Strictly following the guidelines...
As Strictly Come Dancing returns to the BBC for its 18th series, DANIELLE DE WOLFE takes a look at this year’s celebrity line-up
DEFYING the logistical difficulties imposed by Covid-19, the nation’s favourite ballroom dancers are finally set to return to the Strictly Come Dancing studio, alongside Tess Daly, Claudia Winkleman and the judging panel – ahead of the show’s 18th series. With group routines pre-recorded after a period of self-isolation and a range of new measures being put in place to adhere to social distancing guidelines, as the saying goes, the show really must go on.
Taking place over nine weeks as opposed to the usual 13 and with 12 contestants instead of 15, the 2020 series will feature two themed shows (with the Halloween show being axed in place of a group dance) alongside a remote appearance from Bruno Tonioli direct from Los Angeles. Ahead of this year’s series, we take a look at the 12 celebrities competing to lift the famous glitterball trophy.
1
BILL BAILEY, 55
COMEDIAN and actor
Bill is best known for his role as team captain in entertainment game-show Never Mind The Buzzcocks, alongside TV comedy
Black Books and his music-orientated stand-up comedy tours.
“For me, learning the basics and then being able to pull off a coherent dance in the time we’ve got is a huge challenge... They have got a tough job in turning around someone clumsy like me into something that can look like a dancer,” he says.
2MAX
GEORGE, 32
BEST known for fronting British boyband The Wanted, musicianturned-actor Max is set to follow in the footsteps of bandmate Jay McGuiness who went on to win the show in 2015.
“It’s been an amazing reaction,” he says. “Fans of The Wanted are all buzzing because it brings that nice little connection back with Jay and The Wanted so that’s been really nice.”
3JACQUI
SMITH, 57
BRITISH Labour politician, Jacqui is best known for becoming the first female home secretary and despite “not really knowing how to dance”, the MP is no doubt used to handling high-pressure situations. “Strictly is always something that people look forward to, but this year, where things have been just so tough and miserable for people, somehow they feel even more positive about the fact that it’s going to be happening,” she says.
4
CLARA AMFO, 36
BBC Radio 1 presenter, Clara says of her fellow contestants: “It’s a strong group and there are definitely some dark horses in there! I reckon Jamie Laing is absolutely going to be one to watch, 100%! “Ballroom scares the hell out of me, because I only accepted about a year or two ago that I’m quite a clumsy person. I think there isn’t a week when I don’t bang my elbow on the door or step on a plug or hit my knee on something.”
5JAMIE
LAING, 31
AFTER pulling out of Strictly last year due to a leg injury, Made In Chelsea star Jamie is set to return to the dancefloor, albeit with added pressure, after his replacement, Kelvin Fletcher, went on to win the show in 2019.
“I came out of it last year, and obviously like most people I hate failing at stuff, and it definitely felt like I failed last year so this is the time to really go for it,” he says.
6CAROLINE
QUENTIN, 60
BEST known for her roles as Dorothy in Men Behaving Badly and Maddie Magellan in Jonathan Creek, British actress Caroline has become something of a national treasure. With celebrity names including Elizabeth Hurley, Amanda Holden and Martin Clunes already pledging their support, Caroline is ready to put her best foot forward.
“I just want to win,” she declares with a sly smile. “I’ll just enjoy myself and then see. And when they get sick of me they’ll throw me away and that’s fine too – that’s showbiz.”
7NICOLA
ADAMS, 37
THE first British boxer to defend their title for 92 years, double Olympic champion, Nicola is set to break new records as she forms part of the show’s first ever same-sex couple.
“I think it’s a brilliant step in the right direction
especially on the diversity side of things,” she says. “And women actually dance with women all the time on the professional circuit so I guess it’s just showing people that it can be done.”
8HRVY,
21
BACKED by 4.5 million Instagram followers, British singer Harvey Leigh Cantwell, better known as HRVY, says the reaction to him being on Strictly has been “pretty mad actually... I just didn’t realise how many of my friends, especially younger friends, watch the show.
“My nan is buzzing. She’s always been such a big fan of the show so I feel like this is going to be a big proud moment to watch me on TV every week.”
9JJ
CHALMERS, 33
FORMER Marine and British television presenter JJ Chalmers is best known as an Invictus Games medalist after being seriously injured by a bomb blast in Afghanistan.
“I live to put myself outside my comfort zone and to make sure that I’m always trying to become the best version of myself that I possibly can,” he admits.
“This is completely new and I plan on bringing the exact same mind set – giving it my absolute everything.”
10JASON
BELL, 42
JASON is best known as an American football star and NFL cornerback. Channelling his sporting discipline, the star has been taking notes from former partner and Girls Aloud star, Nadine Coyle, ahead of the live shows.
He says: “At some point, I’ve always challenged myself – sports has forced that – but when I retired and went off and did other ventures, everything I was scared of, I took that challenge on and I’ve learned something from it. I’ve learned about myself and how I operate.”
11MAISIE
SMITH, 19
ACTRESS Maisie is best known for her role as Tiffany Butcher in BBC soap, EastEnders.
She has been getting advice from other members of the cast who have appeared on Strictly.
“A lot of them have said to enjoy it, that it’s going to be hard and will take a lot out of you but remember to have the best time and be yourself – which is the perfect advice,” she says.
12RANVIR
SINGH, 43
GOOD Morning Britain presenter and journalist, Ranvir is very much used to being in front of the camera.
A regular on Loose Women, Ranvir says she will put her “grade one” ballet to good use.
“I am the least sporty person – I never played competitive sport in my life, not once! So it just makes me cry with laughter that I am now competing against an Olympic gold medal-winning boxer.”
Strictly Come Dancing returns to BBC1 tonight at 7.50pm.