TV presenter Adrian Chiles has revealed his family and friends were "horrified" when he first told them he was performing in the Strictly Come Dancing Christmas special.
The 54-year-old admitted he too was "terrified" and "full of regret" when he first began rehearsals but now feels the experience has been a "real privilege".
Chiles will be performing an American Smooth to a rendition of White Christmas by Otis Redding with new professional dancer Jowita Przystal.
Discussing his family and friends' reaction, he said: "They were absolutely, to a man and woman, horrified!
"Even though my mum’s a massive fan of the show, she said, 'Oh God!’
"But then as soon as we sent them the first videos from training they all went, ‘Oh, alright, he might not be horrendous after all!'"
Chiles, who previously co-presented both The One Show and Daybreak with Christine Lampard, added: "If you’d asked me that question 11 days ago, I’d have said absolutely terrified and full of regret, remorse and wanting to leave the country!
"I might feel like that after the show goes out … you never know!
"But, honestly, I wouldn’t have missed it, it’s been a real privilege, and I’m not just saying that, to meet Jowita, work intensively on something and just focus on that.
"Everyone is so flipping nice, I never use the word "vibe", but the vibe is fantastic!"
The Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special airs on Christmas Day on BBC One.
