'Strictly Come Dancing' Anita Dobson: 'Brian May was shocked when I signed up'

Strictly Come Dancing contestant Anita Dobson has admitted that her husband Brian May was "shocked" when she signed up to join the competition.

Dobson explained that May has been very supportive of her decision even though he was surprised that she had agreed to do it.

"He was really shocked when I first said they'd asked me and it was a proper, official, 'Are you actually interested or is this a waste of time?' [offer]," she said.

"I said, 'I think I want to do it' and he went, 'Oh'. He went very quiet. I said, 'Is that a problem?' and he went, 'No. I'm scared because I feel like I'm sort of outside of it', because you have to connect with your partner. But he said, 'It's something you've always wanted to do and I'll support you'."



Dobson admitted that she had been concerned that May, who came to cheer her on at the launch show, would be jealous of her relationship with her professional partner Robin Windsor.

"I thought he might be, but watching him tonight I don't think so now," she said. "I think he really wants it to happen. I think he's really pleased."

Windsor added: "I told him Anita's in good hands and I'll look after her."

Dobson also confessed that she had previously turned down Strictly Come Dancing because she was nervous about appearing on the show.

"They came back to suss me out again and I was right on the cusp of, 'Well, I'd like to learn to dance but I'd be too scared about the judging'," she explained. "And then I thought, 'You know what? Feel the fear and do it anyway'.

"I'm old enough now. I don't care. I'm just going to work. They can say what they like - I'm here to learn to dance... I'm not worried about anything now. I've kind of broken through that barrier. I just want to learn to dance."

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