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Kelly Rissman
US Information Reporter
Strictly Come Dancing is gearing as much as return for the present’s twentieth anniversary because the present faces an ongoing scandal concerning the conduct of the BBC present’s skilled dancers.
The twenty second collection arrives because the programme faces scrutiny over the remedy of a few of its celeb members. Two skilled dancers, Giovanni Pernice and Graziano Di Prima, have now left the present following allegations made about their conduct throughout coaching.
Pernice has denied allegations of “threatening and abusive behaviour,” whereas Di Prima stated in a press release he “deeply regrets” occasions that befell along with his celeb accomplice Zara McDermott throughout a rehearsal.
The collection will start in September, and can as soon as once more be hosted by the glittering duo of Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman.
The eagle-eyed Craig Revel Horwood, Shirley Ballas, Anton Du Beke and Motsi Mabuse might be returning to the judges’ desk.
As with earlier seasons, Strictly’s celeb contestants had been introduced in drip feed bulletins by the BBC. The official record is now full and contains actuality stars, singers, comedians and extra. Meet all of them beneath…
Jamie Borthwick
Actor Jamie Borthwick is thought for his long-term position within the BBC cleaning soap EastEnders, having starred as Jay Brown/Mitchell since 2006. He’s now one of many longest-serving actors on the present. Borthwick beforehand appeared on the Strictly Christmas particular in 2023, and took residence the trophy for his slick strikes and spectacular stage presence.
”I had a ball doing the Strictly Christmas particular final 12 months, so after I was requested to hitch for this collection it was the simplest sure!” he stated. “This can be a contemporary problem and it will likely be so completely different to be studying a brand new dance each week and for the general public to have their say.
“I’m hoping to be Salsa-ing round Albert Sq. very quickly and I’ll be asking my Walford Strictly alumni for some phrases of knowledge. See you on the dancefloor!”
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Tom Dean
Althete Tom Dean is is a three-time Olympic champion. On the Tokyo 2020 Olympics he made historical past as the primary British man to win a gold medal for the boys’s 200m swim freestyle in over 100 years, happening to win an additional gold medal in Tokyo and turn out to be England’s most adorned athlete on the subsequent 2022 Commonwealth Video games, successful a complete of seven medals.
On the Paris Olympic Video games this 12 months, Dean introduced residence his third gold medal for Crew GB within the crew 4 x 200m freestyle relay and spilled the information he was a Strictly contestants afterwards in a reside interview.
In a follow-up assertion, he stated: “I’m collaborating in Strictly Come Dancing 2024! You might have heard me by chance say it poolside first… however now I can formally speak about how excited I’m to get caught into one thing new, meet some sensible individuals and get dancing. Carry it on!”
Shayne Ward
Singer Shayne Ward was catapulted to fame when his debut single and album topped the UK charts. His track “That’s My Aim” made it to Christmas primary after he gained the second collection of The X Issue in 2005. Ward is often known as Aidan Connor within the ITV cleaning soap Coronation Road and has appeared in various musicals together with the West Finish’s Eighties present Rock of Ages.
Ward stated of his upcoming Strictly look: “I’m buzzing to see the entire sparkles and magic that’s Strictly in actual life. I’m no stranger to reside TV, however dancing Latin and Ballroom in entrance of hundreds of thousands is an entire new stage. No guarantees on my dancing skill, however I’ll give it my greatest shot!”
Sarah Hadland
Actor Sarah Hadland is greatest identified for her position as Stevie within the BBC comedy Miranda, which she starred in alongside the present’s creator Miranda Hart. She can be one of many authentic forged members of the kids’s collection Horrible Histories and has appeared in quite a few movies, together with the Bond epic Quantum of Solace.
“I can not consider I’m a part of Strictly!” Hadland stated. “I really feel significantly excited to be a part of such an iconic present in its twentieth 12 months. I’m so prepared for the glitz, glam and glitter and hopefully I could make everybody watching at residence proud!”
Tasha Ghouri
Love Island contestant and mannequin Tasha Ghouri appeared on the ITV actuality present in 2022, turning into its first deaf contestant. She educated as a dancer at Artistic Academy and has since competed at main dance occasions and carried out in music movies. Ghouri additionally hosts the podcast Superpowers with Tasha and launched the guide Hits Completely different in June, a couple of lady who’s an aspiring dancer and goes on tour with a world famous person.
The Love Island star stated of her inclusion on the present: “Pinch me, I can’t consider I’m going to be on Strictly Come Dancing! I’ve been watching the present since I used to be little – it’s a agency Ghouri household favorite – so this can be a complete dream come true. I do know it’s going to be an unforgettable expertise and I hope to signify and make everybody proud out on that dance ground.”
Pete Wicks
Solely Manner is Essex star Pete Wicks rose to fame on the Brentford-based actuality present in 2015, with storylines revolving round his relationships with Megan McKenna and Chloe Sims. He has since appeared on exhibits together with Celeb MasterChef, Celeb SAS: Who Dares Wins, The Actual Full Monty and Celebs Go Courting, and co-hosts the Staying Related podcast along with his greatest good friend and Made in Chelsea star Sam Thompson.
“Dancing reside in entrance of the nation each Saturday? Completely terrifying,” Wicks stated. “However anybody who is aware of me is aware of I really like a problem and making an attempt new issues, so I’m genuinely wanting ahead to getting caught in.”
Wynne Evans
Tenor Wynne Evans, who’s broadly identified for that includes within the theatrical Go Evaluate adverts as an opera singer, has had two primary classical albums and has given greater than 200 performances on the Royal Albert Corridor in London. He additionally hosts an everyday present on BBC Radio Wales and is filming a collection with Gavin and Stacey’s Joanna Web page in regards to the Welsh shoreline.
“I’m truthfully nonetheless pinching myself, a portly balding opera singer, me, collaborating in Strictly Come Dancing?!” he stated. “I’m not completely certain how I’ll get alongside, if all else fails I’ll simply need to be taught the artwork of distraction.
“What I do know is I’ll give it my all and purpose to make Wales proud. I’m positively going to attempt to mix my love of opera into one in all my routines. Plus, after successful Celeb MasterChef final 12 months, possibly the path to the judges’ hearts might be by means of their stomachs!”
Toyah Willcox
Singer and actor Toyah Willcox has 13 prime 40 singles together with “It’s a Thriller”, “Thunder within the Mountains” and “I Need to Be Free”. She fronted the eponymous band Toyah from 1977 earlier than turning into a solo artist in 1983. The singer has additionally featured in movies together with The Corn is Inexperienced and Derek Jarman’s 1979 adaptation of The Tempest.
Willcox stated in a press release: “Wow Strictly Come Dancing, are you able to consider it! That is going to be a wild and fantastic trip, and I’m right here for each sparkly second. I’m used to performing for giant crowds however that is utterly contemporary for me. How I’ll do, it’s a thriller… I simply wish to get cracking and be taught some dance routines now!”
Dr Punam Krishan
Dr Punam Krishan is a resident GP on BBC Morning Dwell and BBC Radio Scotland. She frequently covers well being matters for newspapers and TV exhibits and has additionally written the kids’s guide The way to Be a Physician and Different Dwell-Saving Jobs.
She stated: “This nonetheless doesn’t really feel actual, I’m overjoyed to be a contestant on this 12 months’s present. I’ve watched Strictly yearly with my household and it feels further particular that it’s the twentieth 12 months, I can’t consider I would be the one getting Strictly-fied now. That is so out of my consolation zone, however I’m up for the journey and can give it my absolute all.”
Chris McCausland
Comic Chris McCausland is an everyday face on flagship comedy exhibits like Have I Acquired Information for You and Would I Deceive You?. He’s additionally identified for taking part in Rudi within the CBeebies present Me Too!
The 46-year-old would be the first blind contestant to compete within the present. He misplaced his eyesight in his early twenties on account of retinitis pigmentosa, a hereditary situation. The prognosis resulted in him leaving his job in net growth, earlier than becoming a member of the leisure trade and discovering success.
“I don’t dance, I haven’t danced, I can’t dance, I can’t see the dancing I must do. What can probably go flawed? Okay don’t reply that!” he stated. “If anyone out there’s considering ‘How the hell is he going to do this?’ then relaxation assured that I’m considering precisely the identical factor.”
Requested how he feels about collaborating, McCausland added: “Apprehensive, massively apprehensive. I don’t know what I’m getting myself into, I’ve by no means watched it, clearly. It’s just a few music. I don’t dance, I’ve by no means danced. I grew up with headbanging and mosh pits.”
JB Gill
Singer JB Gill shot to fame within the X-Issue-founded band JLS alongside Marvin Humes, Aston Merrygold and Ortise Williams, who’re identified for his or her hits “Everyone in Love”, “She Makes Me Wanna” and “One Shot”. The pop group launched 4 albums earlier than splitting in 2013.
Gill stated of becoming a member of this 12 months’s Strictly contestants: “I danced within the Strictly Christmas particular over a decade in the past and LOVED it, so after I acquired the decision to hitch Strictly this 12 months, it was an instantaneous sure from me. I’m raring to go to and looking out ahead to displaying off some new expertise to the JLS boys.”
Montell Douglas (AKA Hearth from Gladiators)
Douglas, who gained over audiences when she competed as Hearth on the rebooted collection of Gladiators, might be bringing her sporty background to the dancefloor.
She beforehand competed as an Olympic Bobsledder and Crew GB Sprinter, turning into the primary feminine UK athlete to compete at each the Summer season and Winter Olympic Video games.
The athlete beforehand held a British lady’s file for quickest 100m dash and gained a Commonwealth Gold within the 4x100m relay race in 2010.
“Strictly ARE YOU READY, Hearth is right here to gentle up the Ballroom,” she stated.
“Wow I’m so honoured to have been requested to do the present. It’s such an incredible factor to be part of and I can’t wait to get began. Hopefully a number of of my Gladiator strikes will come in useful with the Tango or Paso Doble!” she stated.
Paul Merson
Merson, who made his debut for Arsenal aged 17, performed 424 occasions for the Gunners and scored 99 targets throughout his time on the crew.
He now works as a soccer pundit and commentator and says he’s up for the problem of studying a brand new talent for Strictly.
Merson stated of his signing: “Becoming a member of Strictly is an entire new ball recreation for me, however I’m going to deal with this problem head on.
“I’m able to swap the pitch for the Ballroom ground, so right here’s hoping my two left toes can be taught some strikes and also you by no means know, possibly I’ll be taking residence the Glitterball Trophy!”
Sam Quek
Former England and Crew GB hockey participant Sam Quek has gained 125 worldwide caps for the England and Nice Britain ladies’s hockey groups, together with a gold medal on the 2016 Rio Olympics.
The Olympian stated the considered dancing on the ballroom ground is “fairly daunting”.
“I’m satisfied to be part of this legendary present and Quickstep into the footwear of a performer, it feels completely surreal however I’m prepared for each little bit of the journey,” she stated.
Nick Knowles
TV presenter Nick Knowles, greatest identified for fronting BBC’s emotional constructing present DIY SOS, might be swapping his overalls for sparkly jackets on Strictly.
On DIY SOS, Knowles helps rework the properties of households who’re nominated by their group.
“I’m so, so excited to be doing Strictly this 12 months,” Knowles stated. “Individuals could also be extra used to me getting caught in on a constructing website or travelling the world, however dancing reside on TV might be an entire new journey.
“I’ve spent my entire life studying new expertise and I’ve by no means been afraid of a problem. I’ll give it my all the things… and check out to not embarrass my youngsters in fact!”
