Sir Brian May, legendary guitarist of Queen, has reportedly turned down an invitation to participate in the popular dance competition Strictly Come Dancing. The revelation came from his wife, actress Anita Dobson, who herself competed on the show back in 2011.
Speaking in the latest issue of Best magazine, Dobson, 76, shared insight into May’s decision. “They asked Brian as well, but it’s not his thing,” she said candidly. Despite her own experience on the dance floor, Dobson admitted she doesn’t consider herself a dancer or a singer, describing her time on the show as a fortunate combination of luck and upbeat spirit rather than professional skill.
When asked if she still practices her dance moves, Dobson laughed it off: “No, I was never a dancer. I was just one lucky girl. I could carry a tune—I’m not a singer, and I could move well. I’ve got that musical thing where I’m very upbeat and happy, so I’ll have a go.”
Brian May’s reluctance to join Strictly fits with his general approach to public appearances and projects. The Queen guitarist has also revealed in interviews that the band has been protective of their music’s usage over the years. In a candid conversation with MOJO magazine, May spoke about how Queen once blocked a gangster rap artist from sampling their songs because the content promoted violence and abuse—values the band did not want to endorse.
“We have stopped them being used to promote violence or abuse, during the heyday of gangster rap when someone wanted to sample it in a song we thought was abusive to women,” May explained. However, he emphasized the band’s openness otherwise: “Our songs are for everyone. All art is theft.”
May also reflected on the creative dynamic within Queen, particularly the contributions of the late Freddie Mercury. Despite Mercury’s larger-than-life stage presence, May revealed that “deep down Freddie was one of the shyest people I’ve ever met.” The frontman’s excitement and grand ideas often drove the band’s innovative spirit, though not every idea was embraced.
One amusing example was Mercury’s suggestion to name Queen’s 1989 album The Miracle as Good, inspired by Michael Jackson’s album titled Bad. May recalled, “He came in one day and announced, ‘I’ve got this amazing idea. You know Michael Jackson has just put out this album called Bad? Well, listen… What do you think about us calling our next album Good?’” The band’s reaction was polite but cautious: “We all looked at each other and said, ‘Well, maybe we should think about it, Freddie.’” May joked that while it wasn’t a world-shattering idea, maybe in hindsight they were a bit too conservative.
As Queen’s iconic guitarist continues to focus on music and legacy rather than reality TV, fans can appreciate his authenticity and dedication to the band’s values. While Strictly Come Dancing may not be Brian May’s stage, his influence on rock music remains as vibrant as ever.
