Greg Wise has revealed that wife Emma Thompson persuaded him to turn down a film deal to take part in Strictly Come Dancing.
The Crown actor, who has been married to Oscar winner Thompson since 2003, admitted he had been deliberating over whether to take part in the BBC One ballroom competition as he already had a movie in the pipeline.
"Then I told the wife and she said I had to go for it," he told The Telegraph. "I had a big job lined up, a three-picture deal that would have been quite nicely paid, thank you very much. I asked if I could do Strictly next year instead and they said no. So here we are."
The star also disclosed that Thompson is "even more excited than I am" about his competing on the show, adding: "Em's looking forward to having a relaxing autumn, with the little beacons every Saturday night of either watching it on the telly with a pile of chums or coming up to Elstree."
After his signing was announced last month, Wise explained that he was taking part in the show to honour his late sister, who was "a huge disco queen".
"This is for her," he said in a statement. "My gorgeous Diva sis, who would have been insane with excitement that her little bro was doing this. I will channel her, as her bro can't dance - but I'm thrilled to be dipping my toes, knees, hips and arms into this wonderful world, and hope to make her proud, and obviously make her laugh.."
Wise will make his debut on the dance-floor this weekend alongside celebrity contemporaries including Nina Wadia, Robert Webb, Katie McGlynn, Tilly Ramsay and AJ Odudu, to name but a few.
Strictly Come Dancing will return to BBC One on Saturday, September 18th.
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