Melanie Walters for Strictly Come Dancing 2026 / © BBC/Ray Burmiston/Artwork - BBC Creative
Melanie Walters has explained that she is taking part in Strictly Come Dancing on behalf of older people who may fear that they are “past it”.
The 64-year-old, best known for playing the benevolent Gwen West in Gavin & Stacey, is one of 15 celebrities on the cast for this year’s series, which begins on BBC One later this month.
Asked why she had decided to take part this year, Walters answered: “It was a little bit of ‘now or never’ really. I’m not getting any younger! It just felt like the right time to dive into something like Strictly, which is something completely outside my normal life and my comfort zone.
“I’ve no formal dance training to speak of, my involvement in musicals and pantos have been as a character actress not a dancer, but I have always loved to dance. We’re talking disco, not clubbing! This is such an opportunity to push my boundaries and learn some beautiful routines and show them on live television!”
She continued: “I’m primarily doing Strictly for myself and everybody who is over 60. For all us women in particular who are in their 60s, who have a chance to seize an opportunity but shy away from taking it – fearing they’re too old.
“We’re always learning and growing at whatever age. There’s no such thing as being ‘past it’, things may become different as we get older but we’re no less valid.”
Strictly Come Dancing returns Saturday, September 19 at 7.25pm on BBC One and iPlayer.
