The blazing sunshine might make you feel otherwise, but Strictly Come Dancing season is actually just around the corner.
Don’t go thinking it’s time to stock up on hot chocolate and knitwear or get a head start on your Christmas shopping just yet, though – while many of us associate the BBC dance show with the end of the year, it actually gets underway in the early autumn, with live shows continuing on Saturday nights leading up to the festive season.
The line-up for the upcoming 23rd series of Strictly is slowly being unveiled – with five stars from across the world of TV, sport and beyond having already been announced.
Here’s a quick look at how the line-up is shaping up so far…
Harry Aikines-Aryeetey (aka Nitro)
Olympic-gold-medal-winning-sprinter-turned-Gladiators-hero Harry Aikines-Aryeetey (who you might know better as his alter-ego Nitro) was the first Strictly star confirmed for the new series, having already made a big impression on last year’s one-off Christmas episode.
He enthused: “After the Christmas Special, it was so nice I just had to do it twice! I’m so excited to be part of the Strictly family this series and I’m ready to give it all I’ve got.
“I’ll be bringing tons of energy to light up the dance floor. Let’s hope I’m as quick picking up the routines as I am on the track.”
Dani Dyer
Since winning Love Island in 2018, Dani Dyer is now probably best known for the podcast she hosts with her dad, the similarly-named actor Danny Dyer.
“Getting the opportunity to be on Strictly is the second most amazing thing I’ve done this year!” she said after she was announced for the show, referring to her recent wedding.
“I feel very very blessed and cannot wait to get my dancing shoes on.”
Alex Kingston
Doctor Who fans will best know Alex Kingston for her prominent role as River Song, while ER viewers will recognise her as Dr Elizabeth Corday.
Her additional acting credits are as varied as Blue Bloods, Law & Order: SVU, Douglas Is Cancelled, Lost In Austen and The Cook, The Thief, His Wife & Her Lover, in which she played a minor role.
Expressing her mixed feelings about signing up for Strictly, Alex said simply: “Aaaaagghhh!!!!!!”
Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink
Dutch footballer Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink has previously played for the likes of Chelsea, Leeds United, Middlesbrough and Cardiff City.
He explained: “Swapping the pitch for the ballroom is certainly not something I’ve done before but I’m looking forward to tackling a fun challenge!”
“Bring on a new type of footwork, with hopefully no own goals,” he added.
Balvinder Sopal
While EastEnders fans will best know Balvinder Sopal for her long-running performance as Suki Panesar, she’s one of the few actors to have racked up appearances on all four of the UK’s leading soaps – with past roles in Coronation Street, Hollyoaks and Emmerdale (as well as, even more impressively, the now-defunct Doctors).
“Being on Strictly is a dream that I held on to, with no proof that it would ever happen,” she admitted after her casting was confirmed.
“Working on EastEnders and being a part of Strictly Come Dancing is the stuff that dreams are made of. I’m far too excited to put into words how I feel but I’m incredibly excited at the prospect of dancing across the ballroom!”
More Strictly cast members are due to be unveiled later this week. Click here for all of the latest rumours about which celebs could be taking part.
‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.huffingtonpost.co.uk ’
