The comic, who admitted he was “more of a fridge magnet than a sex magnet”, said it was a “wonderful honour” to appear on Strictly, but that he was “very much out of his comfort zone”.
He presented the Royal Variety Performance in 1999, but said Strictly was more frightening.
Last week Brian and partner Amy Dowden were in joint bottom position on 16 points, along with TV presenter Ruth Langsford and partner Anton du Beke.
Speaking ahead of last night’s show, which saw him perform the cha cha cha, he said: “The fear of the live show is on a par with doing the Royal Variety. The first Saturday was probably the best known laxative in showbusiness.”
He said he wasn’t worried about the ability of other contestants, such as Aston Merrygold, who was in boyband JLS.
“I don’t think people with dance experience have an unfair advantage. Aston is a very good street dancer but I never saw JLS dance the tango or the paso doble,” he said.
He added: “With me at the bottom of the league, I’ve got somewhere to go and Aston doesn’t know that I’m pretending to be bad.”
He said his own battle with depression made him want to help others by telling them they will get better.
The 56-year-old had to pull out of I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here! five years ago and was taken to hospital after he stopped taking his anti-depressants.
He now uses mindfulness and yoga to manage the condition which was triggered 20 years ago by the loss of his father.
Conley said he felt it was important to talk about the illness and how to deal with it.
“People need to know many of us have gone through this and come out the other side.”
He said he has enjoyed taking part in Strictly and believes his father would be proud.
“He’d be laughing without a doubt saying ‘Oh my God Brian, what have you taken on’.
“Of course it’s petrifying because at the end of the day all you want to do is get it right.”
Daily Express :: TV and Radio Feed
