Glitz, glamour and glitter are back with the return of BBC's Strictly Come Dancing as the first celebrities are announced.
This year marks the 20th anniversary of the show and judges Craig Revel Horwood, Shirley Ballas, Motsi Mabuse and Anton du Beke will be seeing if the celebrities know their Quickstep from their Charleston.
Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman will return as hosts and four new professional dancers will join the series taking the total to 20, the show's biggest dancer line-up ever.
Here are the first celebrities ready to put on their dancing shoes.
Will Mellor
Known for his roles in Hollyoaks, Coronation Street, Casualty and Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps, actor Will Mellor was named the first celebrity taking part in Strictly Come Dancing 2022.
Most recently he has been touring the UK with a live version of his podcast Two Pints with Will and Ralf, with his co-host Ralf Little.
On BBC Breakfast he said taking part in the show was pushing him out of his comfort zone, but he is ready to do things that frighten him.
He added: “I lost my dad in 2020 and from then I just thought, I've just got to grab life. I've got to create new memories.”
Kym Marsh
Kym Marsh rose to fame in the early noughties for her role in the pop group Hear’Say and is now best known as an actress and TV presenter.
She currently hosts Morning Live on BBC One and has appeared in Coronation Street and The Syndicate.
Despite it being a while since she has performed on stage, she is ready for the challenge and looking forward to it.
“I’m a huge fan of the show and can’t believe I’m going to go from watching at home in my pyjamas to actually dancing in front of the judges in a glittery dress, it’s unreal!”
As to how she will deal with criticism Marsh said, “I was judged by Nasty Nigel in Popstars, he was the villain back in the day, so I think I'll be fine with it.”
Richie Anderson
A radio and RTS award winning TV presenter, Richie Anderson is best known for his role on BBC Radio 2’s Breakfast Show and his recent coverage of the Platinum Jubilee for the BBC.
Anderson will be the second celeb to take part in an all-male partnership which he called a “massive honour.”
He added: “This is a dream come true! I cannot wait to get in those sparkles and sequins and shimmy across the most famous dance floor in the world! Strictly is the ultimate feel-good show, as soon as I hear that iconic theme tune it’s just pure escapism.”
Kaye Adams
TV and radio presenter and journalist Kaye Adams is best known as the anchor of the chat show Loose Women, where she announced her participation in Strictly Come Dancing. She also hosts the morning show on BBC Radio Scotland and has her own podcast called How To Be 60 with Kaye Adams.
Adams said: “I said I wanted to make the last year of my fifties memorable and I can’t think of a better way of doing it than showing the world my two left feet. Pray for me!”
Jayde Adams
Award winning comedian, actor and presenter Jayde Adams was nominated for Best Newcomer at the Edinburgh Fringe for her debut stand-up hour.
Adams has also starred in RTS Award-winning comedy Alma’s Not Normal, Amazon Prime’s Good Omens and hosts Netflix’s Crazy Delicious.
Since first watching Strictly in 2004, Adams has been a massive fan of the show.
Adams said: “I feel like every step I’ve taken in my career over the last 11 years was to be on Strictly. I cannot begin to express the emotions I am feeling, this means so much to me and my family.
“I feel like I’m watching myself in a dream and I can’t believe I’ve manifested this. Holding this in has been torture for me!”
Ellie Simmonds OBE
Five-time Paralympic champion swimmer and broadcaster, Ellie Simmonds was just 13 when she won gold medals in the 100m and 400m freestyle events at the 2008 summer Paralympics in Beijing.
Simmonds has also won ten gold World Championship titles and at 14 became the youngest person to receive an MBE.
As a broadcaster, Simmonds presents for BBC Sport and made the documentary Ellie Simmonds: A World Without Dwarfism?
Taking part in Strictly both excites and terrifies Simmonds, but she can’t wait to be part of the Strictly family.
“I’m counting down the minutes until it starts; learning to dance, meeting my partner and everyone else involved in the show. Plus wearing the sequins and all that, it’s going to be a blast,” said Simmonds.
Tyler West
TV presenter, radio host and DJ Tyler West hosts weekday afternoons on KISS and co-hosts BBC Three series Flat Out Fabulous.
He began his career in children’s television and has hosted MTV News, The MTV Movie Show and the 2020 EE BAFTA Awards Red Carpet Live Show.
“I am so gassed to be joining the Strictly family! As I started writing this I already got cramp,” said West.
He added: “It’s going to be one crazy incredible journey which will no doubt be so far outside my comfort zone. It’s a show that means so much to me and my family and I can’t wait to seriously shake a leg on that shiny dance floor… with a side of sequins.”
Matt Goss
Singer-songwriter, musician and actor, Matt Goss was the front man of the band Bros, whose debut album Push went platinum seven times.
Goss has experienced a record-breaking residency on the Las Vegas strip, received an Icon Award and has had the 8th August named as Matt Goss Day.
RTS Award-winning cult documentary Bros: After the Screaming Stops, which featured Goss and his twin Luke, won the BBC Moment of the Year.
At the moment, Goss has some books in the pipeline and is about to star in psychological thriller Cobbler, Killer Strangler.
Goss commented: “I’m extremely nervous and excited, but I’m optimistic because I’m very supple from the knees down.”
Ellie Taylor
Ellie Taylor is a comedian, broadcaster, writer and actor and has appeared in BBC’s Mock The Week, The Mash Report, Live at the Apollo, Late Night Mash on Dave and, most recently, she co-hosted Channel 4’s The Great Pottery Throw Down.
She began her stand up career on ITV’s Show Me The Funny and has since gone on to write and perform five shows.
She is set to co-host new Netflix game show Cheat and Channel 4 entertainment show You Won’t Believe This.
Ellie Taylor commented: “Well, cover me in fake tan and roll me in sequins! I'm absolutely over the moon to be a part of Strictly 2022! I've watched the show for years so to be able to take to the dance floor is a dream come true, for both me and mum who is a Strictly super fan!
“At the moment I'm focusing on the excitement and glitter and choosing to ignore the fact that I have the dancing ability of a newly born giraffe. Bring it on!”
Molly Rainford
Singer and actress Molly Rainford rose to fame at just 11 years old when she became the youngest ever finalist on Britain’s Got Talent.
After BGT, Rainford continued studying to hone her craft at the Sylvia Young Theatre School, receiving the first ever drama school scholarship from Simon Cowell and Sony Music.
Now at 21-years-old, Rainford plays an intergalactic pop superstar in CBBC’s show Nova Jones, which has already filmed a third series.
Rainford said: “I'm so excited to be part of Strictly Come Dancing, I've watched it for years and can't wait to meet the pros and the others taking part! I can't wait to learn the moves and get dancing.”
Tony Adams MBE
Former English football player and manager Tony Adams MBE is a footballing legend with a career spanning 22 years, having captained both Arsenal and England.
Adams MBE won 66 caps for England and as captain for England led the national team to the Euro 96 final.
During his time as a footballer Adams founded Sporting Chance, a charity that helps sportspeople with mental health and addiction issues.
Now retired, Adams has launched Six MHS which offers mental health and addiction services to non-sportspeople and non-sport’s organisations, inspired by his own recovery from alcoholism and mental health issues.
Tony Adams commented: “To say I’m excited is an understatement - the lure of the sequins and the call of the salsa has me swapping my battered old football boots for a set of Strictly soft shoes. Am absolutely thrilled to be giving it my all on this year’s 20th anniversary of Strictly Come Dancing.”
Fleur East
Singer-songwriter, TV and radio presenter Fleur East was runner-up on the 11th series of The X Factor.
East has since released two albums, appeared on I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here! and now hosts the Hits Radio Breakfast Show.
Despite her nerves, East is excited to learn new skills and fully immerse herself in the “magical experience.”
She said: “It’s such an honour to be on the show after years of watching it with my father who loved it so much. Unfortunately my Dad is no longer with us but I know he will be watching over the ballroom in spirit. I’m doing this to make him and my family proud and can’t wait to get my dancing shoes on!”
Hamza Yassin
Wildlife cameraman and presenter Hamza Yassin is one of the presenters of BBC’s Animal Park and guest presents on Countryfile.
Younger viewers know him as Ranger Hamza from the CBeebies live action show Let’s Go For A Walk.
When he was younger Yassin followed his dream of becoming a wildlife cameraman and moved to the Scottish Highlands and has lived there ever since.
He recently fronted Channel 4 documentary Scotland: Escape to the Wilderness which saw him take a celebrity friend through Scotland and the Highlands.
Yassin is over the moon to be on such a cool show, he said: “I’ve been watching Strictly for years and I can’t believe I’ll actually be there dancing live in front of the British public. My dance skills are currently at the level of ‘1970’s disco vibe’ but I’m ready to work hard and will be shaking it every time I get the chance – shake it ‘til you make it!”
James Bye
Stage and screen actor James Bye is best known for playing the role of Martin Fowler in BBC’s EastEnders, which saw him win a British Soap Award for Best Storyline in 2016.
Bye has also starred in The Great Train Robbery, Cemetery Junction and Hummingbird, as well as taking part in various theatre productions.
“I’m not known for my shimmy or my twinkle toes - in fact my kids regularly laugh at my dad dancing but it’s an honour to be asked and I’m going to give it my best shot,” said Bye.
He added: here are some huge dance shoes to fill and it’s truly exciting to follow in the footsteps of some amazing EastEnders talent. I’d love to do everyone proud.”
Helen Skelton
TV and radio broadcaster Helen Skelton started her career in children’s TV, presenting shows such as Newsround and Blue Peter.
Blue Peter saw her take part in adventurous challenges such as completing the Namibia ultra-marathon, cycling to the South pole and kayaking over 2018 miles down the Amazon River.
Since then, she has presented Countryfile, Inside The Superbrands, On The Farm and BT Sport’s FA Women’s Super League football matches.
Skelton has also hosted various shows for BBC Radio 5 Live and has just been announced as the host of BBC Radio 5 Live Sunday morning show.
Skelton said: “I’m really excited to get stuck into a fun adventure. My family and friends have always loved the show and can’t wait for me to get started.”
