It’s ballroom and modern for Strictly...
Bosses scour TikTok for young dance stars
STRICTLY Come Dancing bosses are eyeing TikTok’s top dance routine stars in a bid to appeal to a younger audience.
Talent bookers have signed up to the social network app to ensure they have a “cross section of ages” in this year’s line-up.
Bosses want to continue the success of social media stars including YouTubers Joe Sugg, 29, and Saffron Barker, 20.
Joe and Aussie dance partner Dianne Buswell, 31, became a couple after the 2018 series and both have huge online followings.
Strictly talent executive Stefania Aleksander said: “My job is knowing about a broad range of celebrities. It’s not just actors and actresses. Strictly moved into social media stars through Joe and Saffron, so in order to entertain all genres, it’s about investing time in learning about them. Social media
is a world I immersed myself into, to learn about.”
While speaking on a panel for Screenskills – aimed at developing screen talent – Stefania confirmed she has personally signed up to TikTok. She added: “It’s really important that every year Strictly has a cross section of ages.
“Kids from the age of five to nanas up to 95 all watch the show. We want to make sure that it’s all very well represented. We’ll always cast people of different ages to keep the balance there.”
Last year, bosses signed HRVY, who had 3.8 million TikTok subscribers. The competition was won by comic Bill Bailey, 56 – the oldest Strictly winner in its history.
This series, which ITV bosses hope will feature the usual 15 stars, will be cast by July. Last year’s shortened series only had 12 stars, due to the pandemic.
Producers also said they had enjoyed “nosing in the backgrounds” of celebrities’ homes while interviewing on Zoom.