Ore Oduba wants the 'Strictly Come Dancing' theme song played at his funeral.

Ore Oduba and his wife Portia

Ore Oduba and his wife Portia

The 32-year-old sports presenter lifted the glitterball trophy last year, after he and his professional dance partner Joanne Clifton wowed viewers with their performances on the BBC One programme, and because the show meant so much to him the former champion wants to take the experience to his grave in more ways than one.

Speaking to TV Times Magazine, Ore said: "The 'Strictly' theme tune will play at my funeral.

"I wear the show as a badge of honour; people ask whether I'm tired of talking about it, but the truth is I love the series and I'm eternally grateful to it."

Since taking part in the popular latin and ballroom dance competition Ore has been inundated with a lot of career opportunities.

He said: "I've had some amazing new opportunities and a lot of my dreams have started to make sense."

And he has praised the show for allowing him to start a family with his wife Portia, who is pregnant with their first child.

He added: "'Strictly' allowed me to start a family.

"It's been a catalyst to do a lot of things I hoped to, including moving closer to home and having a baby."

Although Ore has a lot to look forward to in the future, he also admitted he misses the "buzz" and "camaraderie" of being on the show.

He said: "I desperately miss the buzz of those Saturday nights, there's nothing like it.

"That camaraderie backstage, the anticipation and the butterflies. I couldn't have given any more and I'm happy being a big fan again now."