Homes Under the Hammer star Martin Roberts reveals Strictly Come Dancing blacklist fears and apologises to show bosses

HOMES Under the Hammer star Martin Roberts has revealed fears he’s been blacklisted from Strictly and says “I’m running out of time to do it”. The BBC legend, 63, has voiced his desire to take part in the dance show for years but has yet to be asked. Martin Roberts is worried he may never realise his dream of dancing on Strictly Credit: BBC The BBC show has had a major revamp for the 2026 series Credit: PA The 2026 line-up was revealed in full this week and left many fans scratching their heads over the lack of household names involved. Speaking exclusively to The Sun, Martin is worried his enthusiastic drive to be signed could be working against him and has apologised for being too keen. Sign up for the TV newsletter Thank you! He says: “I’m not any more worthy than anybody else to be on the show. I would definitely not criticise the people they’ve chosen. I’m sure they’re very worthy. “I’m running out of time to do it. And if my enthusiasm for being on the show has riled anybody or upset anybody, then I am really sorry. “And if my enthusiasm for being on the show has somehow prejudiced my chances of being on the show, then, that’s a real cruel irony for me. I meant it in good faith.” If he was to take part next year, at 64 he would be the fourth oldest contestant in the show’s history behind Angela Rippon, 79, Johnny Ball, 74, and Lesley Joseph, 71. Four years ago, Martin nearly died and needed life-saving heart surgery after being rushed to hospital with chest pain. He suffered a pericardial effusion, which is a large build up of fluid around the heart that can stop it from working. Most read in Showbiz “My body won’t survive much longer if I went on Strictly,” says Martin, speaking on behalf of BestBettingSites.co.uk, the leading comparison site for online casinos. “I’m 64 next year, right? Will they love me when I’m 64? Okay. I would be the oldest contestant ever. Now, okay, that’s one thing. I’m kind of running out of options here.” Martin’s been busier than ever following his health scare, renovating a crumbling Welsh community pub and filming hundreds of episodes of property show Homes Under The Hammer. Though he should be slowing down a step or two, Martin is determined to make the most of life and admits “none of us know how long we’ve got left”. “I have good days and bad days. My bones creak more than they used to,” he says. “The health thing was a big scare. The physical side of it is fine, the mental side of it, you still worry a bit. “It just makes me even more determined to get on with stuff and without being too maudlin. You know, if I was to die tomorrow, people wouldn’t say, ‘well, he was young, wasn’t he?’ They’d say, ‘oh, okay, a bit young, but not’, that’s a bit scary. It’s just driven me to do all the things. “I do push my body, which is probably not that brilliant for it, but fingers crossed it will hang in there.” Comment now