TV presenter reveals motivation behind signing up to do Strictly

TV presenter Dan Walker has said he signed up to do Strictly Come Dancing to do something “fun” and have a “giggle” after reporting on difficult news stories during the pandemic.

He will continue to host BBC Breakfast and The NFL Show while competing on the popular BBC One dancing series, which returns to screens tonight.

Walker has hosted the BBC morning programme for the last five-and-a-half years alongside Louise Minchin, who presented on the show for the final time on Wednesday.

He said: “I cover a lot of news and the last 18 months has just been grim story after grim story.

“So I thought, an opportunity to do something that’s fun, that’s very different, that doesn’t involve reading headlines about awful stuff, and just have a bit of a giggle, and to learn a new skill.

“And I don’t think there are any opportunities in anything I’ve ever done before, where you get to learn from people who are literally the best on the planet.

“So with regards to that, I might be terrible, but at least I’ll be learning from someone who’s excellent at it.”

The broadcaster, 44, said his co-presenter Minchin was “very surprised” when she found out he would compete on the dancing show but that she was “really excited” to watch him on the programme.

He also said he would continue hosting BBC Breakfast while in the dancing contest, as well as presenting The NFL Show with Jason Bell and Osi Umenyiora.

Walker announced earlier this year he was stepping down after 12 years at the helm of BBC Football Focus.

Strictly Come Dancing returns to BBC One this evening.

TV presenter Dan Walker.