AJ who? First Strictly celebrities revealed
THE first of this year’s Strictly celebrities have been unveiled – although some of a certain age may struggle to recognise a name or two.
The only woman on the list so far is TV presenter AJ Odudu, 33, who is best known for Big Brother’s
Bit On The Side, Don’t Rock The Boat and Apocalypse Wow.
She also enjoys blogging and sharing photos online.
Last night she said: “I am beyond chuffed that I am going to be on this year’s Strictly Come Dancing and I’m so glad I can finally tell my mum.
Committed
“Her face will be a picture, she’s going to be over the moon! I absolutely love the show and am fully committed to making the most of every second of the Strictly experience.”
McFly singer/songwriter Tom Fletcher and Peep Show comic Robert Webb were also unveiled yesterday.
More names will be announced in the coming days, ahead of the BBC1 series starting next month.
Tom, 36, is hoping to emulate his wife Giovanna’s success following her win on ITV’s I’m A Celebrity last year.
And bandmate Harry Judd won Strictly when he appeared on the show in 2011.
Tom, a dad of three who writes children’s books, said: “I’m incredibly excited, of course, but also totally terrified! My kids were excited too until I started showing them my best dad-dancing moves in the kitchen.
“I’m not sure how far they’ll get me in the competition but I can’t wait to add some new moves to my repertoire.” Meanwhile Robert, 48, has already won one BBC dancing competition after triumphing in Let’s Dance For Comic Relief in 2009, when he wore a leotard and performed the What A Feelin’ sequence from Flashdance. He said: “I am ludicrously excited to be taking part in Strictly this year.
Excited
“It’s a big, generous, joyful show and I can’t wait to get packed into a spandex onesie and fired from a glitter cannon directly at Claudia Winkleman. At least I think that’s what happens.
“To do well in this competition is a test of character, although mainly it’s a test of dancing.”
Robert is probably best known for his comedy partnership with David Mitchell and his best-selling memoir How Not To Be A Boy. In 2019 he needed life-saving heart surgery.
The stars will join four new dancers: Kai Widdrington, Nikita Kuzmin, Cameron Lombard and Jowita Przystal.