August 5th 2023.
It's the most wonderful time of year for Strictly Come Dancing fans as the show gears up for its 21st series! This year's line-up is looking as good as ever, and the search for the successor to reigning champion Hamza Yassin is on.
The first celebrity to be announced was Sherlock actress Amanda Abbington. She admitted to being "incredibly competitive" and couldn't hide her excitement at taking part. She 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 second celebrity to be announced was TV presenter and former newsreader Angela Rippon. At 78, she is the oldest contestant to take a spin around the Strictly dancefloor. 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.”
The third celebrity to be announced was Bad Education star Layton Williams. He is also known for his West End career, having played the title roles in Billy Elliot and Everyone's Talking About Jamie. He was also the voice over artist on the UK’s first gay dating show I Kissed A Boy. After being announced on The One Show, Layton showed his enthusiasm for the show, saying: “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!”
Strictly Come Dancing returns to BBC One in the autumn. Who will be crowned the champion this year? We can't wait to find out!
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