Dawn French wouldn't do 'Strictly' as it's 'undignified' for women her age

Dawn French has admitted she doesn’t fancy a turn on the Strictly dancefloor because she doesn’t think she would be taken seriously and fears she would end up being shot out of a cannon for entertainment.

The star opened up to comedy partner Jennifer Saunders on their podcast French And Saunders: T**ting About, saying Strictly bosses had put the feelers out but that she wasn’t keen as she would want to compete properly instead of just being a laughing stock.

“At this age, you’re not taken seriously,” said French, 62.

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“Also if you’re from comedy, they want to shoot you out of a cannonball like Ann Widdecombe and I don’t want that!”

French said she would want to get “the most elegant” professional dancer to compete with and the nicest outfits but that “nobody would want that”.

Saunders, who is also 62, also suggested she wouldn’t be slipping into any sequinned spandex for a go on the BBC show any time soon.

Confessing that she hasn’t got much rhythm, the comedian said she may do it if it wasn’t for the background films.

“I like watching it,” she said. “I’m not saying I don’t like watching it.

“But I have to say, being on it would make me cringe.”

She went on: “We know we would be with Anton du Beke.

“We wouldn’t get Aljaz [Škorjanec] or any of the nice ones.”

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Discussing some of the trickier moves seen on the show, the pair agreed it was “terribly undignified” and said that although they like to make people laugh, they don’t want to be “laughed at”.

This year’s series of Strictly starts on 17 October with the launch show, when the celebrity contestants meet their professional partners. The live shows will start on 24 October.

Watch: Dawn French brings back The Vicar Of Dibley in lockdown!