December 14th 2024.
Let's take a trip down memory lane and revisit the star-studded line-up for Strictly Come Dancing 2024. It's hard to believe it's already been a few months since the 15 celebrities graced the dance floor for the first time, but now only four remain in the final showdown.
Fans were buzzing with excitement when the line-up was announced earlier this year for the show's 20th-anniversary series. However, there was also some backlash as viewers noticed a gender imbalance of nine male celebrities to six female stars. This came after months of controversy surrounding the show, with allegations against some of the professional dancers behind the scenes.
Giovanni Pernice and Graziano Di Prima were two of the professional dancers caught up in the drama, with allegations of being "nasty" and "bullying" by their former partners. However, they are no longer part of the professional line-up for 2024. But, to the delight of fans, Strictly legend Aljaž Škorjanec made his return to the show after a three-year break.
As we gear up for the final this weekend, let's take a moment to remember the celebrities who started this journey and who's still standing strong. So, who exactly made up the cast of Strictly Come Dancing 2024?
First up, we have comedian Chris McCausland, who made history as the first blind contestant on the show. After being heavily rumored to join, he was officially announced on ITV's This Morning. When asked about his thoughts on being on the show, Chris jokingly replied that he doesn't dance, can't dance, and can't see the dancing he'll have to do. But, to everyone's surprise, he has made it to the final with his partner Dianne Buswell and captured the hearts of the nation.
Next, we have former JLS member JB Gill, who first found fame on The X Factor in 2008. While this is not his first time on the Strictly dancefloor, as he won the Christmas special in 2012, he was thrilled to join the competition this year. Unfortunately, his original partner Amy Dowden had to withdraw due to injury, but he has now made it to the final with his new partner Lauren Oakley.
Opera singer Wynne Evans was the third celebrity to join the cast, best known for being the voice and face of the Go Compare adverts. With a career spanning 25 years and performances at prestigious venues, Wynne was excited to take on the challenge of dancing on live television. He even joked about using his love for opera in one of his routines. Sadly, he and his partner Katya Jones were eliminated during the Blackpool Special.
Fourth in the line-up was singer and actress Toyah Willcox, who fronted her band Toyah in the late 1970s and early 1980s. She has been in the entertainment industry for four decades and was excited to show off her dance skills on the show. Despite being eliminated second, she left a lasting impression on the judges and viewers with her performances.
Dr. Punam Krishan, the resident doctor on BBC's Morning Live, was the fifth celebrity to be announced for the show. As a working GP in the NHS, she also regularly reports on health news across different media platforms. She was overwhelmed with excitement to be a part of Strictly, and although she was eliminated early on, she gave it her all and made everyone proud.
Love Island alum Tasha Ghouri became the sixth person to join the cast of Strictly 2024. As the second Deaf celebrity to compete on the show, she has also defended her previous experience with dance after some fans complained. She has topped the leaderboard on several occasions and made it to the final alongside her partner Aljaž.
Former The Only Way is Essex star Pete Wicks was the seventh celebrity announced for the show. Despite admitting to being scared to dance in front of the nation, he was up for the challenge, having previously appeared on Channel 4's SAS: Who Dares Wins. He surprised everyone, including himself, by making it to the semi-finals.
Last but not least, we have singer and actor Shayne Ward, who rose to fame after winning The X Factor in 2005. He was announced as the final contestant to join the show, and fans were excited to see him take to the dancefloor. Although he didn't make it to the final, he certainly left his mark on the show.
As we eagerly anticipate the final this weekend, let's take a moment to celebrate all of the incredible celebrities who have graced the Strictly Come Dancing stage this year.
Let's take a trip down memory lane and revisit the Strictly Come Dancing 2024 line-up. This fall, 15 celebrities graced the dance floor for the first time, but now only four remain. It's hard to believe that we have already reached the final and the coveted Glitterball Trophy is within reach.
The excitement for this 20th-anniversary series was palpable, but it was not without its share of controversies. Fans were quick to point out the gender imbalance of nine male celebrities to six female stars, and this came after months of allegations against professional dancers behind the scenes.
Giovanni Pernice and Graziano Di Prima, both of whom were embroiled in separate controversies, are no longer part of the professional line-up. However, the return of Strictly legend Aljaž Škorjanec, who last competed in 2021, brought some much-needed positive energy to the show.
As we gear up for the final this weekend, let's take a moment to remember the contestants we started out with and who has made it this far. So, who exactly is in the cast of Strictly Come Dancing 2024?
Chris McCausland made history as the first blind contestant on the show, and he was the first celebrity to be confirmed for Strictly 2024 on ITV's This Morning. The 47-year-old comedian, known for his appearances on shows like 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown and Would I Lie To You?, admitted that he was as nervous as the viewers about his ability to dance. But with his professional partner Dianne Buswell by his side, he has captured the hearts of the nation and made it to the final.
JB Gill, best known for his time in the boyband JLS, also graced the Strictly dance floor before when he won the Christmas special in 2012 with Ola Jordan. Now, a decade later, the 37-year-old singer is back as a finalist with his professional partner Lauren Oakley. His original partner, Amy Dowden, had to withdraw due to injury, but JB has shown that he can hold his own on the dance floor.
The third celebrity to join the cast was opera singer Wynne Evans, famous for his iconic Go Compare adverts. The 52-year-old, with two number-one classical musical albums and performances at prestigious venues like the Royal Albert Hall under his belt, was excited to take on a new challenge. Unfortunately, he and his partner Katya Jones were eliminated after the Blackpool Special.
Toyah Willcox, known for fronting her band Toyah in the 70s and 80s, was the fourth contestant to be revealed. She has been in the entertainment industry for over 40 years, and at 66 years old, she was ready to take on the Strictly challenge. Despite being eliminated in the second week, Toyah and her partner Neil Jones gave some memorable performances.
Dr Punam Krishan, the resident doctor on BBC's Morning Live, was the fifth person to join the cast. As a working GP in the NHS and a regular on TV, radio, and newspapers, she was thrilled to be a part of the show. Although she was eliminated in week 5, she left a lasting impression on the viewers.
Tasha Ghouri, who shot to fame on Love Island two years ago, was the sixth contestant to be announced. She is only the second Deaf celebrity to take part in Strictly, and she has faced some criticism for her past dance experience. But she has proven the naysayers wrong with her incredible performances alongside her professional partner Aljaž Škorjanec, who made a comeback this year.
Pete Wicks, known for his time on The Only Way Is Essex, was the seventh celebrity to join the cast. The 36-year-old reality star was admittedly scared of performing in front of the nation, but he was up for the challenge. With his partner Jowita Przystał, he made it all the way to the semi-final, even though he had no previous dance experience.
And finally, we have Shayne Ward, who needs no introduction. The former X Factor winner and Coronation Street actor joined the cast as the final contestant, and he has wowed the judges and viewers alike with his performances alongside his professional partner Oti Mabuse.
So there you have it, the Strictly Come Dancing 2024 line-up in all its glory. As we wait to find out who will lift the Glitterball Trophy, let's give a round of applause to these incredible celebrities who have given their all and entertained us every week.
[This article has been trending online recently and has been generated with AI. Your feed is customized.]
[Generative AI is experimental.]
