Strictly Come Dancing professionals initially rejected idea for the show
Anton Du Beke and Erin Boag revealed as much in the anniversary special.
What did you miss?
Strictly Come Dancing was a tough sell for some of the professional choreographers when it first got pitched to them over two decades ago.
Airing on BBC One on Saturday, 21 December, anniversary special Strictly: 20 Fabulous Years featured an endless list of talking heads, including Anton Du Beke, Kevin Clifton, Bill Bailey, Darcey Bussell, Gemma Atkinson and Brendan Cole, who spoke of the televised ballroom's impeccable legacy.
In a bit of a surprising insight, pro-turned-judge Du Beke revealed that the dancing community was initially hesitant to get involved with the unproven format.
What, how and why?
"The BBC had approached the dancing business about wanting to know if there were some professional dancers that would like to be involved, and as an industry I think we all went sort of... 'No thanks' really," he told the camera.
Erin Boag, who competed as a pro between 2004 and 2012 - partnering up with the football legends Peter Schmeichel and Peter Shilton in that time - echoed Du Beke's memory, adding: "Us in the world of ballroom thought that they might take the mickey out of our sport."
According to head judge Shirley Ballas, the late Len Goodman was "a bit of a sceptic" to begin with too.
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Also appearing on the special, Sophie Ellis-Bextor and Kirsty Gallacher's pro Cole went on to claim that "the more we thought about it, the more we thought: 'Actually, this could be brilliant.'"
Meanwhile, Bruno Tonioli, who switched from Strictly to Britain's Got Talent judging, also shared with viewers: "When I got the call that I got [the Strictly job], I thought 'Brilliant!' because we brought dance back on primetime."
What else happened on Strictly: 20 Fabulous Years?
In an amusing onscreen reunion between real-life couple Joe Sugg and Dianne Buswell - the latter coming off the back of her first-ever Glitterball victory last weekend - she teased that his phenomenal Instagram following was the best part about being partnered up in 2018, when they reached the final together.
"When I was first partnered with Joe, I was buzzing," she smiled. "I was like, 'Aw yeah! I'm gonna get so many Instagram followers!'"
"Is that why everyone was like, floating around me at the start?" he replied, to which she said: "Duh!"
"I admire your honesty," noted Sugg.
Strictly Come Dancing will return to BBC One in 2025
