watch it,” she said.
“You have a lot of rehearsals and I haven’t done theatre in a lot of years so I’m gonna wing it.”
Read more: Strictly Come Dancing: Does EastEnders actress Emma Barton have kids?
Yesterday (Wednesday August 7) saw veteran broadcaster Anneka Rice announced as Strictly’s 15th and final contestant.
Anneka admitted that she is pushing far out of her comfort zone by taking on the challenge.
She said on Steve Wright In The Afternoon on BBC Radio 2: “I haven’t danced since I was seven and Miss Beer sent me home from my ballet class because I was hopelessly uncoordinated.
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