TV chef Rimmer to salsa as seventh Strictly contestant

STRICTLY Come Dancing has unveiled Sunday Brunch presenter Simon Rimmer as its latest contestant, as the TV chef jokes that he could easily outshine this year’s competition.

The TV chef and presenter was revealed as the seventh celebrity to join this year’s line-up, after Gemma Atkinson and Davood Ghadami, the soap stars, Joe Mcfadden from Holby City, Ruth Langsford, the presenter, Mollie King, a singer, and the Rev Richard Coles, a TV vicar and former star of the Communards pop band.

As the news was announced on Sunday Brunch, Rimmer admitted the BBC dancing competition would be his first attempt at ballroom or Latin.

He was handed a tub of fake tan by Tim Lovejoy, his co-presenter, who questioned him on how he fancied his chances. After reading out the names of those officially taking part, the chef said: “I can probably take all of them.”

He added he had been watching videos showing the basic movements for the waltz and the cha cha, and promised: “No one is going to try harder to make it work”.

Rimmer wasted no time in attempting some moves as he offered a hint of a cha cha when egged on by Martine Mccutcheon, one of the show’s guests and herself the subject of rumours that she might appear on Strictly.

Following the announcement, he said: “I am so excited, terrified and proud to be invited to be part of Strictly 2017. I’ve always been a huge fan of the show.”