LEGS ELEVEN!
Soap star and ex-minister set for Strictly
FROM sporting heroes to soap stars, a wounded war veteran to a scandal-hit politician – and the inevitable reality TV hopeful – this year’s Strictly Come Dancing lineup is almost complete.
Among the 11 contestants, one of the more eye-catching additions was former British home secretary Jacqui Smith.
But pictures showed it won’t be the first foray onto the dancefloor for Ms Smith, who was embroiled in a porn film expenses row in 2009. At a British Labour Party conference diversity event in 2008, Ms Smith held hands with Keith Vaz, 63, as they boogied to Bhangra beats with belly dancers in Manchester.
Ms Smith stood down as home secretary in June 2009 after it was revealed her husband Richard Timney watched two porn films while she was out. She later submitted a claim for them as part of her MPs’ expenses. The couple, who have two grown-up sons, were forced to apologise.
Ms Smith lost her seat at the 2010 election. The couple split in January after 33 years of marriage.
BBC1 is expected to confirm Ms Smith has signed up within the next day. There is just one celebrity left to be announced.
Maisie Smith, who plays Tiffany Butcher in EastEnders, was also revealed yesterday. The 19-year-old took part in last year’s Children In Need special with former professional Kevin Clifton – and won.
She told This Morning that she had been preparing for the competition using video app TikTok, saying: ‘After every video we
‘We were sweating, it was good training’
were in bits. We were sweating and that was good training for Strictly.’
Comic Bill Bailey, 55, Made In Chelsea’s Jamie Laing, 31 – who had to quit last year with a foot injury – and former Royal Marines commando JJ Chalmers were all confirmed. Mr Chalmers, 33, was injured in a bomb blast in Afghanistan in 2011 – suffering facial wounds, a disintegrated right elbow and losing two fingers.
The Invictus Games triple-medallist told TV host Lorraine Kelly that he did not want any ‘special treatment’.
Earlier this week, it was announced boxer Nicola Adams, 37, will be part of the first same-sex dance couple.
Actress Caroline Quentin, 60, The Wanted singer Max George, 31, ex-NFL player Jason Bell, 42, Good Morning Britain host Ranvir Singh, 43, and BBC DJ Clara Amfo, 36, are also taking part.
Strictly, which usually runs from September, will begin a pared-down nine-week run in late October. The professional dancers are isolating for two weeks in Buckinghamshire to work on group routines.