Ian Waite, 48, was a professional dancer on Strictly Come Dancing for seven series from 2005 and danced with the likes of Zoe Ball, Denise Lewis and Jodie Kidd. The presenter now fronts his section Waite’s Warm Up on the show’s spin-off programme It Takes Two.
Speaking exclusively to Express.co.uk, Ian reflected on the reasons why he left the show as he admitted he could’ve stayed for a few more years, but not like Anton Du Beke.
He said: “I was offered the show dancers one year, like the pro dancers but not with a celebrity.
“They had a group of them, which was fine. And then a year after that I was offered It Takes Two and at the time I was sure.
“But, I knew that I could stay on the show for a few more years.
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“Not like Anton, it was a good move to take because of the different areas, it’s allowed me to do more presenting.
“I love Anton but he’s been there since the beginning I don’t think I would’ve been there as long as that.”
Elaborating, he added: “It’s an amazing show but it’s really hard on your body, my body just can’t cope with that. I get so skinny and lose weight.
“It’s not great for me, Anton is great on the show, the show wouldn’t be the same without Anton.
“He brings humour, he brings class and we’ve got some great ballroom from Anton. He gives certain assets to the show that we don’t really have.
“It would be nice to see more Ballroom dancers rather than all Latin dancers that we’ve got because he’s the only real Ballroom dancer on the show.”
Elsewhere, during a recent episode of It Takes Two, viewers queried a comment he made towards Zoe.
The presenter joked that Ian’s outfit reminded her of Patrick Swayze’s character in the Dirty Dancing movie.
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Zoe then joked that the pair should reenact the famous lift from the movie for viewers, to which Ian replied: “I’m not that strong.”
Finding the moment humorous, the BBC Radio 2 star replied: “It’s a point, I am 12 stone, I’m okay with that.”
The ex pro then jokingly apologised for his comment, before Zoe reminded viewers about the various lifts they performed together on Strictly Come Dancing in 2005.
In the same interview, Ian justified his comment and insisted his remark was not a swipe about Zoe’s weight.
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“I think I said, ‘If I was strong enough,’ or something like that,” he said.
“To be honest, it wasn’t about Zoe’s weight, it is about my arm strength, because my arm strength isn’t particularly strong above my head, like my shoulder strength.
“So, it was nothing to do with her and anyway, she’s a skinny thing, she’s gorgeous!”
Strictly Come Dancing continues tonight at 7pm on BBC One.
Ian will be appearing as Dandini in Cinderella at The Pavilion Theatre Worthing from November 29 to January 5, 2020.
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