Sir Brian May has declined an invitation to shimmy his way onto the Strictly Come Dancing floor. The 77-year-old Queen rock legend, whose spouse Anita Dobson waltzed her way to eighth place on Strictly in 2011, has opted out after being sought by the show's executives, deeming the hit BBC One series unsuitable for him.

Anita, 76, told Best magazine that the producers did indeed contact Brian, stating: "They asked Brian as well, but it's not his thing." Post-Strictly, the Doctor Who star has hung up her dancing shoes, revealing she was never a natural dancer despite her stint with the beloved late Robin Windsor on the series.

Reflecting on her dance experience, Anita confessed: "No, I was never a dancer."

Her self-effacing charm continued as she added, "I was just one lucky girl. I could carry a tune - I'm not a singer, and I could move well, and I've got that musical thing where I'm very upbeat and happy, so I'll have a go."

The love story of Anita and Brian began back in May 1986 at a film showing, around the period of her star role as EastEnders' iconic Queen Vic landlady Angie Watts, ultimately leading to their wedding in 2000.

After a blissful quarter-century together, the pair attribute the longevity of their marriage to simple, unbridled devotion. When quizzed about the bedrock of their lasting union, Anita commented: "There is no secret."

She explained love's simplicity, advising: "You either stay together because you want to, or if you don't like it, you get out."

Anita's practical perspective breaks it down further: "That's it - stay or go, because some people would put up with stuff, other people would just leave - it's up to you."

Her closing thought offers pragmatic romance: "If you love the man, and it's worth staying, then stay. That's it, that's the bottom line."

Anita and Brian relocated from London to Surrey after their metropolitan home was inundated in July 2021.

While Brian quickly took to their new rural setting, Anita, a city girl at heart, needed some time to adjust.

She shared: "He spends more time in the garden than inside the house. He adores the animals, the flowers, the trees, everything. We have a rather large garden.

"For me, it's been a transition as I'm a city girl through and through, and there will always be a part of me that yearns for the city. But when the weather is as lovely as this, I wouldn't want to be anywhere else. It's wonderful living where we do, but it's also nice to pop into town every now and then for a bit of excitement."