Strictly’s Danny Mac: 'Being me on TV scares the hell out of me!'

Former Hollyoaks' actor Danny Mac has been 'too scared' to sign up for Strictly until now, but he'll be channelling that fear as he steps out on the dancefloor this weekend...

Former Hollyoaks’ actor Danny Mac has admitted he’d turned down the chance to do Strictly several times in previous years because ‘the idea of being me on television scares the hell out of me’.

After finally plucking up the courage to sign up for the BBC1 dance show this year, Danny – best known as Mark ‘Dodger’ Savage in Hollyoaks – will join the 14 other celebrities this weekend, as they all perform either a ballroom or Latin routine for the first time.

Danny and his professional partner Oti Mabuse will cha cha to 'Cake by the Ocean' by DNCE.

Talking more about his decision to sign up this year, Danny told What’s on TV: “I’m happy hidden behind scripts and words that are given to me but I thought, you know what, it was time to embrace Strictly and I thought if I don’t do it now, I probably won’t get the chance, it will never be the right time.

He went on: "I'm at a point in my life where I was ready to commit to it, I could never have done it while I was in Hollyoaks, the schedule's too tough. But I wanted a new challenge and I thought if I’m that scared of it, that's enough reason to do it."

Danny's getting ready to strut his stuff with professional dancer, Oti Mabuse

Danny revealed that his Hollyoaks co-star Ashley Taylor Dawson - who plays Darren Osborne in the Channel 4 soap and who took part in Strictly in 2013 - gave him some much-needed encouragement going into the competition…

"Ashley did Strictly while he was on Hollyoaks AND he had a pregnant fiancee at the time, but he said: 'Mate, you’re gonna have the best time, soak it all up, take all the rehearsal you can and enjoy it because it will be one of the best things you do in your life'."

Fortunately, none of the celebrities will be eliminated this weekend as there’s no public vote. But Danny’s keeping his fingers crossed that, when the phone lines open next weekend, Hollyoaks’ fans will keep him in.

"I need to hope they do," he joked. "But I think, regardless of who you are, it's always going to be down to what you do on the dancefloor."

Strictly Come Dancing starts on Friday September 23 at 9pm, and continues on Saturday September 24 on BBC1.