Anita Rani would like to see John Craven compete in this year’s ‘Strictly Come Dancing’.
The ‘Countryfile’ presenter – who wowed the judges all the way to the semi-finals of the BBC contest back in 2015 – revealed that would love to pass torch to her 78-year-old co-host.
Speaking to the TV Times, she said: "I’ve always wanted to see John Craven do the paso!"
So far names confirmed for this year’s line-up include Vick Hope, Katie Piper, Graeme Swann, Faye Tozer, Danny John-Jules and Joe Sugg.
Anita, 40, previously opened up about how she jumped at the chance to put on her dancing shoes when the show’s bosses approached her.
She revealed: "There is nothing that prepares you and nothing in the world like ‘Strictly’. I instantly said yes when they asked me to do it because it’s amazing and what an opportunity to learn how to dance. But it’s the hardest thing."
The former ‘Four Rooms’ presenter explained how her time was made much easier thanks to fans who got behind her and professional dancing partner, Gleb Savchenko.
She said: "Anybody who watched me will know, how much hard work I put into it. I had to because I’d never danced before. Week in, week out, I trained so hard and – to use the ‘J’ word – my journey was amazing, but only because the British public got behind me.
"The British public like a grafter, they like to see someone putting their all in to something and flourishing. I think they could see something that I couldn’t even see."
Anita also credits the show for changing her life – in particular helping her to grow "half an inch" and improving her posture
She continued: "My life has changed a lot, beyond recognition. I don’t think I’d be sitting here… if I hadn’t done ‘Strictly’, necessarily, or on ‘Countryfile’ for that matter.
"It made me a household name. People really got to know me, and I love that. I go around Britain filming ‘Countryfile’ and people want to talk about ‘Strictly’. They’ll always tell me I was robbed!"
Anita Rani wants to see co-host John Craven on Strictly
