On Saturday 3rd September, the brand new series of Strictly Come Dancing starts on BBC1, and we couldn’t be more excited! We can already tell that this series is going to be glitzier than ever, and we can’t wait to see the celebrities and their partners go head-to-head to perform some of the most famous dance steps in the industry.
Here are some of the celebrities we’re most excited to see put on their dancing shoes this series.
Daisy Lowe
Stylish and glamorous, model Daisy Lowe is swapping the catwalk for the dancefloor this year! Born in London in 1989, Daisy was discovered at the age of 15 when she was signed up to Select modelling agency. She has modelled for world-famous designers, including Dolce & Gabbana and Vivienne Westwood.
We’re really excited to see Daisy Lowe light up our screens, we just hope her dance moves are as dazzling as her smile!
Tameka Empson
Born in London in 1977, Tameka Empson enjoyed a variety of comedy-based roles before landing her big break as Eastenders character Kim Fox back in 2010.
The 39-year-old actress and comedian will be juggling her Eastenders work commitments with Strictly, so it will be interesting to see how she handles the pressure of having two very demanding roles.
Claudia Fragapane
At just 18 years old, Team GB Olympic gymnast Claudia Fragapane is 2016’s youngest competitor.
The feather-footed starlet became the first woman to win four gold medals for 84 years, after a spectacular performance at the 2014 Commonwealth games.
Claudia makes her Strictly debut just weeks after returning from the Rio 2016 Olympics. Impressive? We think so! We’re can’t wait to see what this expert gymnast does on the dancefloor.
Ed Balls
Former shadow chancellor, Ed Balls, says that his participation on Strictly is a ‘mid life crisis’ and that he intends to embrace every minute of it.
We can’t wait to see Ed hit the dancefloor, he could surprise us all and be the smoothest dancer of them all!
Laura Whitmore
Born in 1985 in County Wicklow, Laura Whitmore has presented a wide variety of star-studded events, including the BRITs, the BAFTAs and the London 2012 Olympics. She’s no stranger to the glitz and glamour of showbiz. However, she’s sure to come across a few surprises along the way during her time on Strictly.
We can’t wait to see her hang up her microphone and put on her dancing shoes!
Greg Rutherford
The second Olympian to grace our screens on Strictly 2016 will be Greg Rutherford.
Born in Milton Keynes in 1986, Greg had trials for Championship football club Aston Villa before winning gold in the long jump at the London 2012 Olympics.
What can Greg bring to the famous Strictly dancefloor? His speed, determination, and precise footwork will certainly help him to learn the basics, but dancing is a whole different game to the long jump, so it will be interesting to see how he makes the journey from athlete to dancer.
Anastacia
Most people have heard singer Anastacia’s powerful vocals on smash hits like I’m Outta Love and Left Outside Alone, but what about her talents as a dancer?
Anastacia was born in 1968, and appeared in various music videos as a backing singer until securing a record deal and releasing her debut album in 2000.
We’re looking forward to seeing her talent and determination on the dancefloor.
Louise Redknapp
Louise Redknapp has had a successful singing career and settled down to bring up her two sons with footballer Jamie Redknapp.
She’s no stranger to the dancing world and was even a judge on the second series of So You Think You Can Dance? We’re excited to see how her expert opinions transfer to the dancefloor.
Will Young
Pop Idol superstar Will Young has won two BRITs and two Ivor Novellos for his singing and songwriting talents. He has six studio albums under his belt, but is not as well-known for his dancing skills. It will be interesting to see how well he fares on Strictly.
Lesley Joseph
At 70 years young, Lesley is the oldest contestant to grace the Strictly dancefloor this year. However, this doesn’t mean she doesn’t plan to wow the judges with her moves!
Lesley has reportedly recently upped her fitness routine to prepare for Strictly, and we’re looking forward to seeing her strut her stuff on the dancefloor.
Naga Munchetty
If you’re an early bird, chances are your TV screen has been graced with Naga Munchetty, BBC Breakfast’s glamorous presenter.
Naga is reported to be excited but petrified to join the show, so we hope that her dance moves are as graceful as her morning routine!
Melvin Odoom
Melvin Odoom is a Kiss FM presenter, famous for his smooth voice and award-winning breakfast show with Ricky Haywood-Williams and Charlie Hedges.
Melvin is currently presenting the UK Hot 40, and we’re sure his knowledge of the music industry will give him an advantage on the dancefloor… or will it?
Danny Mac
No Strictly series would be complete without a Hollyoaks star, and this year it’s the turn of Danny Mac.
Danny studied acting for two years at Chichester University, before starring in a string of productions, including Wicked and Les Miserables. We’re really excited to see him light up the dancefloor with his cheeky charm!
Judge Rinder
You’ll probably know Robert Rinder as the sharp-tongued criminal barrister who is the star of ITV’s Judge Rinder, but this year he’s swapping statements for sequins and joining the cast of Strictly.
We’re really excited to see how well Judge Rinder does on the show, maybe we’ll see a more relaxed and musical side to him.
Ore Oduba
BBC Breakfast Sport correspondent Ore Oduba has recently hosted coverage of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, and is reportedly a huge fan of Strictly.
Ore has always been interested in sports, hosting shows such as Match of the Day Kickabout and Sportsround, but dancing is something he has never tried before. We’re looking forward to seeing how his dance shoes compare to his football boots!
One thing’s for sure, it’s a fabulous line up this year, and with this being judge Len Goodman’s last series, it’s going to be a series to remember!
