Strictly Come Dancing's Will Mellor has revealed he signed up to BBC’s flagship dance contest after the death of his father, having previously turned it down.
The Coronation Street actor, 46, is set to compete for the coveted Glitterball Trophy when the new series of Strictly starts on Friday. He will join a star-studded line-up including fellow Corrie star Kym Marsh, Bros singer Matt Goss, and TV presenter Helen Skelton for the show’s 20th series.
As reported by OK!, Will said he was spurred on to do the show after his father Bill lost his battle with cancer in 2020, having previously turned it down over fears it could damage his acting career. He said: “I have been asked before and it scared me to do anything like this just because I was worried if it would have a negative impact on my acting career or anything like that.
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“And then I lost my dad in 2020 and my mindset completely changed. I just thought: ‘You've got to grab life, you’ve got to do things’.
“And I just said: ‘I’m gonna say yes to more stuff, and create memories as that really is what life’s about.’ You realise that when you start losing people, I just thought: ‘What am I afraid of?’ You know, I'd rather look back and go: ‘I’m glad I did that rather than I should have done that.’
“And so they asked me and straightaway I said: ‘Yeah, I’m going to do it!’”
Will went on to reveal he was further encouraged to take part in Strictly to add some positivity to his mother’s life after the tragic loss of her husband. The Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps star said he shared the news with his mum Shirley before it was announced so she had something “to get excited about.”
He continued: “It’s my mum’s favourite show and she’s had a terrible time of it. I just thought, you know, we need some positivity.
“And so honestly, the real reason is that and I just thought: ‘Yeah, I want to go on this journey and see where it takes me... already I’m loving it!”
It appears Will’s decision did the trick in bringing some joy to his mum’s life, as she “just can’t wait” to see him compete. “She's so looking forward to it,” he said.
“It’s great, it’s just good, it’s all positive and that’s what I want from it, I want positive things, and what will be, will be.”
The new series of Strictly Come Dancing was postponed following the death of Queen Elizabeth II and is set to begin with the airing of its pre-recorded first episode on Friday, September 23 at 7pm.
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