Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders revealed they have rejected offers to appear on Strictly Come Dancing because it’s ‘terribly undignified for older women.’
The comedians, both 62, said should they compete, they would want to take the show ‘seriously’ with Dawn saying she feared bosses would ‘shoot her out of a cannon like Ann Widdecombe’ – who famously competed in 2010.
Speaking on new podcast French & Saunders: T**ting Around, Dawn said: ‘They’ve approached me in a circling way before. The problem is if I did it, I’d want to do it and properly dance.
No holds barred: Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders revealed they have rejected offers to appear on Strictly Come Dancing because it’s ‘terribly undignified for older women’ (pictured 2017)
‘At this age, you’re not taken seriously. Also if you’re from comedy, they want to shoot you out of a cannon like Ann Widdecombe and I don’t want that.
‘I want the nicest dress, the most elegant other dancer and to take it seriously and nobody would want that.’
Jennifer also branded the show ‘cringe’ for its VTs showing the dance pairs getting ready for the shows, and said she believed the pair would be partnered with professional dancer Anton Du Beke rather than ‘any of the nice ones like Aljaz’ (Skorjanec).
She said: ‘I would do it if it wasn’t for the background films. Oh it’s pathetic now. ‘It’s Halloween week! Ooh we’re slightly scared now.’ Oh God.
Iconic: Former politician Ann Widdecombe competed on the show aged 63 back in 2010, where she was partnered with Anton Du Beke
‘I’m not saying I don’t like watching it but I have to say, being on it would make me cringe.
‘We know we’d be with Anton du Beke. We wouldn’t get Aljaz or any of the nice ones, we would be with Anton.’
The star added:’We’re up to make people laugh, we’re not up to being laughed at. And that’s the big difference.
‘I sort of think that’s possibly going back to our beginnings of why we went into comedy.’
MailOnline has contacted Strictly Come Dancing representatives for comment.
Oh dear: Speaking on new podcast French & Saunders: T**ting Around, Dawn said: ‘They’ve approached me in a circling way before. The problem is if I did it, I’d want to do it and properly dance (pictured 2016)
Former politician Ann competed on the show aged 63 back in 2010, where she was partnered with Anton.
She lasted 10 weeks on the show despite being branded a ‘Dalek in drag’ by judge Bruno Tonioli.
Astrologer Russell Grant was fired out of a cannon on the show’s Wembley special back in 2011 which was branded one of the show’s ‘best ever entrances.’
His cannon entrance and subsequent jive routine was watched by a live audience of 6,000 at Wembley arena.
Dawn recently revealed on her podcast that she has put on weight again after her staggering seven and a half stone loss in 2014.
Legendary: Ann memorably dressed as Big Bird when she competed on the show
Blast off: Astrologer Russell Grant was fired out of a cannon on the show’s Wembley special back in 2011 which was branded one of the show’s ‘best ever entrances’
The star said she is ‘back to being an entire barrel’ but ‘doesn’t give a f**k’.
The Vicar Of Dibley star didn’t disclose how much weight she has put on, but said she refuses to ‘dislike herself’ and is happy as long as she can keep walking.
The comedian dramatically starting losing weight in 2011 following her split from Lenny Henry and in 2014, she revealed that it was so she could have keyhole surgery for a secret hysterectomy after a cancer scare.
Dawn said: ‘I’ve gone back to being an entire barrel but do you know what, I’m going to be 63 this year, I don’t give a f**k, I really don’t, so long as I can walk.
OG: said she believed the pair would be partnered with professional dancer Anton Du Beke rather than ‘any of the nice ones like Aljaz’ (Skorjanec)’
Heartthrob: Aljaz, 30, is pictured with wife Janette Manrara at the SCD 2019 launch show
‘I’m not going to be stingy to myself anymore. I never did dislike anything about my body, even when I was very, very fat. I refuse to be forced to dislike myself.
‘I used to get really angry when I did lose weight, people going, ”You look so well,” as if you looked awful before – rewarding you for managing it, which is not easy, I accept that.
‘But I didn’t want people to give me approval. It’s so patronising.’
Dawn looked happy and healthy when she reprised her role of Geraldine Granger in The Vicar Of Dibley for BBC’s Big Night In earlier this year during the height of lockdown.
Pictured: Dawn recently said that she has put weight on following her staggering seven and a half stone loss in 2014 (pictured last month in London)
The star also looked slim when she stepped out in London last month for a two-minute Silent Stand to demand help for theatres amid the coronavirus crisis.
The comedian started losing weight in 2011 amid speculation she’d had a gastric band fitted or was suffering from stress after her split from Lenny Henry.
In 2014, Dawn revealed the real reason behind her weight loss and said she needed to have a hysterectomy following a cancer scare.
‘I don’t give a f**k!’ The actress said she is ‘back to being an entire barrel’ but ‘doesn’t give a f**k’ (pictured, left, after her weight loss in 2015 and, right, and before in 2005)