Louis Smith has revealed that he would much rather perform on Strictly Come Dancing than the X Factor.

The Olympic medal winning gymnast tried out for the ITV show a few years ago and was rejected by Simon Cowell and his judging panel, after they claimed that his talent just wasn’t up to scratch.

The 23 year old sportsman then decided to leave his music dreams behind him and pour all his efforts into his gymnastics and after scooping a gold and a silver medal at the London 2012 Olympics, we’d say the work was worth it.

In an interview with Metro, the handsome star told the newspaper that he found the whole X Factor process ‘shambolic’ and ‘awful’. Speaking about Strictly, he added:

‘This is a real show.’

Smith will be joined by a number of other sports stars on this years series of the BBC show and Olympic cyclist Victoria Pendleton was confirmed as a contestant earlier in the week.

The stunning sportswoman looked the part, as she walked the red carpet at the official launch in a very skimpy gold dress this week and she told the publication that she isn’t too worried about how she performs on the dancefloor, as she has pretty low expectations of her abilities.

She said:

‘Going in with no expectations is very different to going into an arena with high expectations.’

Meanwhile, Strictly host Bruce Forsyth has insisted that he has never had an affair with former X Factor judge Cheryl Cole.

The 84 year old star was at the premiere of the series last night in London and joked:

‘This rumour that I had an affair with Cheryl Cole isn’t true you know. Do you know how I know that? Because I made it up!’

We love Brucie’s humour!

It appears that he’s not all sweetness and light though, as it was reported that he wans’t above scolding one of the show’s floor staff last night, after they made him repeat a link to camera. He ranted:

‘Why did you let me continue (talking)? You should have stopped me instead of making me do it all again!’

This is Forsyth’s ten year fronting the dance competition along with Tess Daly and it has been reported that the pensioner will be given one weekend off in the middle of the series, when Tess and another presenter will host both the main and the results show, while he recuperates at home.

Strictly come Dancing kicks off this Saturday on BBC One. Will you be tuning in? Leave your comments below….