Drag Race star and Made in Chelsea pin-up join Strictly’s new dance crew
Made in Chelsea’s Jamie Laing, Rupaul’s Drag Race star Michelle Visage and Paralympic champion Will Bayley are the latest contestants to join Strictly Come Dancing.
The trio were yesterday confirmed for this year’s series, starting with Bayley – one of the stars of the London 2012 and Rio 2016 games.
Bayley has suffered from arthrogryposis – a rare condition that affects all four of his limbs – since birth.
Bayley said: “I have no dance experience at all but I hope I can do well. I want to inspire people with a disability. That would mean a lot to me. I want to prove to people I can do this.”
Bayley is training to defend his Paralympic title at the Tokyo 2020 games.
American singer, TV star and radio personality Visage, who was announced on ITV’S Lorraine, said: “I’m a woman that’s 50 years old. I want to be out there representing women of a certain age.
“People say, ‘They’re old, they can’t do it anymore’, but actually we can. We can do it great.”
Visage, who will appear on Rupaul’s Drag Race UK on BBC Three in October, was in Celebrity Big Brother and a judge on Ireland’s Got Talent.
Made in Chelsea star Laing was confirmed on ITV’S Loose Women where he said he hopes his Strictly stint would make his mother proud.
Laing, 30, told the programme he had known about his new TV job for about a month, adding: “I’m not very good at keeping secrets so that was quite tricky, especially from my mum.
“I couldn’t even tell my mum and every single year she says, ‘Are you doing the show?’ So hey, surprise, Mum.”
Chef and philanthropist Emma, Viscountess Weymouth, former footballer David James, former Coronation Street actress Catherine Tyldesley, comedian Chris Ramsey, Eastenders actress Emma Barton, Youtuber Saffron Barker, BBC Breakfast’s Mike Bushell and CBBC’S Karim Zeroual are also in this year’s line-up.
Motsi Mabuse – sister of Strictly professional Oti – will replace Dame Darcey Bussell on the show’s panel.