THE last time he danced in public was in a Scottish nightclub in the 80s, but Greg Wise says he IS ready for the challenge that is Strictly.
Greg, whose mother-in-law is Glasgow actor Phyllida Law, said he had ‘no signature dance move – no moves at all’ as he prepares for Saturday night’s launch show.
“Unless you count hanging your head, dub/grind/reggae, whatever, style in an Edinburgh nightclub which was the last time I danced in public,” he laughed.
“I don’t think that counts. Nor does Austenian line dancing, which is literally just walking around holding someone’s hand, like slow Scottish country dancing.
“So this is all uncharted territory.”
Sense and Sensibility star Greg said he was doing Strictly for his late sister, Clare, who was a huge fan of the show.
“It’s five years since my sister died, and she was a disco diva - she was the dancer,” he said. “She left this world in a glitterball coffin, so I’m doing this for her.”
Greg laughs he is the “grandad of the group”.
“I’m the oldest, so I’m interested in working hard, in seeing if this body will do what is asked of it,” he smiled. “I have been preparing by wearing my patent leather shoes around the house because Bill Bailey, who won last year, told me to.
“I think being an actor might help in that I could probably be quite dramatic.” He adds, with a laugh: “If I can’t do the actual dance…”
He revealed he had originally said no to Strictly, until his wife, Emma Thompson, intervened.
“She said, ‘you’re mad’,” he explained. “She has been filming solidly since January and we were planning our first autumn holiday together for years, but after a five minute conversation, our entire autumn plan was kicked into the long grass.
“But it’s great because she can relax and support me and watch on Saturday nights.”
Greg, who studied at Glasgow's RSAMD (now the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland) said he was ‘most nervous’ about injuring himself on the dance floor.
“I am quite accident prone,” he said. “I’m not in it to win it, I just want to do as well as I can do, which is how I approach everything in life.”
Greg joins a stellar cast which includes the hit TV show’s first deaf contestant, EastEnders star Rose Ayling-Ellis.
“I feel I have a purpose here, to break the stereotypes of what deaf people can and can’t do,” she said. “I think I’m looking forward to the tango the most, because it’s very different to how I am in real life - I’m polite, I don’t do sexy.”
She added: “My family and friends are excited for me, but scared for me too. They are protective of me. Bring it on. I’m most nervous about tripping up wearing heels. They are so wobbly.”
READ MORE: 'I can handle the judges - I live with my dad' - Tilly Ramsay on preparing for Strictly
As a huge Dolly Parton fan, Rose is hoping to dance to one of her songs during the series. “I like old school music, Stevie Wonder, Dusty Springfield, Dolly Parton,” she laughed. “I’d love to dance to 9 to 5.
“I’m looking forward to helping change people’s attitudes about deaf people - hopefully good will come of it and deaf people will get more opportunities.”
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