And now for the poshtrot! Viscountess of Longleat joins Strictly
Waltzing all the way from Longleat to the ballroom, Viscountess Weymouth makes dance show history
IT can hardly boast a VIP line-up this year – but Strictly Come Dancing has at least signed up its first aristocrat.
emma, Viscountess Weymouth, could earn herself a brand new title as Strictly champion after being announced as the eighth contestant to join the show.
The 33-year-old model, cook and philanthropist, who runs Longleat House with her husband Ceawlin, Viscount Weymouth, said she ‘can’t believe’ she has the chance to appear on the show after watching it religiously ‘every weekend’.
‘i know it will be such an amazing experience from start to finish. i can’t wait for the dancing and the fabulous outfits,’ she said.
Lady Weymouth and her husband run the stately home and estate in Wiltshire, which includes britain’s first safari park.
The couple regularly throw lavish parties, including a recent Studio 54-themed event, at which she was spotted showing off her moves on the dance floor.
The socialite, daughter of nigerian oil tycoon oladipo Jadesimi, counts Kate moss, Lady Kitty Spencer and british Vogue editor edward enninful among her good friends.
She is set to become the first black marchioness in british history when her husband succeeds his father, alexander Thynn, the seventh marquess of bath.
The viscountess grew up in London and became head girl at independent school Queen’s gate before reading art history at University College London.
She married Viscount Weymouth in 2013, but the ceremony was boycotted by his father after a row over the removal of murals at the house.
a year later Lady Weymouth gave birth to a son, John, via caesarean section after being diagnosed with a bleed on the brain and pituitary
‘Looking forward to fabulous outfits’
gland disorder. She was warned by doctors that a second pregnancy could kill her, so had her second son, Henry, through a surrogate.
as a keen cook, Lady Weymouth also founded emma’s Kitchen, where she posts recipe videos against the backdrop of the original kitchens at Longleat House.
She is also a contributing editor at british Vogue and makes regular appearances as a guest chef on television cooking programmes.
over the weekend the bbC also announced that children’s TV presenter Karim Zeroual would be taking to the Strictly dance floor.
The 25-year-old has been a CbbC presenter since 2014 and his theatre background will give him something of an advantage, having performed in shows including Chitty Chitty bang bang and The Lion King.
He said: ‘i’m so excited to be Strictlified. i want the lot. The skimpiest of clothes, the widest of flares, the brightest of colours and the tallest Cuban heels a guy can find! The more flamboyant the better... sequins galore please!’
He and Lady Weymouth will be joined by footballer David James, comedian Chris Ramsey, eastenders star emma barton, youTuber Saffron barker, actress Catherine Tyldesley, bbC breakfast’s mike bushell, as well as new judge motsi mabuse who replaces Dame Darcey bussell on the panel.