Sykes turned down 'Strictly' offer

Melanie Sykes has revealed that she once turned down an offer to star on Strictly Come Dancing.

The presenter decided to snub the BBC One competition because she is keen to avoid reality TV shows for the duration of her media career.

"I don't want to do reality TV. I almost did Strictly Come Dancing, but I didn't in the end and I think that was a good choice," Sykes told Celebs On Sunday magazine.

"I'd like to be at the end of my career and know that I didn't do a reality show. I think that would be quite something in this day and age."

The star added that she regularly rejects television opportunities because she is not "desperate" to stay in the spotlight.

"The worst job I've been asked to do was eat junk food for a month to see what would happen to me," she explained. "I was like: 'Why would I want to poison myself for the sake of TV?'

"But there's always some bugger that will. I don't have to be on TV regardless of what the project is to make me feel good."