Who’s in the Strictly Come Dancing 2024 line-up? Full cast ahead of tonight’s premiere

The afloat line-up for Strictly Come Dancing 2024 was revealed past period with 15 celebrities officially joining the formed arsenic the amusement returns to screens.

While determination is plentifulness of excitement for the caller play of the BBC series, determination has besides been disapproval among fans implicit the line-up, aft it was revealed that determination was a gender imbalance of 9 antheral celebrities to six pistillate stars.

This comes pursuing the contention that the amusement has faced successful caller months implicit allegations against nonrecreational dancers down the scenes.

Giovanni Pernice has denied allegations of being ‘nasty’ and ‘bullying’ by his erstwhile spouse Amanda Abbington, portion Graziano Di Prima said that helium ‘never meant’ to footwear his spouse Zara McDermott, insisting that his ft ‘brushed’ her after helium kicked the floor.

Both Giovanni and Graziano are nary longer successful the nonrecreational line-up going into the 2024 series.

Reacting to the sex imbalance of the celebrities competing this year, 1 Reddit idiosyncratic called RaggySparra called the sex imbalance successful this year’s line-up ‘odd’, portion different named The_Iceman2288 said that it was ‘very noticeable’.

‘The sex imbalance connected #Strictly this twelvemonth isn’t great. That, mixed successful with the caller controversy, isn’t the champion commencement to the 20th year.. 😞,’ @EurovishPaul stated connected X.

In response, a BBC spokesperson told Metro.co.uk: ‘We are truly excited astir this year’s enactment up and look guardant to the bid starting.

‘There are galore factors that power the casting process to guarantee we person a bully premix of celebrities from a wide scope of backgrounds. There is nary hard and accelerated regularisation regarding the sex divided connected the amusement and it’s ne'er been astir ticking boxes.’

So who is taking portion successful the contention successful the anticipation of winning the Glitterball Trophy?

Who’s successful the formed of Strictly Come Dancing 2024?

Chris McCausland

Chris McCausland was the archetypal personage to beryllium confirmed for Strictly 2024 on ITV’s This Morning, aft it was heavy rumoured that helium would beryllium taking part.

The comedian, who regularly appears connected TV shows including 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown and Would I Lie To You?, volition marque past arsenic the archetypal unsighted idiosyncratic to instrumentality portion successful the competition.

‘If anybody retired determination is reasoning – How the hellhole is helium going to bash that? – past remainder assured that I americium reasoning precisely the aforesaid thing,’ the 47-year-old said aft helium was revealed to beryllium successful the cast.

‘I don’t dance, I haven’t danced, I can’t dance, I can’t spot the dancing I volition person to do. What tin perchance spell wrong? Ok don’t reply that…!’

JB Gill

Next up to beryllium announced connected This Morning was JB Gill, who archetypal recovered fame with JLS erstwhile the boyband competed connected The X Factor successful 2008.

This won’t beryllium the archetypal clip that JB, 37, has taken to the Strictly dancefloor, arsenic helium won the Christmas peculiar erstwhile helium performed with Ola Jordan successful 2012.

‘I danced successful the Strictly Christmas peculiar implicit a decennary agone and LOVED it, truthful erstwhile I got the telephone to articulation Strictly this year, it was an contiguous yes from me,’ helium shared.

‘I’m raring to spell to and looking guardant to showing disconnected immoderate caller skills to the JLS boys. From muddy wellies connected the fields of my workplace to sequins and Glitterballs – I’m present to clasp it all!’

Wynne Evans

The 3rd celebrated look to articulation the formed was opera vocalist Wynne Evans, best-known arsenic the dependable and look of the unforgettable Go Compare adverts.

The 52-year-old’s vocation has spanned 25 years, including 2 fig 1 classical philharmonic albums and performances astatine unthinkable venues including London’s Royal Albert Hall.

‘I americium honestly inactive pinching myself, a portly balding opera singer, me, taking portion successful Strictly Come Dancing?! I’m not wholly definite however I’ll get along, if each other fails I’ll conscionable person to larn the creation of distraction,’ helium said, aft being revealed connected Vernon Kay’s BBC Radio 2 show.

‘What I bash cognize is I volition springiness it my each and purpose to marque Wales proud. I’m decidedly going to effort and harvester my emotion of Opera into 1 of my routines. Plus, aft winning Celebrity MasterChef past year, possibly the way to the judges’ hearts volition beryllium done their stomachs!’

Toyah Willcox

Coming successful 4th is Toyah Willcox, who fronted her eponymous set Toyah successful the precocious 1970s and aboriginal 1980s, earlier going solo.

The vocalist and actress, 66, has been successful the amusement concern for 4 decades, with immoderate of her biggest hits including I Want To Be Free and Brave New World.

‘Wow Strictly Come Dancing, tin you judge it! This is going to beryllium a chaotic and fantastic ride, and I’m present for each sparkly second,’ she said, soon aft performing astatine this year’s Glastonbury Music Festival.

‘I’m utilized to performing for large crowds but this is wholly caller for me, however I volition do, it’s a mystery… I conscionable privation to get cracking and larn immoderate creation routines now!’

Dr Punam Krishan

The 5th idiosyncratic to beryllium confirmed for the formed was Dr Punam Krishan, the nonmigratory doc connected BBC’s Morning Live.

As good arsenic being a practising GP successful the NHS, Dr Punam regularly reports connected wellness quality crossed TV, vigor and newspapers.

‘This inactive doesn’t consciousness real, I americium overjoyed to beryllium a contestant connected this year’s show. I person watched Strictly each twelvemonth with my household and it feels other peculiar that it’s the 20th year, I can’t judge I volition beryllium the 1 getting Strictly-fied now,’ she said, arsenic her Morning Live co-stars rushed to congratulate her.

‘This is truthful retired of my comfortableness zone, but I’m up for the travel and volition springiness it my implicit all.’

Tasha Ghouri

Two years aft soaring to fame connected Love Island, Tasha Ghouri, 26, became the sixth idiosyncratic to beryllium revealed for Strictly 2024.

Tasha volition go the 2nd Deaf personage to instrumentality portion successful the contention aft Rose Ayling-Ellis, and has besides defended her creation acquisition aft fans complained.

‘Pinch me, I can’t judge I’m going to beryllium connected Strictly Come Dancing! I’ve been watching the amusement since I was small – it’s a steadfast Ghouri household favourite – truthful this is simply a full imagination travel true,’ she said astir her casting.

‘I cognize it’s going to beryllium an unforgettable acquisition and I anticipation to correspond and marque everyone arrogant retired connected that dancefloor.’

Pete Wicks

Up seventh is erstwhile The Only Way Is Essex prima Pete Wicks, who happens to beryllium champion friends with Sam Thompson, whose woman Zara McDermott competed past year.

The 36-year-old admitted however frightened helium was of the imaginable of performing successful beforehand of the nation, but is up for the challenge, having besides antecedently taken portion successful Channel 4’s SAS: Who Dares Wins.

‘Dancing unrecorded successful beforehand of the federation each Saturday? Absolutely terrifying,’ helium said.

‘But anyone who knows maine knows I emotion a situation and trying caller things, truthful I’m genuinely looking guardant to getting stuck in.’

Shayne Ward

After it was heavy speculated that helium would beryllium throwing connected his dancing shoes, Shayne Ward was revealed to beryllium the eighth personage successful the line-up.

The vocalist and Coronation Street actor, 39, archetypal entered the spotlight erstwhile helium won the 2nd bid of The X Factor successful 2005.

‘I’m buzzing to spot each of the sparkles and magic that is Strictly successful existent life. I’m nary alien to unrecorded TV, but dancing Latin and Ballroom successful beforehand of millions is simply a full caller level,’ helium said, aft the announcement was made connected ITV’s Lorraine.

‘No promises connected my dancing ability, but I volition springiness it my champion shot!’

Sarah Hadland

Best-known for playing Stevie successful the sitcom Miranda other Miranda Hart, Sarah Hadland became the ninth prima to beryllium confirmed for this year’s show.

The 53-year-old besides appeared successful productions including Quantum of Solace, The Job Lot, Leap Year, Brotherhood and The Moonstone.

‘I cannot judge I americium portion of Strictly! I consciousness peculiarly excited to beryllium portion of specified an iconic amusement successful its 20th year,’ she said.

‘I’m truthful acceptable for the glitz, glam and glitter and hopefully I tin marque everyone watching astatine location proud!’

Jamie Borthwick

EastEnders histrion Jamie Borthwick became the 10th prima confirmed for the line-up, pursuing successful the footsteps of respective actors from the soap who’ve competed successful the past.

He’s presently 1 of the longest-serving actors connected the programme, having been successful the formed since 2006.

‘I had a shot doing the Strictly Christmas peculiar past year, truthful erstwhile I was asked to articulation for this bid it was the easiest yes! This is simply a caller situation and it volition beryllium truthful antithetic to beryllium learning a caller creation each week and for the nationalist to person their say,’ helium said, having competed successful the festival peculiar conscionable past year.

‘I’m hoping to beryllium Salsa-ing astir Albert Square successful nary clip and I’ll beryllium asking my Walford Strictly alumni for immoderate words of wisdom. See you connected the dancefloor!’

Tom Dean

It came arsenic nary astonishment that Olympic swimmer Tom Dean would beryllium doing Strictly arsenic the 11th confirmed celebrity, considering helium spilled the quality himself soon aft winning golden successful Paris.

However, present helium nary longer has to support his lips sealed implicit the BBC show’s worst-kept secret.

‘I americium taking portion successful Strictly Come Dancing 2024! You whitethorn person heard maine accidentally accidental it poolside first… but present I tin officially speech astir however excited I americium to get stuck into thing new, conscionable immoderate superb radical and get dancing,’ helium said aft the quality was announced connected BBC Radio 1.

‘Bring it on!’

Montell Douglas

Coming successful blistery arsenic the 12th prima successful the line-up is Montell Douglas, different known arsenic Fire from the hugely fashionable BBC reboot of Gladiators, which premiered past year.

As good arsenic striking fearfulness into the hearts of contenders who participate the arena hoping for glory, Montell, 38, is besides a erstwhile Olympian and a erstwhile British grounds holder for the 100 metres.

Quoting a celebrated enactment from the umpire connected Gladiators, she declared: ‘Strictly ARE YOU READY, Fire is present to airy up the Ballroom.

‘Wow I americium truthful honoured to person been asked to bash the show. It is specified an astonishing happening to beryllium a portion of and I can’t hold to get started. Hopefully a fewer of my Gladiator moves volition travel successful useful with the Tango oregon Paso Doble!’

Nick Knowles

Lucky fig 13 went to DIY SOS presenter Nick Knowles, who was 1 of the last celebrities to beryllium revealed for the line-up connected Monday night’s occurrence of The One Show.

The 61-year-old volition person to swap his hard chapeau and his hammer for sparkles and glitter, and we can’t hold to spot what helium brings to the dancefloor.

‘I’m so, truthful excited to beryllium doing Strictly this year. People whitethorn beryllium much utilized to maine getting stuck successful connected a gathering tract oregon travelling the world, but dancing unrecorded connected TV volition beryllium a full caller adventure,’ helium said.

‘I’ve spent my full beingness learning caller skills and I’ve ne'er been acrophobic of a situation – there’s beingness successful the aged canine yet to instrumentality connected 1 much large 1 – being taught however to dance! I’ll springiness it my everything …. and effort not to embarrass my kids of course!’

Paul Merson

The penultimate personage successful the cast, the 14th confirmed star, was erstwhile footballer and broadcaster Paul Merson.

Having made his debut astatine Arsenal erstwhile helium was 17 years old, the now-56-year-old admitted that doing the dancing contention was going to beryllium a measurement retired of his comfortableness zone.

‘Joining Strictly is simply a full caller shot crippled for me, but I’m going to tackle this situation caput on,’ helium stated.

‘I’m acceptable to swap the transportation for the Ballroom floor, truthful here’s hoping my 2 near feet tin larn immoderate moves and you ne'er know, possibly I’ll beryllium taking location the Glitterball Trophy!’

Sam Quek MBE

Finally, completing the line-up arsenic fig 15 was Sam Quek, erstwhile nonrecreational hockey subordinate who won golden with Team GP astatine the 2016 Rio Olympics.

In summation to being awarded an MBE successful 2017 for services to hockey, the 35-year-old won 125 planetary caps for the England and Great Britain women’s hockey teams.

‘As a erstwhile hockey subordinate I’m utilized to playing arsenic portion of a team, but the thought of dancing connected the Ballroom level successful beforehand of a unrecorded assemblage is rather daunting!’ she said.

‘I’m chuffed to beryllium a portion of this legendary amusement and Quickstep into the shoes of a performer, it feels perfectly surreal but I’m acceptable for each spot of the adventure.’

Strictly Come Dancing volition instrumentality connected BBC One and BBC iPlayer tonight.

This nonfiction was archetypal published connected August 13, 2024.

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