Johnny Vegas was asked to appear in Strictly Come Dancing this year – but he feared the punishing rehearsal regime would be too much.

The 38-year-old comic said producers wanted him to be the ‘next John Sergeant’, but he turned it down, thinking he was too out-of shape.

He told the Digital Spy website: "They made some enquiries but to be honest, it's such a big commitment to do the show and I really was just so busy with other things and I just know health-wise... Well, would it be good for ratings - me keeling over?

‘I know how tiring it is and it's not something I have time to do at the moment, but it's nice to be asked. I think they were looking for this season's John Sergeant.’

But Vegas said he would hate to be in other reality shows such as I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out Of Here!.

He said: ‘No! No, no, no! The idea of being on TV 24 hours a day and people seeing the real me... No.’