Strictly Come Dancing hopeful Fern Britton has revealed she had cleared her diary on the off-chance that show bosses would approach her for the series.
And she admitted she is such a fan that she was in tears when her one-off appearance on 2010's Christmas special was over.
She is among the 14 stars who will be seen taking to the dancefloor on Saturday night when the series returns to BBC1.
Former This Morning host Britton said she had been approached in previous years but other work had got in the way.
"I've watched every episode. I'm a big fan," she said.
"I've been asked before. I've always been tempted but I've always had things to do and I couldn't commit to the time.
"And now I deliberately cleared the autumn this year hoping I'd get the phone call again, because you can't apply you have to be invited.
"And oh, thank God, they rang. So I was very lucky."
She trained for the Christmas edition of the show two years ago, competing against names such as Business Secretary Vince Cable and EastEnders actress June Brown.
She said: "I only did it for three weeks and I was bereft, beside myself, I actually did cry in the kitchen. It was quite sad."
Strictly Come Dancing - Red Carpet Launch
Strictly Come Dancing - Red Carpet Launch(01 of52)
LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 11: Victoria Pendleton attends the launch of Strictly Come Dancing 2012 at BBC Television Centre on September 11, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Tim Whitby/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Strictly Come Dancing - Red Carpet Launch(02 of52)
LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 11: Denise Van Outen attends the launch of Strictly Come Dancing 2012 at BBC Television Centre on September 11, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Tim Whitby/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Strictly Come Dancing - Red Carpet Launch(03 of52)
LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 11: The professional dancers attend the launch of Strictly Come Dancing 2012 at BBC Television Centre on September 11, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Tim Whitby/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Strictly Come Dancing - Red Carpet Launch(04 of52)
LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 11: Kristina Rihanoff attends the launch of Strictly Come Dancing 2012 at BBC Television Centre on September 11, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Tim Whitby/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Strictly Come Dancing - Red Carpet Launch(05 of52)
LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 11: Flavia Cacace and Vincent Simone attend the launch of Strictly Come Dancing 2012 at BBC Television Centre on September 11, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Tim Whitby/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Strictly Come Dancing - Red Carpet Launch(06 of52)
LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 11: Jerry Hall attends the launch of Strictly Come Dancing 2012 at BBC Television Centre on September 11, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Tim Whitby/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Strictly Come Dancing - Red Carpet Launch(07 of52)
LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 11: Erin Boag attends the launch of Strictly Come Dancing 2012 at BBC Television Centre on September 11, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Tim Whitby/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Strictly Come Dancing - Red Carpet Launch(08 of52)
LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 11: Dani Harmer attends the launch of Strictly Come Dancing 2012 at BBC Television Centre on September 11, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Tim Whitby/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Strictly Come Dancing - Red Carpet Launch(09 of52)
LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 11: Aliona Vilani attends the launch of Strictly Come Dancing 2012 at BBC Television Centre on September 11, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Tim Whitby/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Strictly Come Dancing - Red Carpet Launch(10 of52)
LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 11: Karen Hauer attends the launch of Strictly Come Dancing 2012 at BBC Television Centre on September 11, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Tim Whitby/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Strictly Come Dancing - Red Carpet Launch(11 of52)
LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 11: Ola Jordan attends the launch of Strictly Come Dancing 2012 at BBC Television Centre on September 11, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Tim Whitby/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Strictly Come Dancing - Red Carpet Launch(12 of52)
LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 11: Karen Hauer attends the launch of Strictly Come Dancing 2012 at BBC Television Centre on September 11, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Tim Whitby/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Strictly Come Dancing - Red Carpet Launch(13 of52)
LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 11: Denise Van Outen attends the launch of Strictly Come Dancing 2012 at BBC Television Centre on September 11, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Tim Whitby/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Strictly Come Dancing 2012 launch - London(14 of52)
Kimberley Walsh arriving for the launch of Strictly Come Dancing 2012, at BBC TV Centre in west London. (credit:PA)
Strictly Come Dancing 2012 launch - London(15 of52)
Olympian Victoria Pendleton arriving for the launch of Strictly Come Dancing 2012, at BBC TV Centre in west London. (credit:PA)
Strictly Come Dancing 2012 launch - London(16 of52)
Dani Harmer arriving for the launch of Strictly Come Dancing 2012, at BBC TV Centre in west London. (credit:PA)
Strictly Come Dancing 2012 launch - London(17 of52)
Denise Van Outen arriving for the launch of Strictly Come Dancing 2012, at BBC TV Centre in west London. (credit:PA)
Strictly Come Dancing 2012 launch - London(18 of52)
Tess Daly arriving for the launch of Strictly Come Dancing 2012, at BBC TV Centre in west London. (credit:PA)
Strictly Come Dancing 2012 launch - London(19 of52)
Olympian Victoria Pendleton arriving for the launch of Strictly Come Dancing 2012, at BBC TV Centre in west London. (credit:PA)
Strictly Come Dancing 2012 launch - London(20 of52)
Olympian Victoria Pendleton arriving for the launch of Strictly Come Dancing 2012, at BBC TV Centre in west London. (credit:PA)
Strictly Come Dancing 2012 launch - London(21 of52)
Tess Daly arriving for the launch of Strictly Come Dancing 2012, at BBC TV Centre in west London. (credit:PA)
Strictly Come Dancing 2012 launch - London(22 of52)
Denise Van Outen arriving for the launch of Strictly Come Dancing 2012, at BBC TV Centre in west London. (credit:PA)
Strictly Come Dancing 2012 launch - London(23 of52)
Kimberley Walsh arriving for the launch of Strictly Come Dancing 2012, at BBC TV Centre in west London. (credit:PA)
Strictly Come Dancing 2012 launch - London(24 of52)
Olympian Victoria Pendleton arriving for the launch of Strictly Come Dancing 2012, at BBC TV Centre in west London. (credit:PA)
Strictly Come Dancing 2012 launch - London(25 of52)
Fern Britton arriving for the launch of Strictly Come Dancing 2012, at BBC TV Centre in west London. (credit:PA)
Strictly Come Dancing 2012 launch - London(26 of52)
Denise Van Outen arriving for the launch of Strictly Come Dancing 2012, at BBC TV Centre in west London. (credit:PA)
Strictly Come Dancing 2012 launch - London(27 of52)
Lisa Riley arriving for the launch of Strictly Come Dancing 2012, at BBC TV Centre in west London. (credit:PA)
Strictly Come Dancing 2012 launch - London(28 of52)
Olympian Victoria Pendleton arriving for the launch of Strictly Come Dancing 2012, at BBC TV Centre in west London. (credit:PA)
Strictly Come Dancing 2012 launch - London(29 of52)
Louis Smith arriving for the launch of Strictly Come Dancing 2012, at BBC TV Centre in west London. (credit:PA)
Strictly Come Dancing 2012 launch - London(30 of52)
Denise Van Outen arriving for the launch of Strictly Come Dancing 2012, at BBC TV Centre in west London. (credit:PA)
Strictly Come Dancing 2012 launch - London(31 of52)
Johnny Ball arriving for the launch of Strictly Come Dancing 2012, at BBC TV Centre in west London. (credit:PA)
Strictly Come Dancing 2012 launch - London(32 of52)
Jerry Hall arriving for the launch of Strictly Come Dancing 2012, at BBC TV Centre in west London. (credit:PA)
Strictly Come Dancing 2012 launch - London(33 of52)
Kimberley Walsh arriving for the launch of Strictly Come Dancing 2012, at BBC TV Centre in west London. (credit:PA)
Strictly Come Dancing 2012 launch - London(34 of52)
Victoria Pendleton and Louis Smith arriving for the launch of Strictly Come Dancing 2012, at BBC TV Centre in west London. (credit:PA)
Strictly Come Dancing 2012 launch - London(35 of52)
Tess Daly arriving for the launch of Strictly Come Dancing 2012, at BBC TV Centre in west London. (credit:PA)
Strictly Come Dancing 2012 launch - London(36 of52)
Denise Van Outen arriving for the launch of Strictly Come Dancing 2012, at BBC TV Centre in west London. (credit:PA)
Strictly Come Dancing 2012 launch - London(37 of52)
Olympian Victoria Pendleton arriving for the launch of Strictly Come Dancing 2012, at BBC TV Centre in west London. (credit:PA)
Strictly Come Dancing 2012 launch - London(38 of52)
Kimberley Walsh arriving for the launch of Strictly Come Dancing 2012, at BBC TV Centre in west London. (credit:PA)
Strictly Come Dancing 2012 launch - London(39 of52)
Dani Harmer arriving for the launch of Strictly Come Dancing 2012, at BBC TV Centre in west London. (credit:PA)
Strictly Come Dancing 2012 launch - London(40 of52)
Jerry Hall arriving for the launch of Strictly Come Dancing 2012, at BBC TV Centre in west London. (credit:PA)
Strictly Come Dancing 2012 launch - London(41 of52)
Kimberley Walsh arriving for the launch of Strictly Come Dancing 2012, at BBC TV Centre in west London. (credit:PA)
Strictly Come Dancing 2012 launch - London(42 of52)
Denise Van Outen arriving for the launch of Strictly Come Dancing 2012, at BBC TV Centre in west London. (credit:PA)
Strictly Come Dancing 2012 launch - London(43 of52)
Tess Daly arriving for the launch of Strictly Come Dancing 2012, at BBC TV Centre in west London. (credit:PA)
Strictly Come Dancing 2012 launch - London(44 of52)
Olympian Victoria Pendleton arriving for the launch of Strictly Come Dancing 2012, at BBC TV Centre in west London. (credit:PA)
Strictly Come Dancing 2012 launch - London(45 of52)
Fern Britton arriving for the launch of Strictly Come Dancing 2012, at BBC TV Centre in west London. (credit:PA)
Strictly Come Dancing 2012 launch - London(46 of52)
Colin Salmon arriving for the launch of Strictly Come Dancing 2012, at BBC TV Centre in west London. (credit:PA)
Strictly Come Dancing 2012 launch - London(47 of52)
Sir Bruce Forsyth arriving for the launch of Strictly Come Dancing 2012, at BBC TV Centre in west London. (credit:PA)
Strictly Come Dancing 2012 launch - London(48 of52)
Sir Bruce Forsyth and Tess Daly arriving for the launch of Strictly Come Dancing 2012, at BBC TV Centre in west London. (credit:PA)
Strictly Come Dancing 2012 launch - London(49 of52)
Olympian Louis Smith arriving for the launch of Strictly Come Dancing 2012, at BBC TV Centre in west London. (credit:PA)
Strictly Come Dancing 2012 launch - London(50 of52)
Olympian Louis Smith arriving for the launch of Strictly Come Dancing 2012, at BBC TV Centre in west London. (credit:PA)
Strictly Come Dancing - Red Carpet Launch(51 of52)
LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 11: Artem Chigvintsev attends the launch of Strictly Come Dancing 2012 at BBC Television Centre on September 11, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Tim Whitby/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Strictly Come Dancing - Red Carpet Launch(52 of52)
LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 11: Pasha Kovalev attends the launch of Strictly Come Dancing 2012 at BBC Television Centre on September 11, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Tim Whitby/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)