The actor is taking part to honour someone very special.
Strictly Come Dancing is finally back on TV and millions tuned in to the launch show last night.
The celebrities have been paired up with their pro-dancers and some favourites are already emerging.
The Crown actor Greg Wise is one of the biggest stars taking part this year.
Wise, who is married to Dame Emma Thompson, is taking part in the show for quite a touching reason.
He admitted he wasn’t going to take part when he was offered a place, but decided to honour someone very special.
Wise explained that he is taking part to honour his late sister Clare, who died from cancer in 2016.
“Initially I thought, ‘No, absolutely, I can’t do it.’ And then I thought about it,” he explained.
A pairing with real star quality, Greg Wise has found his #Strictly leading lady in Karen Hauer! 🌟 @karen_hauer pic.twitter.com/eIxDv7G3Ad
— BBC Strictly ✨ (@bbcstrictly) September 18, 2021
“My sis was a real disco diva. She was the dancer in the family. And she left this world in a glitterball coffin. And as this show is all glittery, and diva-y, and disco-y, I thought I had to do it for her.” the Sense and Sensibility star shared.
The actor has been paired up with pro-dancer Karne Hauer.
Speaking about his wife’s reaction to Strictly, the 55-year-old admitted that Thompson was thrilled by her husband’s news.
“I told my dear lady wife when they’d asked me and I’d said no and she said, ‘You’re mad! You’ve got to do it!'”
He added: “She’s been filming solidly since January, she’s made three films back to back, and we’d plan a really nice autumn. We were actually going to take our first holiday in seven years together.”
Wise added: She’s thrilled because she’ll be able to relax and support me and watch every Saturday night for as many Saturday nights as I survive.”
Strictly Come Dancing’s first live show will air next Saturday, September 25th.
