The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Putting on the glitz for Strictly Come Dancing photoshoot
Celebrities gear up for BBC ballroom dancing spectacular
Strictly Come Dancing’s class of 2019 have posed for their first official pictures.
The BBC show will return on Saturday for its 17th season, with 15 new celebrities set to take to the dance floor.
They include former England goalkeeper David James. The 49-yearold played for Premier League clubs including Liverpool, Aston Villa and Manchester City before retiring in 2013.
He said: “I have said no to celebrity shows previously and only ever done charity shows like Sports Relief.
“However, when my good friend Mark Foster told me how much he enjoyed the show, and how good everyone was, I changed my mind.”
James is not the only former professional footballer in this year’s Strictly line-up.
Alex Scott played for Arsenal in the Women’s Super League and also represented Great Britain at the 2012 London Olympics.
Scott, 34, said: “Strictly’s another world to me. In football if something goes wrong, I know how to correct it. But what happens if I forget the dance routine with millions of people watching live on BBC One? That fear keeps running through my head.”
Continuing the sporting theme, double Olympic gold medallist James Cracknell will also be taking to the dance floor.
The 47-year-old rower hit the headlines earlier this year when he took part in the Boat Race, representing Cambridge against Oxford.
Asked what his biggest strengths are, he said: “I’ll have no problem being ripped apart, sorry I should say being constructively criticised, by my dance partner. I’m happy to be bossed around by someone who knows what they’re doing, so I can learn.”
Veteran TV presenter Anneka Rice is another of this year’s Strictly cohorts.
The 60-year-old is the oldest contestant. Rice admitted to being worried about the glamour side of the show.
She said: “The dressing up bit is alarming. I never enjoyed dressing up as a child.”
BBC sports presenter Mike Bushell is many bookmakers’ favourite to be first to get the boot.
He said: “My biggest strengths are my energy and being a trier. So maybe the faster dances might suit me better as I might be able to mask some of my technical deficiencies.”
Strictly Come Dancing will launch on BBC One on September 7.