Strictly’s next class of celebs

ONE OF the most prestigious dance shows on TV has started and this UK season brings even more glitz and glamour than ever before.

Strictly Come Dancing UK season 16, which airs on BBC Brit on Sundays at 6pm, holds a starstudded celebrity class.

New to the professional dancer line-up is Johannes Radebe, twotime Professional South African Latin Champion and three-time South African Amateur Latin Champion.

“Joining Strictly Come Dancing is one of the greatest achievements of my dancing career. It is such an honour to be chosen to be a part of an incredible cast and be part of one of the biggest shows celebrated worldwide,” said Radebe.

Another favourite to join the cast is Pussycat Dolls’ Ashley Roberts.

No stranger to the dance industry, Roberts danced and sang in several performances on stage with the pop group Pussycat Dolls and also starred in Dancing On Ice, which she says has given her a good set-up for the show.

But she still feels a bit pressured. “People are aware of the Pussycat Dolls and what I’ve done. But in the last couple of years I’ve been on TV and doing stuff with Keith Lemon and hosting stuff. So it’s a new skill.

“I’m really grateful to be here and I’m really excited about the challenge and the journey,” she said.

Performing

Roberts hopes to add some of her performing background into her dancing routines and hopes to create magic with her professional dance partner, Pasha Kovalev. The Siberian-born dancer has been with the show since season nine.

““All the pro dancers are pretty amazing. We were watching their rehearsal and your jaw goes on the floor. They’re pros for a reason.

“They really understand how to work with you and communicate with you and talk you through things.

“I really want to impress all the judges but most of all Shirley Ballas … she is on it,” said Roberts.

Roberts said although she likes ballroom, she is looking forward to learning the salsa and tango.

“The whole ballroom world