Sam Allardyce is in talks to take part in 'Strictly Come Dancing'.

Sam Allardyce

Sam Allardyce

The 64-year-old former England manager - whose last job at Premiership club Everton ended last May - has been speaking to executives, initially about the possibility of taking part in the show's one-off Christmas special, but they are keen to sign him up for the main series.

A source said: "He met TV executives this week in a hotel bar...

"They were talking to him about the Christmas special but emphasised that they want him on a whole series, rather than just a one-off."

Sam was said to have been concerned he would have to meet particular standards on the dancefloor, but was reassured.

The insider told the Daily Mail newspaper: "They assured him that the show's edited so that no one comes across as a terrible dancer, mentioning Katie Piper as someone who was not 'a natural' but who got the public behind her."

And the former footballer then enquired about how two other ex-players had fared on the show and was relieved to learn John Barnes - the first male celebrity contestant to score a 10 for his salsa - came a respectable seventh in 2007, while Robbie Savage did better and came sixth in 2011.

But even if Sam proves to have two left feet, he's not worried about critics of his dancing.

The insider explained: "He said: 'Whatever they can say, I've had twice as bad.' "

A BBC spokesperson declined to comment on the story, while a spokesperson for Sam simply said she was "not able to confirm anything".

As was previously announced, Virgin Radio DJ Chris Evans, comedian Alan Carr and Welsh newsreader Huw Edwards have also been approached by the BBC for this year's series.

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