Greg Rutherford was shocked by how difficult 'Strictly Come Dancing' was.
Greg Rutherford has issued a warning to the new contestants on Strictly Come Dancing
The former Olympian was used to gruelling training schedules while he was competing in long jump events but he has admitted he had no idea just how tough it would be when he was rehearsing for his stint on the BBC TV talent show back in 2016.
He told The Sun newspaper: "I remember when I went through the process of discussing it, it was said to me: 'Oh you'll only do a couple of hours a day, it won't be too bad'. But I ended up doing about 10 to 12 hours every single day. And I was still rubbish at it, so it shows how difficult the show is!”
Greg - who was eliminated in week nine along with his dance partner Natalie Lowe - also issues a stark warning to the current crop of contestants, saying: "[They] have no idea what they've let themselves in for."
He added of his stint on the show: "I had no aspirations of trying to win the thing because I knew I wouldn't be good enough ... You realise that there's some people who are naturally very good at it, and I wasn't naturally very good at all. I just worked hard."
However, he has no regrets about taking part, saying: "It is a lot of hard work, but it's also incredible."
This year's line-up includes TV veteran Les Dennis, former 'EastEnders' star Nigel Harman, 'Sherlock' actress Amanda Abbington and newsreader Angela Rippon - who is the show's most senior contestant at the age of 78.
However, Angela is no stranger to the dance floor - she's the former host of the previous incarnation of the show called 'Come Dancing', while she also appeared in a 'Strictly' charity special and made a cameo on the show last year.
The new series of 'Strictly' returns in the autumn.
Tagged in Les Dennis Greg Rutherford Angela Rippon