BBC Strictly's Krishnan Guru-Murthy details health condition ahead of first live performance

Journalist Krishnan Guru-Murthy has shared the details of a health condition which means he has to be 'careful' while participating in Strictly Come Dancing.

The 53-year-old Channel 4 news presenter is one of 15 stars taking to the ballroom for Strictly's twenty-first season. He's partnered with professional dancer Lauren Oakley - and the pair will take to the dancefloor for their debut performance this weekend.

Krishnan and Lauren joined Richard Madeley and Susanna Reid on Monday morning's Good Morning Britain (September 18), as the pair discussed their Strictly journey so far. After turning down offers to join the popular BBC One dance competition on multiple occasions, Krishnan admitted he jumped at the opportunity to 'have a real laugh and a lot of joy in your life'.

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He also said barrister and TV personality Robert Rinder texted him, encouraging him to take the chance. Following a 'very, very serious time', post-pandemic, Krishnan decided to go for it.

He told GMB: "I suddenly realised this is kind of an opportunity just to have a real laugh and a lot of joy in life alongside all that. And you’d be stupid to say no!" He added he is doing the programme because it will be “great fun”. “I’m going to smile quite a lot,” he said.

On his health condition, he explained: “I’ve got a genetic heart condition, it’s in the family. It just means I have got to be a little bit careful about getting into the red zone of your heart rate." He continued: "It doesn’t mean I can’t go to the gym, it doesn’t mean I can’t dance.”

Elaborating on his heart rate going into the 'red zone,' he said: “It’s not that it can’t, it is if it stays