Strictly Come Dancing signs huge soap icon as 15th star to complete line-up
Strictly Come Dancing have announced announced their fifteenth and final star, as Les Dennis signs up for the BBC show.
Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman will return to present the BBC Latin and ballroom show when it returns later this year. Last year, Hamza Yassin and his professional partner Jowita Przystal took the crown whilst EastEnders star Rose Ayling-Ellis and her professional dance partner Giovanni Pernice took the win back in 2021.
The fifteenth and final star has been confirmed for this series, as they admitted their nerves ahead of the show. This completes the line-up of Strictly stars for 2023 with some huge names including the show's oldest ever contestant.
Les Dennis has been officially announced as the 15th Strictly Come Dancing contestant (Alan Chapman/Dave Benett/Getty Images)
The actor will be a hit with viewers (Ken McKay/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)It's reported that former Coronation Street star Les, 69, will be officially announced for the competition on Friday. I was claimed that Les had previously been asked to appear on the show during his Corrie days although his contract with ITV meant he had to decline.
Les will be one of the oldest contestants, alongside Angela Rippon, who was one of the first stars to be announced for the new series. As Angela was announced to be joining the competition, she said: "Having been a fan of Strictly since day one, and as a former presenter of Come Dancing, this will be quite an adventure for me. A scary one, considering I’m about to be 79. But I’m really looking forward to the challenge, and perhaps being able to learn to dance the Argentinian Tango!"
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Angela added on The One Show: "I have to admit, the first words out of my mouth when I was asked were: 'Well why didn't they ask me ten years ago when I was a little bit younger!' Why? well, I love dance. I presented Come Dancing.
"The serious reason behind doing it is because I've been advocating, ever since I did a series called How to Stay Young, where we demonstrated as part of the programme that dance is the complete full body and mind exercise for everybody regardless of your age but particularly for people as they get older. Now as I'm 78, I'll be 79 when we're actually doing the programme, it would be lovely to demonstrate. I'm not going to lift that Glitterball, I'm being honest with myself, it would be wonderful if I could last long enough, a few weeks, and demonstrate that even at my age that it genuinely is possible for people who are older to be able to dance."
Elsewhere, Amanda Abbington was also announced for the upcoming series, as the Sherlock star admitted she was "thrilled" to be asked for the show, sharing: "I’m thrilled to have been asked to do Strictly. I’m actually really shy and self-conscious so this will be a great opportunity for me to overcome those things! Plus, I get to learn to dance which I am incredibly excited about. I’m really looking forward to the training too, I’m quite competitive as my family and friends will tell you. I can’t wait to start!"
As Les reportedly joins this year's Strictly Come Dancing line-up, here are the rest of the star's he will be competing against for the Glitterball trophy...
Annabel Croft
MAIN - BREAKING Strictly Come Dancing announce 14th star as Annabel Croft joins line-upFormer British Number One tennis player Annabel Croft is the fourteenth celebrity confirmed for this year's Strictly line-up. Annabel, who at 15 years old was the youngest British player to compete at Wimbledon for 95 years, revealed the news on Virgin Radio's Breakfast show on Thursday.
Addressing taking to the dance floor, she said: “I have always loved watching Strictly and can’t quite believe I’m going to be part of this magical show – swapping tennis balls for glitter balls and looking forward to finding some joyfulness in the process.”
Nigel Harman
Nigel Harman has signed up for StrictlyFamous for his role as Dennis on BBC soap EastEnders, Nigel Harman will be taking to the dance floor this winter. He has also had starring roles in Casualty and appeared in Downton Abbey. The exciting news was announced on Lorraine's show today.
Speaking about his stint on the show, he said: "I'm amazed, excited, and terrified to be doing Strictly. As an armchair fan of the show I have watched in awe as people have twirled and gyrated across the screen. And now it's my turn.....gulp!"
Bobby Brazier
EastEnders actor and model Bobby is the twelfth celebrity to join the Strictly line-up (BBC)EastEnders star Bobby Brazier is the twelfth famous face taking part in Strictly 2023. The 20-year-old model and actor is best known for his role as Freddie Slater in the BBC soap.
The news was revealed on BBC Breakfast on Wednesday and the actor "can't wait" to get started on training for his dance floor debut.
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Bobby said: “I’m so excited to be part of the Strictly line up, I can’t wait to start training like a professional dancer and adding a few moves to my locker. I'm looking forward to performing in-front of everyone, it's going to be so much fun!”
Jody Cundy CBE
Paralympic Champion Jody Cundy will be heading to the Strictly dancefloorWorld and Paralympic Champion Jody Cundy is the eleventh celebrity to be confirmed for this year's Strictly Come Dancing. He has represented Great Britain at seven Summer Paralympics winning eight Gold, one Silver and three Bronze medals across swimming and cycling events and Jody has also competed in multiple World Championships, winning 23 world titles.
After competing at Tokyo 2021, Jody became the first man in Paralympics GB history to win medals at seven different games. In 2012 the Anglia Ruskin University made him and Honorary Doctor in Health Sciences, and a month later he was given an Honorary Master of Science degree from the University of Hertfordshire.
In 2009 he was awarded an MBE for his services to Disability sport, in 2017 this was upgraded to an OBE for his services to Swimming & Cycling and in 2022 he received a CBE for services to cycling.
Speaking about joining Strictly, Jody said: “Excited to be welcomed into the Strictly family and throw myself head first into the world of ballroom dancing. So far away from what I’m used to, but I’m looking forward to the challenge and pushing myself way out of my comfort zone, especially as I’m always last onto the dance floor” Can’t wait to get stuck in, bring on the glitter and sequins!”
Ellie Leach
Coronation Street star Ellie Leech will take to the dance floorCoronation Street star Ellie Leach has been announced as the tenth celebrity to be taking to the dance floor this year. She first arrived on the cobbles 12 years ago as Faye Windass and has been nominated for multiple British Soap Awards and Inside Soap Awards for her role.
During her time on the ITV soap, Ellie tackled hard hitting storylines included being pregnant at 13, discovering she was going through the menopause and reconnecting with the child she gave up - which led to her departing the cobbles earlier this year.
Ellie said: “It still doesn’t feel real that I’m going to be doing Strictly!! It’s always been a dream of mine so I guess dreams really do come true!!!!”
Nikita Kanda
BBC Asian Network host Nikita was added to the line-up on Tuesday (BBC)BBC Asian Network's Breakfast show host Nikita Kanda is the ninth celebrity to join the Strictly line-up. The radio host and TV presenter, who previously presented the Saturday afternoon show on BBC Asian Network, announced the exciting news on her radio show on Tuesday.
She has interviewed everyone from Killing Eve star Sandra Oh, Bridgerton actors Kate Sharma and Charithra Chandran, to Marvel actress Awkwafina and global pop star Nick Jonas, and was recently nominated for presenter of the year at the Asian Media Awards.
Nikita Kanda said: “I can’t believe I’m going to be on Strictly. This is a dream come true. I’m still pinching myself. I don’t think it will properly sink in until I step onto the dance floor. I can’t wait to get glammed up and get out there. Throw the glitter on me!”
Adam Thomas
Adam Thomas is the eighth celebrity to join this year's line-up (BBC)Soap star Adam Thomas, who starred as Adam Barton in ITV's Emmerdale and more recently reprised his role as Donte Charles in BBC One's Waterloo Road, is the eighth celebrity confirmed for this year's series.
The news was announced on Tuesday on The Hits Radio Breakfast Show with Fleur East, James and Matt. On taking to the dance floor, Adam, 34, said: "I am so excited to be joining the cast of this years' Strictly Come Dancing. I've been such a big fan of the show for years, I can't believe I'm actually doing it! I can't dance to save my life but I'm buzzing to learn and have a good laugh with my pro. Get me on that dance floor...I can't wait!"
Adam appeared in I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out Of Here! in 2016 before going on to co-host the spin-off I'm A Celebrity: Extra Camp. He also teamed up with his brothers Coronation Street star Ryan Thomas and Love Island star Scott Thomas for six-part ITV travel series Absolutely India: Mancs in Mumbai where they took their late father back to Mumbai to trace their heritage and long lost relatives.
Zara McDermott
Former Love Island star Zara McDermott is making Strictly historyFormer Love Island star Zara McDermott is making Strictly history, as the first ever contestant from the show to be signed up. Her stint on the BBC show was announced Monday afternoon on BBC Radio 1, where she joined the station's Going Home with Vick and Jordan to share the exciting news she was heading for the Strictly dance floor.
Speaking to hosts Vick Hope and Jamie Laing, Zara revealed she was "scared" but "excited" to take on something "so far out of her comfort zone". She said: "I've been rewatching last year's in detail, analysing everything, every dance.
"I'm scared, scared but excited. There is gonna be challenges with everything. I'm excited for the slower stuff. It's such a far cry from my day job… this is live, you cannot make a mistake. You get one take and one take only. This is so far out of my comfort zone."
Angela Scanlon
Angela Scanlon was the sixth star to be announcedAngela Scanlon was announced as party of the 2023 line up for Strictly Come Dancing on Monday morning. The presenter hosts shows like BBC2's Your House Made Perfect and has previously fronted The One Show. The sixth contestant to be confirmed for this year's series of Strictly is the only woman in the UK and Ireland to have their own Saturday night chat show with Ask Me Anything on RTÉ One.
Speaking about her upcoming stint on the dance floor, Angela said: "I’m terrified, I’m excited and I have so many questions. Will they make me tan? How itchy are sequins?! Do they do flesh coloured sports bras? Well - there’s only one way to find out, right!? Now I’m panicking a bit… but also secretly thrilled about the prospect of all that glitter. Let’s go!"
Eddie Kadi
Eddie has been announced as the latest signing for Strictly Come Dancing (BBC)Comedian Eddie Kadi has been announced as the fifth celebrity to join the 2023 Strictly Come Dancing line-up.
The star, who is also a host on BBC's 1 Xtra station, said he promised to bring “vibes” to the dance floor this year. Eddie who has been nominated for prestigious RTS awards, says he is “unbelievably proud and honoured” to take part, adding: “I promise you, I’m going to give it everything I’ve got.” The news was revealed on Sunday on The Official UK Afrobeats Chart Show with Eddie Kadi, on BBC Radio1Xtra.
Krishnan Guru-Murthy
Krishnan Guru-Murthy is the fourth celebrity contestant confirmed for Strictly Come Dancing 2023 (PA)Channel 4 News anchor and award-winning journalist Krishnan Guru-Murthy said he was 'surprised and confused' to be on the Strictly line-up for 2023 as his name was announced this year.
Breaking the news on host Claudia Winkleman's Radio 2 Breakfast Show, Krishnan said: "I’m surprised, delighted and slightly confused to find myself taking part in Strictly on the basis of ‘you only live once!’ and I can’t wait to start learning to dance, but I am slightly worried about my general decrepitude. I know I’m going to love it and have a brilliant time and just hope I’m not the only one enjoying my participation.”
Krishnan admitted that in the time it had taken for him to say 'yes' to bosses and be publicly announced he had already changed his stance on sequins and glitter. "At the beginning my view was I'm not doing any of that nonsense, I'll be wearing a suit. And then you can kind of think 'Well actually if you're in it to entertain then you've got to entertain. I don't think I could inflict by bare torso on the world though... but the rest of it yes!"
Amanda Abbington
Amanda Abbington was the first Strictly 2023 star unveiled on The One Show on Friday (PA)Sherlock star Amanda Abbington - who counts her co-star Martin Freeman as one of her exes - was the first celebrity announced on The One Show on Friday night. She is now engaged to escapologist Jonathan Goodwin, 42 , but he was left paralysed from the waist down after a stunt on America’s Got Talent: Extreme went wrong - and she is said to be hopeful that Strictly will start a "new chapter" in her life.
Speaking ahead of taking to the dance floor, Amanda said: "I’m thrilled to have been asked to do Strictly. I’m actually really shy and self-conscious so this will be a great opportunity for me to overcome those things! Plus, I get to learn to dance which I am incredibly excited about. I’m really looking forward to the training too, I’m quite competitive as my family and friends will tell you. I can’t wait to start!"
The Sherlock actress added on The One Show: "It's out, it's out now! I didn't keep it a secret, I told everybody! I even told the ladies in my local pharmacy…" She added of why she's doing the show now: "The main reason was to embarrass my two teenage children but also because I'm perimenopausal. I want to take the bull by the horns and embrace 51!"
Angela Rippon
The legendary broadcaster will be the oldest Strictly contestant when she takes to the dancefloorAngela Rippon, who will be 79 when she takes to the dance floor later this year, was the second celebrity to be revealed during The One Show on Friday night [August 4]. Speaking after her stint on Strictly was confirmed, Angela said: "Having been a fan of Strictly since day one, and as a former presenter of Come Dancing, this will be quite an adventure for me. A scary one, considering I’m about to be 79. But I’m really looking forward to the challenge, and perhaps being able to learn to dance the Argentinian Tango!!”
Angela added on The One Show: "I have to admit, the first words out of my mouth when I was asked were: 'Well why didn't they ask me ten years ago when I was a little bit younger!' Why? well, I love dance. I presented Come Dancing. The serious reason behind doing it is because I've been advocating, ever since I did a series called How to Stay Young, where we demonstrated as part of the programme that dance is the complete full body and mind exercise."
Layton Williams
The Bad Education actor was the final contestant to be unveiled on The One Show on FridayBad Education star is also heading for the dance floor, - with bosses hoping he might go all the way and win the show. Layton found fame at 12 in the title role of Billy Elliot: The Musical and played a pupil-turned-teacher in Jack Whitehall’s comedy Bad Education.
As his Strictly stint was confirmed on The One Show on Friday night, Layton said: "Absolutely buzzing to confirm that I will be taking part in THE most iconic dance competition in the UK! It's time to bring it to the Ballroom. So excited to learn new skills from the best. Bring on the sequins… ALL the sequins!"
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