Strictly Come Dancing 2023 celebrities talk “oiling the hips”, past contestants’ top tips and going for Glitterball glory | Fitness tips of the day

Following last year’s ground-breaking run, the 21st series of the multi-award-winning Strictly Come Dancing will launch at 6.35pm on Saturday 16 September on BBC One and BBC iPlayer, once again bringing glitter, glamour and glorious dancing to homes across the nation.

The celebrities quickstepping onto our screens this year are Adam Thomas, Annabel Croft, Amanda Abbington, Angela Rippon, Angela Scanlon, Bobby Brazier, Eddie Kadi, Ellie Leach, Jody Cundy, Krishnan Guru Murthy Layton Williams, Les Dennis, Nigel Harman, Nikita Kanda and Zara McDermott

Hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman welcome our celebrity contestants onto the Strictly dancefloor as they make their dancing debut and we discover which professional dancer they will be paired with. Once the pairings have been announced, the celebrities and professionals will perform an eye-catching group routine, launching the new series in style.

Watching their every move and making notes ahead our first live show will be our Strictly Judges – Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, Anton Du Beke and Head Judge Shirley Ballas.

Our dazzling professional dancers for the upcoming series are: Dianne Buswell, Nadiya Bychkova, Vito Coppola, Graziano Di Prima, Amy Dowden, Carlos Gu, Karen Hauer, Katya Jones, Neil Jones, Nikita Kuzmin, , Gorka Marquez, Luba Mushtuk, Lauren Oakley, Giovanni Pernice, Jowita Przystal, Johannes Radebe, Michelle Tsiakkas, Kai Widdrington, Nancy Xu.

This year’s series will include all the viewer favourite theme weeks; Movies, Halloween, Musicals and of course our week in the home of Ballroom, Blackpool. Autumn is about to get a lot more fab-u-lous!

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Adam Thomas

What made you want to take part in the show this year?

It’s just one of the shows I have always wanted to do for as far back as I can remember. I like to test myself and I like to learn new things. This is definitely going to be one of those shows where I will be able to do that, so here I am.

What do you think will be the biggest challenge?

Learning how to dance is definitely going to be the biggest challenge. Whoever I get paired up with definitely has their work cut out because I cannot dance to save my life. I did think I could dance, but I found out that I can’t, so, that was a bit of a shock to the system. The training is definitely going to be full on as well. But again, I like to learn new things and I am just going to enjoy it.

How do you feel about being Strictly-fied?

I am looking forward to it, the more glitz and glam the better. It’s not often that I get to dress up, so I am all for it. You have got to be in it and I just want to just enjoy the whole Strictly experience. The dancing, the whole glitz and the glamour of it all. That’s the best bit of it, isn’t it? The dressing up.

Are there any memorable or stand-out moments for you from the previous series?

From the previous series I would say, my friend Kelvin Fletcher did it and he won it. That was definitely a stand-out moment for me. Just watching him go on the Strictly journey and watching him smash it from the get go. From the very first dance to watching him get to the final. He is probably one of the reasons as to why I am doing this show because I have spoken to him and he said it was an absolute joy and he said I would be OK.

Do you have any previous dance experience?

No dance experience whatsoever, I have never danced before. I said this to my wife the other day, the fact that my wife is a dance teacher, and I have never learnt how to dance just baffles me, but then she said to me that I haven’t taught her how to act either. I have had no dance experience so this is definitely a first for me but again, I am excited to learn and get out there and do my thing.

How are you preparing for the show?

I have thought about eating healthier and going to the gym. I have definitely thought about it, but I have not gotten that far just yet. But it is going to happen, it’s taking its time but it’s definitely going to happen. That is another reason I wanted to do this show is because I just want to get fit again, get moving and get dancing! Everyone who has done the show just says that you get really toned up, really fit and healthy. So that’s another reason why I want to do it.

Have you had any advice from anyone who has done the show before?

A few people! Luckily, I know a few people who have done it. So, Fleur East, Kym Marsh and Kelvin have done it and everyone says what an absolute joy it is to be on the show. I mean, everyone says it’s going to be hard work but hard work never hurt anyone. They have definitely sold it to me. No one said I should not do the show and everyone who has done the show has just had a blast and enjoyed every minute of it and that is what I am going to do as well.

Do you know any of your fellow 2023 contestants?

Nigel Harman, I grew up watching him and he was definitely a big inspiration of mine. I remember watching him as a kid and thinking he was a cool guy. I know Ellie Leach, she was obviously in Coronation Street and she is from Manchester, and she is like a little sister and a joy as well. Having a familiar face on the show makes it easier.

Who do you think is your biggest competition?

Everyone. I feel like the standard is so high this year! My competition I think is Zara. I think we are both on the same level so far anyways, so the only one I am going to try and beat is Zara.

Do you have your eye on the glitterball?

You know what, I am going to be honest, when I first joined the show, I thought I have got a shot at it. But now I have seen the competition and now I know what I am up against. But that has made me feel a lot more at ease because I am not necessarily in it to win it now, I know I am just here to enjoy it and have fun. If it happens it happens, but it really shouldn’t happen. My eyes are not on the prize. I am just going to take every dance as it comes and see how we get on.

Do you have any signature dance move that you always do at parties?

I always do the robot. I can sort of do the robot. That’s as far as my dancing goes.

Annabel Croft

What made you want to take part in the show this year?

I’ve always absolutely loved watching Strictly and always secretly wanted to be asked to do it. I’ve always loved watching dancing, I could watch it all day long. I’m mesmerised when I’m watching dancing as everyone looks different, even if they’re doing the same steps. Everyone has their own interpretation, some just ooze fluidity, vibrancy and I think they’re some of the most talented athletes in the world! I think dancing is so special, it’s so expressive and it’s free – there aren’t many things in life that bring joy in life that are free and dancing is one of them. I’m so grateful there is a good old fashioned show [Strictly] that everyone in the family can sit down and watch, a proper entertainment show.

What do you think will be the biggest challenge?

Remembering the steps and not panicking about that! And getting rid of any inhibitions. I’m not an extrovert, even though my job involves being an extrovert when I have to hold a microphone and interview players in front of sometimes 20,000 people. I’ve learnt how to cope with that situation, but to dance in front of lots of people is something completely different that I’ve not done before and I think I’m naturally quite a shy person. I’ve overcome the shyness for my job, but it’s about being able to get rid of those inhibitions and let go, so I think that will be the challenge of my partner to bring that out of me. Let the music take control and to feel okay being silly and embarrassed.

I want to get to the point where remembering the steps isn’t part of it anymore, it’s about going with it, with feeling. That will bring me back to my childhood days doing ballet when I was little, which took a back seat when I started tennis. I do regret that a little that I didn’t keep up ballet as that would have kept me supple!

How do you feel about being ‘Strictly-fied’?

I love fashion so much, I can spend hours trawling websites looking at fashion. I’ve always loved fashion, I love dresses and being feminine, who wouldn’t enjoy putting on those beautiful dresses and the glitter and glam?! Also working with professionals at the top of their field in hair makeup and costumes, they are such a major part of this show.

Are there any memorable or standout moments for you, from previous series?

Definitely Ed Balls doing Gangnam Style with Katya… it was one of the most hilarious moments on Strictly. I was roaring with laughter, it was just so cheeky and funny. That’s what good old fashioned entertainment is about isn’t it.

Anne Widdecombe on the show too! My colleague, Andrew Castle, I remember watching him on the show.

Do you have any previous dance experience?

When I was four I did some ballet classes, I did them for a few years until tennis came into my life. I remember the ballet very well, and I loved it. I remember putting on Tchaikovsky and watching Margot Fontaine on film, going to the cinema. I always wanted to be a ballet dancer, there are balletic qualities in tennis. Some players look balletic, like Roger Federer. Obviously the footwork in tennis is very different to dancing, but you are always having to think about your footwork skills, but it is very different and I do wonder how that will compare, will it hold me back that there are footwork patterns in tennis that are engrained in my head and suddenly I’m having to move my feet very differently… we will find out!

How are you preparing for the show?

I haven’t done anything differently, other than I went to make a cup of tea the other day and I went to try and do a ballet turn… it was a bit clumpy and I almost fell over, so that wasn’t good!

I keep saying I’m going to do a few stretches, so I do need to do that and loosen up. I was quite supple as a child and now I’ve stiffened up through tennis. I need to get my suppleness back.

Have you had any advice from anyone who has done the show before?

No! I’d like some advice though, I’m sure there are lots of tips… number one must be to not take yourself too seriously and keep smiling even if it goes wrong.

Do you know any of your fellow 2023 contestants?

I met Les Dennis when we played tennis for a charity exhibition, this was many years ago. He is really sweet and charming. I did the paper review a few weeks ago with Angela Rippon too.

Who do you think is your biggest competition?

Oh my goodness, there are already so many people who are way better than me! I think Angela Scanlon is a natural.

I think the key is that in yoga I’ve learnt, it’s you and the mat and you can’t compare yourself – I think it’s probably the same in Strictly, I shouldn’t compare myself to others. It’s about my journey and trying to be better at dancing than when I started. I want to find the joyfulness, I’m doing this for myself and my family and my pro – they will be on the journey with me!

Do you have your eye on the Glitterball?

Definitely not, that glitterball seems a million miles away and I’ve not even given it a second thought. Lovely to admire and look at it but seems very far away!

Do you have a signature dance move you always do at parties?

Flossing! It’s a bit old fashioned now, but one day Sally Nugent (from BBC Breakfast) and I were on centre court, we were doing an item and we flossed. I couldn’t do it at first then she taught me and it finally clicked. That’s my party trick! It’s good to loosen up the hips a bit, I’m always saying that my hips need some WD40.

Amanda Abbington

What made you want to take part in the show this year?

I’ve always wanted to do it, for years and years, it was always my favourite sort of reality show. I’d got to 51 and I thought, I’m peri-menopausal and I’ve been offered it and it would seem silly not to and I just wanted to have a bit of fun as well, and I wanted to embarrass my children, because, you know, that’s what mums are supposed to do. You’re supposed to embarrass your kids and I haven’t yet embarrassed them… so now’s the time.

What do you think will be the biggest challenge?

I think the biggest challenge is that I’m very competitive and I have to keep that in check. I’ve got to remember that you’re going into it and it’s a competition, but that’s not the be all and end all, I need to go in and have fun and a nice time.

How do you feel about being ‘Strictly-fied’?

I’m quite a slob in my day-to-day life, I just wear jogging bottoms and T-shirts and vests and things, so I’m really looking forward to wearing all the sequins and glitter. I was rewatching some of the dances and those costumes are wonderful, I’m so excited about the costumes… and false eyelashes!

Are there any memorable or standout moments for you, from previous series?

I love Giovanni and Rose’s performances… their last dance was just so beautiful. I loved Anita Dobson and Jill Halfpenny’s performances were really good. Catherine Tyldesley… there’s loads of memorable ones that I love.

Do you have any previous dance experience?

I danced a bit from the age of about five to 17, I did ballet at my local town hall. I went to Laine Theatre Arts for a year from the age of 16 to 17, but then I got an injury so I stopped dancing. I dance at weddings and parties and in the kitchen.

How are you preparing for the show?

I’ve set up an ice bath outside, I did it once the other day and hated it and won’t ever go in it again! Jonathan, my partner, is super fit and he used to be a stunt performer, so he’s putting me through my paces and just getting my strength up because I’m lazy. I haven’t been to the gym for ages, so I’m trying to get my fitness levels back up, but I’m not doing any dance training. I’m going into it completely fresh. I just want to learn it all from scratch from the professionals, I think that’s the best way to do it really.

Have you had any advice from anyone who has done the show before?

Yes, everybody that I’ve spoken to like Catherine Tyldesley and Sunetra Sarker have said just go in and enjoy it. Don’t go in to win it, just have the best time and take it step by step literally. You’ll have the most fun then and that’s what I wanted to do… just come in and have a nice time.

Do you know any of your fellow 2023 contestants?

Yes, I sort of knew Les via social media and we finally got to meet the other day. I know Nigel Harman through a friend and I knew Layton because I worked with him when he was little, we did a television show together and so it was lovely seeing his name come up, It’s a small world.

Who do you think is your biggest competition?

This year is really strong, isn’t it? I mean, there’s loads of really good dancers in there, I think both Angela’s are really strong! And everybody’s got like a lovely kind of, special thing, a little spark. But I think Layton’s the one to watch… he’s amazing.

Do you have your eye on the Glitterball?

Oh, come on everybody has their eye on the glitterball! Everyone’s fairly competitive, aren’t they? So yeah, I’d love that ball… and the confetti moment!

Do you have a signature dance move you always do at parties?

I like a bit of 70s disco, I can 70s disco a bit and I like Northern Soul too!

Angela Rippon

What made you want to take part in the show this year?

It was a combination of things really… I’ve been involved in dance for a lot of my career, I’m not a dancer but have been associated with it in one way or another. I’m now an ambassador for the Royal Academy of Dance’s Silver Swan programme, which aims to get older people back into dance.

When I did a series called How To Stay Young they did proper scientific based research that found that dance was the best exercise for 50-60 year olds, it’s perfect for all round mind and body exercise to keep you strong and supple. It’s good for balance, stimulates your brain and social activity – it’s a package!

For older people, dance beats those two terrors of old age – isolation and loneliness. You’re never going to be lonely when you go to a dance class.

I love dance and I’ve been promoting dance as a way of keeping strong, fit and agile and balanced, so I suppose I wanted to do the show because of that and to prove that dance can help you, in so many ways, no matter what your age.

What do you think will be the biggest challenge?

When my agent rang me and said ‘Angela, they want you to do Strictly’ the first thing out of my mouth was ‘why didn’t they ask me ten years ago?!’ I shall be 79 years old in October and it’s bonkers really that I’m doing this. I took a long time to decide if I wanted to do it… my brain says fun… my body says ‘What the hell do you think you’re doing?!’

When it was announced I was doing it I had so many people online saying ‘Cheers for 70-year-old dancers!’ I was in the grocery store the other day and the lady next in line, who was of a certain age, tapped me on the shoulder and said ‘can I just say that I and my friends are thrilled you’re going to Strictly… sometimes I feel people of a certain age become invisible and you’re going to make a few headlines for us.’

So I’m doing this because, if I can last a few weeks and demonstrate that it is possible in your 70s… that you can do something that keeps you fit and strong and agile, that will be brilliant.

This is a very public way to put my money where my mouth is, but it will be a challenge!

How do you feel about being ‘Strictly-fied’?

All my girlfriends are saying ‘Oh Ange the frocks!’ – it’s all part of the package and the fun isn’t it.

Are there any memorable or standout moments for you, from previous series?

Of course I’ve watched it! Over the years there are many stand out moments. Kym Marsh’s Argentine Tango was amazing, I thought it was stunning. I know Helen Skelton, so it was lovely to watch her develop through her series. There are some wonderful moments in some of the very early competitions too. I expect that the audience stay because at the start there are 15 outstanding moments, then there are 14 outstanding moments, then there are ten, nine etc until you get to the final. Every year there are outstanding moments for everyone!

Do you have any previous dance experience?

I’m not a dancer, but like a lot of people, I went to dance classes when I was young – I was sent there when I was five until I was 17. I had knock knees, my family doctor gave my mother a choice… I could have built up shoes or I could go to dance classes… fortunately my mother sent me to dance classes! I ended up going to one of the really good ballet schools in Plymouth.

I’ve always been too tall to be a dancer, too tall to be a ballerina. My mother wouldn’t let me go and be a bluebell girl so that was it… I knuckled down to education!

I have been, in one way or another, associated with dance for a long time subsequently. Particularly after I did the Morecombe and Wise sketch. For that, the show producer asked what I could do, could I sing? I said ‘no, I would empty the studio in 30 seconds flat… but I can dance a little bit’, but that was the first time I really did any proper dancing in 20 years, and I was 37 at the time. But I’m flexible, and they choreographed what would work for me!

How are you preparing for the show?

I’m doing some breathwork. I have asthma and one of my worries is that the asthma would get in the way of my breathing so I’m doing a bit of work on that. I’ve spoken to my friend who’s a dancer who said ‘you need to stop breathing through your nose and you need to breathe through your mouth!’.

I’ve also been trying to build up my fitness, I think I owe it to whoever I’m paired with to be as fit as I possibly can and I owe it to the audience who will tune in every week! So I need to get my fitness up, I’m supple because I do stretches every morning but I’m not necessarily fit. I play tennis and I can run around a tennis court, but I imagine that’s very different to this!

Have you had any advice from anyone who has done the show before?

I’m not sure I should share all the advice I’ve been given! I’ve spoken to Gloria Hunniford of course, she said she regretted not being able to give as much time rehearsing and practising as she would have liked to, so I’m going to make sure that I do. I have Rip Off Britain of course, but I will do my best.

Helen Skelton sent me some super stuff and Sara Davies said ‘just go out there and enjoy yourself!’. You know, this isn’t brain surgery it’s fun!

Do you know any of your fellow 2023 contestants?

I know Annabel Croft vaguely, I know Les Dennis – I’ve met him several times and Amanda Abbington and I did our launch reveal together on The One Show, but I don’t know anyone else, no!

Who do you think is your biggest competition?

All of them! They all are.

Do you have your eye on the Glitterball?

It would be lovely to win. But if I’m honest with myself, I think that is probably an ambition too far!

Do you have a signature dance move you always do at parties?

Definitely the Charleston Swivel Steps!

Angela Scanlon

What made you want to take part in the show this year?

Oh, it’s just pure joy. I think life is kind of serious sometimes isn’t it? It’s escapism, it’s fun and I just feel weirdly ready to engross myself in some sequins and glitter!

What do you think will be the biggest challenge?

I mean the physicality of it, I’m genuinely not great on a trampoline, so I don’t know which dances involve the most jumping… the Charleston might be a problem for me?! I think it’s fine because it’s a bit silly, and that’s probably where I lean to naturally. I also think the Rumba is going to give me the heebie jeebies. I need an alter-ego… Sasha Fierce style!

How do you feel about being ‘Strictly-fied’?

I’m all in, well I think I am. I’m quite a tomboy, so in theory, I love it but it’s the lady like things that make me feel a little more uncomfortable! I’m usually either in jeans and a jumper or I’m in a tall skirt and a sweater. I’m up for it, I’ve kind of gone, ‘I’m going to surrender to it all!’.

Are there any memorable or standout moments for you, from previous series?

Bill Bailey, I think was one of those moments where I thought it felt very empowering. I remember Hamza and Jowita where she was like, a bird! I can’t remember the dance but it was this breath-taking moment it was just perfect, he just blew me away because it was so unexpected, their partnership just felt very otherworldly.

Do you have any previous dance experience?

I did Irish dancing when I was younger. Where you’re expressly told to remain stiff as a board from the waist up, so I’m not sure how that’s going to go down in Latin or in Ballroom?!

How are you preparing for the show?

I’m doing reformer Pilates, so lots of stretching and the odd run around the park. So it’s been kind of gentle but truthfully, I have not been very physically active for a few years. I’m kind of thinking ignorance is bliss, I don’t know if that’s the right approach but we’ll see!

Have you had any advice from anyone who has done the show before?

Lean in has been the advice, so to kind of just really go for it, which I think I’ll do anyway. When I’m in the mix of whatever it is I find it hard not to.

Also to be brave, which sounds very dramatic. I think I’m going to be really embarrassing and really embarrassed. But then I’m also like ‘embarrassment’ as a thing doesn’t kill you, it’s the kind of thing that I would encourage my daughter to go towards rather than away so I’m just going to go for it.

Do you know any of your fellow 2023 contestants?

I have met Nigel Harman and Angela Rippon, but aside from that, I didn’t know any of them. So a nice fresh start.

Who do you think is your biggest competition?

Oh, I think there’s a few dark horses in there. I think Bobby’s going to be really good. Bobby Dazzler, the smile on him! I also think Nigel and Layton.

Do you have your eye on the Glitterball?

No, but I’d love to get to Blackpool because I believe the floor is bouncy and I like the sound of that. But no, I’m trying to be involved in the process, not the outcome.

Do you have a signature dance move you always do at parties?

Absolutely… the running man!

Bobby Brazier

What made you want to take part in the show this year?

I was always going to say yes, whether it was this year, last year, the next year because I love dancing. That’s it – whether it was on TV or not, the opportunity to dance with a professional dancer, and learn a different style of dancing every week is just my idea of a good time.

What do you think will be the biggest challenge?

Well, I don’t have any idea but I can imagine it’s going to be pretty tiring. Probably quite draining. Hopefully I can just remain grateful and remain purposeful. But I do expect to be tired.

How do you feel about being ‘Strictly-fied’?

I’m ready to just take it all in my stride, it’s all part of doing Strictly I think it’ll make it even more fun. I imagine dancing is going to be great and dancing to music that I enjoy is going to be great, but doing it in a costume that fits the energy of the song and the dance and stuff…it’s just one big performance and I’m a performer!

Are there any memorable or standout moments for you, from previous series?

I’ve never watched the show, so I’ll be coming in fresh!

Do you have any previous dance experience?

No, not really. I mean, I just love dancing so if I’m at a party, I dance, if I’m at home I dance… I’m always dancing.

How are you preparing for the show?

I’ve done absolutely nothing. These dancers are the fittest people I’ve ever met, they’re like, robots – dancing machines! Maybe I’ll start stretching a little bit. As far as dancing, my whole life has been a preparation – I’m not a trained dancer but I love to dance.

Have you had any advice from anyone who has done the show before?

James Bye told me to eat a lot!

Do you know any of your fellow 2023 contestants?

Not personally, but I’ve obviously heard of everyone before.

Who do you think is your biggest competition?

Eddie! His hips do not lie. He is great, he’s brilliant and he’s sweet too!

Do you have your eye on the Glitterball?

Of course, I always like to try my best!

Do you have a signature dance move you always do at parties?

Well, the caterpillar I don’t pull it out very often. But it’s the worm backwards… so that’s a good’un. I just had to move my hips and my shoulders and you know, feel the rhythm.

Eddie Kadi

What made you want to take part in the show this year?

First, I love dancing, I’ve just always danced. Never professionally but it’s very therapeutic. It’s just a part of me growing up and I’ve actually infused it in my standup over the years as well! I showed up because it brings the family together, Strictly is a family show and I don’t know any other show in this country that gets people who normally would not watch TV, to come together and just have a laugh. I’m a family type of person as well. Being able to be a part of this and meet people that I probably would never have met otherwise, that alone is exciting. So it just felt like the right time this year.

What do you think the biggest challenge will be?

I think the biggest challenge for me would probably be to taking it from the club, dancing from the weddings, to actually taking on a professional level. The discipline of it and of course when you have your pros, just being able to follow them, that’s the part that will be the biggest challenge, that transition.

How do you feel about being Strictly-fied?

I love it man. I am the type of person that will go to the shops and spend an hour in the fitting rooms and I’m not even ashamed to say it. I like dressing up. I do. I’ve also learned over the years to try something new and that’s when you discover yourself the most. The wardrobe guys have been amazing so far! The idea of just being glammed up and taking it to that next level is ‘why not man?!’ trying new stuff and you feel spoiled like a big baby.

Are there any memorable or stand out moments for you from previous series?

I adore Alesha Dixon, who is married to a friend of mine. We know her from Mis-Teeq and all that, but then she just took dancing like it was so serious for her, and the way she just took over the whole space was incredible. For me, I always remember how wonderful that moment was. But also, my good friend Judi Love, just seeing her so happy. We’ve been in the stand-up circuit together for so long, and just seeing her transition was great.

Do you have any previous dancing experience?

My dancing experience is just weddings. Do you know a few years back, Diversity joined me on stage when I was doing some of my solo performances and they were flawless. But what I’ll do is just invite different dancers or opera singers and they’ll join me on stage and we just do a dance routine. But of course I will always be the least favourite, but we just made it fun, but that’s as far as my sort of dance experience goes. The rest has just been growing up in a Congolese African home and we just loved dancing. We loved dancing at church and dancing in clubs with my friends. You know, until everybody has to go home and the security guards have to go home. But on this level, no way.

How are you preparing for the show?

Every now and then I walk past the mirror, I just drop a little salsa just to see… you know just keep oiling the hips. You come to realise especially just after the other day in rehearsals with everyone, dancing is actually a sport. Nobody can tell me anything else, right? So just staying healthy, eating well, jogging here and there and making sure the endurance is there. Genuinely, mentally for me, it’s just knowing I’m going to do something that is a unique experience that I’ll never get to do again.

Have you had any advice from anyone who’s on the show before?

I spoke to Melvin Odoom, and Melvin literally just said to me, ‘bro, you have to look at it, as it’s packaged as a competition but it’s just an experience of a lifetime, just enjoy it and take each day as it comes’ so that advice from him, that was really nice.

Do you know any of the other contestants?

Nikita, we work in the same building, literally on the same floor but she’s on Asian Network and I am on 1Xtra. So, we haven’t really corresponded further. Meeting everybody for the first time was actually wonderful because a lot of them of course, I know of. It didn’t feel like I was meeting them for the first time, Les Dennis, he is an absolute hero. He made my parents forget I was in trouble at some stages when he was on Family Fortunes, so I owe him a lot.

But everybody else as well, it was just really nice to just see how everyone kind of just blended in like a one big family. I liked the fact that I just got to meet everyone and we all just blended.

Who do you think is your biggest competition?

Oh, my God, who is my biggest competition? So, it’s crazy. I wouldn’t say competition, but the person that I’m looking at is Layton who is fantastic, of course he’s got dance experience but he’s also learning something new as well, his energy is wonderful. But I’m telling you now, you got to look out for Bobby Brazier.

Look out for Bobby man, he was the first one to put on his dancing shoes. He’s the only one that kept them on even when we had to take him off. During lunch, he had them on. I said, you know what? I’m gonna get my shoes on too. You can tell he’s so enthusiastic and he just wants to learn and he’s got the right figures, and he can move so yeah, he is my friendly competition.

Do you have your eye on the Glitterball?

I do, I do, I do! That’s part of it you know, the idea that you do your very best because. You asked earlier, what’s going to be one of the most challenging situations but actually also mentally, and emotionally I think probably tapping into a new realm. I can tell even just by dancing with the different pros for five minutes and how we can relate to how they’re advising, they take you on as their child, even for those five minutes and you realise you’ll be doing 10 hours of this, I’m going to need you.

Whoever it is going to be, I’m going to need you to just mentally tap into something. As much as I’m a performer, and I can perform in front of a big crowd, I think with this, you’ll go into a whole new space, like a baby, you know. I think for me, mentally, it’s really going to take me to another level.

Do you have a signature dance move?

I love my Afro-beats I have an Afro beat show on 1xtra. African dancing has always been my thing Congolese people we will move our hips a lot. There’s been a lot of thrusting over the years by myself. But yeah, I have my signature waist movements, a few people call me a waist-man for good reasons.

Ellie Leach

Why do you want to take part in the show this year?

Well, I’ve always wanted to do Strictly, always! Ever since I was younger, I’ve been obsessed with dancing and watching dancing. I used to do tap and ballet when I was younger, but I’m not trained. I think just coming out of Coronation Street, it’s amazing to have a new experience and do something that I have never done before.

What do you think will be the biggest challenge?

I think for me maybe the live aspect just because I’ve never done that before. Obviously, when I did Coronation Street its pre-recorded and I think the live situation is a bit scary, but I’m excited. Again, it’s something different, so I’m excited to experience that.

How do you feel about being Strictly-fied?

I can’t wait, I cannot wait! Give me the tan, give me the sequins, give me the make-up the hair, the glitter, everything. That’s the best part about it.

Are there any memorable or standout moments for you from previous series?

Oh, that’s a good question. I think probably most people say this, but when Rose danced that for me was utterly unbelievable. When I was watching her, I couldn’t even gasp for breath, I was like ‘Oh my God. It’s amazing!’ She was so beautiful, like the way that she danced was just amazing. I love that she was just like; this is me and this is what I do, this is my life and you are going to see it.

Do you have any previous dance experience?

Yes, so, I did tap, ballet and street dance when I was younger. But I’m in no way shape or form, trained in Ballroom or Latin. I wish I was because that would be amazing. But no, I’m not. I’ve always been interested in dancing and when I was younger, I always used to watch Step Up and Street Dance and Fame. I’ve always enjoyed watching dance films and videos of people dancing. So, I’m excited to get my dancing shoes on and do it!

How are you preparing for the show?

Well, I have been going to the gym actually, but I hate it so much! I wish that I could be one of those gym girlies, but I want to feel more confident in my outfits and I want to feel more confident in the dancing. I want to be able to be fit enough to get through a routine so I’m of excited for the fitness side of it, and I have put a bit of fake tan on just to see if it suits me. I’m just looking forward to getting going!

Have you had any advice from anyone who has done the show before?

Kym Marsh, who did Strictly last year, was just like you’re going have the best time. Dancing wise she didn’t give me any advice but she was like, you will have the absolute best time of your life like it’s the most amazing experience.

Do you know any of your fellow 2023 contestants?

I know Adam Thomas, I have known him for a long time because he’s really close to my cousin. I kind of grew up with them and when I was younger, I was with Adam and his brothers Ryan and Scott at lot. I feel like he’s going to look after me. Although, I might be looking after him!

Who do you think is your biggest competition?

Amanda, is a dark horse. I know it for a fact. I was watching and I was like ‘Oh my God, you’re so good’.

Do you have your eye on the Glitterball?

I mean, you’d be silly not to have your eye on the Glitterball. I mean, for me, winning is great, but it’s always the taking part that counts. I’m just really excited to have fun but obviously to win would be amazing, an absolute dream come true, but also, being part of this journey is already a dream come true. So, I’m really excited to kind of just ride the wave and see where I end up.

Do you have any signature dance moves you always do at parties?

When I was on the radio the other day, I was asked if have any moves or anything? Tell me why I said the worm?! They were like ‘Do it on the floor now’ so I did and the presenter was like, ‘Oh my God, we’re going on a night out, and you have to you have to show me the worm in the flesh!’. I did, when I went to Copenhagen, it was awful, it was in this horrible, sweaty club. This guy did the worm on the floor and he thought that he was the only person that could do that and I was like wait a second, everyone part ways, it’s my turn!

Jody Cundy

What made you want to take part in the show this year?

When I got the phone call, it was like, that is Strictly Come Dancing, the biggest show on BBC! I can’t imagine myself dancing, no I won’t do it. Then I was like, actually, it’s Strictly Come Dancing, it’s the biggest show on TV, and it’s pretty cool. I started chatting to my fiancé about it, she was like ‘let’s do it!’. So, it took about a week between myself, my fiancé, the team at British Cycling to try and see how we’re going to balance everything out.

It’s a year out from the Paralympics, so, obviously it’s not the perfect timing for preparation for Paralympics but there’s something about doing this that is going raise the profile of disability in sport. In Paralympic sport, you see Paralympic athletes once every four years and you have to basically relearn who they are every four years, so, if I can make a name for myself here, then maybe we’ll have a few more fans that watch the Paralympics next year in Paris and hopefully I’ll be there and they’ll be able to support as well.

What do you think will be the biggest challenge?

The biggest challenge will be learning to dance. I am ground zero, so whoever my pro is they’ve got their work cut out for them. Everyone says I’m literally the last person to get dragged onto the dance floor, if I even manage to make it to the dance floor! One of the reasons I actually wanted to do it is because the kids and my fiancé, they’ll be dancing away to music in the kitchen and will be being silly and happy, and I sit and just watch them and just kind of smile along. When I mentioned to them that I was doing Strictly, they said ‘You don’t even dance with us!’. I want to come out of myself, so, I am happy dancing with those guys because if I can be a fool around them or whatever, then I can be a fool around other people as well. I think the biggest challenge is learning how to dance. I think just taking everything on board and going from that, to something that resembles dance when we finish.

How do you feel about being Strictly-fied?

To be fair, when I said I’m all in, I’m all in, so I trust everybody that is involved in it. If they said, this looks good, and this is going to look good on camera then so be it. So, I’m intrigued and I don’t know where we draw the line or if any lines going to be drawn but I spend my life in lycra, so I’m happy with the tight fitted outfits, sequins and glitter stuff, that is Strictly personified! The one question everybody asks is, ‘Are you going to get a fake tan?’ and to be fair, I’m pretty fair skinned on a TV camera, so if it means that I need to have a fake tan, then I’m not saying no!

Are there any memorable or standout moments for you from previous series?

I used to watch it quite a bit back in the day. So, I remember Colin Jackson and Louis Smith and them being really graceful on the dance floor. I remember Louis specifically just because of his gymnastic ability and just being able then to transform that into dance. He was really good. I obviously knew Louis because he was on the Sky Sports scholarship with me, so to see his journey, it was pretty special.

And then obviously Jonnie Peacock, he was the first Paralympian that appeared on Strictly. He’s a below knee amp like me and I’ve been watching his videos and tried to judge how he did it. I think the big skill that he seemed to have, is he made it look like he didn’t have a prosthetic. You watch his footwork and I know how you’d normally walk with the prosthetic and for the dancer’s way, you just use the normal rather than the running blade. I couldn’t work out which foot it is and for me that’s my goal, to do that.

It’s nice also been seeing people that I’ve had associations with or worked with. So, seeing Lauren Steadman and Ellie Simmonds do it, I swam with both of those guys in my swimming career days, so just seeing them performing. And obviously Victoria Pendleton, I used to train with her at the time when she was on track.

Have you had any advice from anyone who has done the show before?

I had a really good conversation with Lauren and she was giving me advice and said ‘If you need anything, just give us a shout’. So it’s nice knowing I’ve got people who’ve been through this because I think unless you’ve been through it, you probably don’t have this grounded conversation or opinion on it. But the fact that they’ve done the long hours of dance and the practice, it’s just nice to know that there’s people on tap to be able to chat to you.

The best advice is just literally smile and enjoy it. It’s a once in a lifetime chance, not everybody gets asked to do it. So, for me it is to smile and enjoy and not take it too seriously. I’ll try and make sure it’s perfect, but I know in this short space of time it’s not going to be perfect. I need to just be the best I can with a big smile on my face.

Do you have a previous dance experience?

My dance experience is zero. The closest you can even get to dancing is in Rio, when I won the One Kilometer time trial and watched The Last Leg the day before, and Alex Brooker was saying is anybody going to do this dance with their arms? When I saw that, and I was like, if I can remember to do it, I will try and do it and I won. I had just finished with my bike and got off my bike and the crowd rolling in front. I was just like doing this dance and I’m laughing my head off. I had just won Paralympic gold and I’m doing this dance that Alex Brooker suggested!

How are you preparing for the show?

I’ve been watching quite a lot of videos on the YouTube channel, which is brilliant. It’s like every dance from every year from as long as you can go back, I think. So that’s great to be able to watch all the different styles of dancing to look at what the pros are doing. So, if I’m watching a female celebrity, I’m watching their male pro to work out what they’re doing that because that’s the bit essentially that I’m going to be doing when it comes to my performances. So, it’s just picking up subtle details. Obviously, they spend their lifetime doing this and I’m not going to be doing it as they do, but it’s how they step, how they move, how they interact with the other person. So I’ve just spent a lot of time watching videos.

It’s simple things like learning a bit of choreography and the steps and the timings and where you need to be, the balance to go from there, the posture, but there’s so many different bits that I need to learn. First, I need to learn the steps then is the posture then have to add some pizazz to it and then bring it together as a performance. So, there’s lots of different layers. So, I just need to work on layer one first. Which is basically where I need to be and how I need to get there. And then if we can manage that early on, we can work on the rest of it as we go.

Do you know any of your fellow 2023 contestants?

Krishnan Guru Murthy is the only person I’ve actually done anything with before. Obviously, he’s one of the Chief Broadcasters on the Paralympics when they come around so I know him from there. He also did a Sport Relief triathlon bike ride a couple of years ago. They were going to be going across an ice plane and they ended up going across a hot desert because of COVID. We had this training camp and all these celebs came in and we spent half a day with them, teaching them how to ride bikes, and had to work out what they should be doing on the bike to get the most out of it. So that was good fun. So, Krishnan is the only person I actually have had an interaction with.

Who do you think is your biggest competition?

Well, having seen a couple of them move, I think Bobby’s probably one because he started learning moves, and then he was watching himself in the mirror. Every time there was a break he put his dance shoes on when we first got there when we tried them on, and he was in them the whole day. Every time you saw him, when he had five minutes, he wasn’t sat down, he was doing a little Cha cha cha in the mirror and he was just watching it like absorbing everything. So, I think he’s a dark horse for out and out performance.

Do you have your eye on the Glitterball?

As a competitive Jody? Yes. Because like I can’t go into anything without trying to win it. Realistically, I’m just looking not to go out the first week when there’s eliminations. Then, my goals will move accordingly. If we get to a stage and have a couple of weeks in the competition, then it will be ‘can we get to week four or five?’ I’ll feel like I’m then into the dancing and I’ll feel like I can learn stuff.

If you can make it to Blackpool, it’s like a completely different venue to go, it’s got a history of Ballroom dancing and everything and that’s quite a nice little marker in the sand I think if I get to there, then we’re a good way in, and we’re in November time then I might as well have a go at winning it now, but realistically all eyes are on not going home first.

Do you have any signature dance move that you always do at parties?

I don’t have anything I do at dance parties, apart from the shuffle away from the dancefloor. Or the Paralympic one when I won.

Krishnan Guru Murthy

What made you want to take part in the show this year?

Something changed this year. I have been asked to do Strictly before and it has always been a pretty hard no. But this year I think it’s maybe a combination of post pandemic, the time of my life, knowing lots of people have been going through tough times. I just thought you only live once and this is going to be amazing fun. Why deprive yourself from that amount of joy in your life when you don’t need to? It’s going to be tough, fitting it all in and I had about three conversations with people I trust about whether I should do it or not, and they all instantly said yes, so now is the time to do it, it just felt right.

What do you think will be the biggest challenge?

Everything about it is a big challenge. The biggest thing I am scared of, is physically not being able to do this. I am not a fit person and I have never exercised really. I am overweight and I have got loads of things wrong me, so that’s been my biggest worry about whether I can actually physically do it. Then of course, there is the basic question of, can I dance? and I don’t know the answer to that, I will find out!

How do you feel about being Strictly-fied?

I worry that there is not a lot to work with. I think I have changed my mind about being Strictly-fied, I think when I first thought about Strictly it was, ‘well you are not going to wear any of that ridiculous stuff!’ and ‘you can’t do glittery and you can’t do sequins and you have got to maintain some dignity’ but the more I think about it, the more I think you just have to place your trust in Strictly and the process. If you are going to entertain then you have got to do everything that is involved, and that involves costume. So being Strictly-fied is not really about changing Krishnan Guru Murthy, it’s about me getting into character.

Are there any memorable or stand-out moments for you from previous series?

I think the moment I took notice of Strictly again and thought maybe I could do it one day was when Ed Balls did it. I thought the way he handled it was just brilliant because my initial reaction when I heard that Ed was doing it was, that’s going to be awful. He was such a triumph and it was such a personal triumph for him and it transformed his life. Then I thought, that’s incredible and I certainly took notice then. If I have a Strictly hero its Bill Bailey and I don’t know him personally, but he was someone I never expected to see on Strictly and I was not expecting him to be good and he was so good. So, I think those two were my two standouts.

Do you have any previous dance experience?

No. I used to be the twenty-something who would dance at night clubs and at parties. I think that kind of stopped in my thirties. So, I have no dance experience really. My sister reminded me the other day, that I think when I was about five, I went into the back of her ballet class, and I probably took part in some way, but that’s it.

How are you preparing for the show?

To say preparing would be a massive overstatement of the truth. I have done ten days of Pilates. I have lost a lot of weight earlier this year, I went on this massive health kick in April/May and I lost about eleven kilos and so I am sure that under normal circumstances I would have put most of it back on. But, I have tried very hard to keep that weight off, so that is probably the extent of my training which was quite hard when you have been on holiday.

Have you had any advice from anyone who has done the show before?

I know lots of people who have done the show before, the one I have spoken to is Rob Rinder. Who I know because we went across Namibia together for Sports Relief and his advice was to not think too much and to surrender to Strictly.

Do you know any of the other 2023 contestants?

I have met Les before back in the dim and distant past and I think we did a gameshow together. I have interviewed Jody as an athlete, he also gave me a little bit of cycle training before I did this dessert trip with Rob Rinder for Sports Relief. All of us were given a session by Jody and other people to teach us how to ride mountain bikes.

Who do you think is your biggest competition?

I don’t think of this as a competitive process for me really, so, I don’t really think of the others like that. I don’t think of myself as competing with them as a thing. I look at Layton and Bobby and their physical ability and youth, you just kind of think they are incredible and that they are going to be brilliant. I think they are going to be fantastic competitors and they are both really likeable.

Do you have your eye on the Glitterball?

I think if you are doing Strictly, of course you dream of winning the trophy. I will do absolutely everything I can to do as well as I possibly can, but I also live in the real world.

Do you have a signature dance move you always do at parties?

No.

Layton Williams

What made you want to take part in the show this year?

I love me a dance, I love to perform so it seems like a no brainer to hopefully do that in front of millions of people and enjoy it every time! Also my Mum would absolutely kill me if I said no! That’s the truth.

What do you think will be the biggest challenge?

I’m a bit of a perfectionist, so getting the moves exactly how the judges want it I’ll find a challenge. I’m kind of ready for the judges to go hard on me and I want to hold myself to a high regard and for my pro to really push me… so just have everything to the best standard as possible… and obviously not falling flat on my face.

How do you feel about being ‘Strictly-fied’?

I was born to be Strictly-fied… give it to me! I also want to play around with what people might potentially expect. Every week I want to bring people something new, and to play with fashion and glam. I’m not afraid to switch it up and go for it. Go hard or go home!

Are there any memorable or standout moments for you, from previous series?

I’ve been obsessed with rewatching old series (I’m doing my research!), when the music stopped during Rose and Giovanni’s performance that brought me to tears. Moments like that are just so powerful. Things can shake the nation, beautiful. Hamza, to come from no dance experience and to go and win, I was just so impressed. Unreal.

You just don’t know who is going to do that from this year and I’m really ready to be people’s cheerleader as well. I can really get people going, if they’re nervous or anything. I want to be I want to be that person that keeps everyone positive… I like to say ‘choose joy!’

Do you have any previous dance experience?

I trained in jazz, tap and ballet to a certain degree. I’m absolutely not a ballet dancer, but I’ve done shows that I’ve had to play characters that are. I did work for Matthew Bourne’s company a good few years ago. So dance is in me, it’s a core feeling and I love it and it’s my passion. But this world of Latin and Ballroom is completely new to me, so that’s what I’m excited to explore.

How are you preparing for the show?

Well, right now I’m doing 12-hour days on set for Bad Education so unfortunately, I don’t have too much time to prep, but when I do get home, I’m literally watching every performance to get inspiration. I want to be part of the creative process as much as I can be as I’m a creative being. I want make it as magical as possible because you never know whether it’s going to be the last time to dance.

Have you had any advice from anyone who has done the show before?

Yes, I’ve got lots of voicemails from AJ Odudu, Ashley Roberts, Clara Amfo, Jayde Adams… all my girls! I need to speak to Faye Tozer as well, and Pixie… all of them!

Do you know any of your fellow 2023 contestants?

Actually, no. We’ve obviously known of each other because that’s the biz, but not really no. I’m so excited to get to know everyone. I feel like it’s a real good bunch and I think I’m going to make some genuine friends.

Who do you think is your biggest competition?

Myself, because I’m a perfectionist. I know it’s a competition, I’m in my lane and everyone else is doing their own journey. So as long as I’m proud of what I’ve done, and I’ve made my pro, family and friends proud, that’s all that matters. I want to go out with dignity.

Do you have your eye on the Glitterball?

I mean, I think it would be silly if I didn’t. I don’t like to get my hopes up because I like to be quite pragmatic in life, one of my favourite quotes is ‘leave expectations at the door’ and I’m very much coming into this saying ‘what will be will be’, but I do want to be at Blackpool… because I came to slay!

Do you have a signature dance move you always do at parties?

This booty has always been popping! I don’t know when I can reveal, but these legs are flexi and sexy, so you might be seeing me in some split positions! Probably every week. One thing I am good at is a high kick.

Les Dennis

What made you want to take part in the show this year?

I’m coming up to 70 this year and If I’m still in, I’ll have my 70th birthday on the show and I just thought, you know what, why not? I’m up for a challenge. I always do things that are outside my comfort zone. I did my first opera two years ago, I worked at the Royal Shakespeare Company without any training three years ago, so, if there’s anything that goes outside of my comfort zone, I go ‘I’m scared so let’s do it’. I had a knee replacement two years ago and thought you’re not too old, go for it. It’s so exciting and it’s an iconic wonderful show, I love to watch it as a viewer, so, when I got the offer to do it, I was like ‘yeah, no brainer!’

What do you think will be the biggest challenge?

Lycra. Well, I’m not a trained dancer, I can pick up steps when a teacher or somebody takes me through them, but it takes me a long time. This is as we saw from speed dancing at rehearsals the other day, you’ve got to go quickly, but I enjoyed that because it was like ‘gotta keep up… gotta keep up’. So my biggest challenge is dancing!

How do you feel about being Strictly-fied?

The lycra… I’m fine about it. You know that if there’s an outfit that I go,’ what do you think?’ I’m sure the team are so good that they know, a 70-year-old man in lycra isn’t necessarily the best thing to look at. So, I’m sure they will keep me dignified in a Strictly way.

Are there any memorable or standout moments for you from previous series?

Oh, gosh, I loved Richard Coles. he is a friend and I loved him when he came down you know from the sky. Bill Bailey, of course! For all comedians, to see his journey was amazing.

I enjoyed Richie Anderson last year, and I was really disappointed for him when he went out so early because I thought he was doing so well. And of course, Rose Ayling-Ellis was incredible. Ed Balls was hilarious it gives an older guy a little bit of hope. Tony Adams, I thought was again, a real sport and got further than he expected to. Of course, you know, my friend Debbie McGee was incredible. Leslie Joseph, is another friend of mine, so I loved watching her.

I love the people who have journeys, who start off and you think they’re going to be out next week but then they surprise us all.

Do you have any previous dance experience?

I did Me and My Girl in 1991 and I had to learn to tap dance and I ended up tap dancing on a table in front of 2000 people every night. So, I have a little… I can do a time step… a tap time step.

I work with Bill Deamer, who is the choreographer on 42nd Street recently so I do move. If I do Hairspray or 42nd street I usually have the comedy number that’s got a little shoe shuffle in. So that’s about the most I’ve got, no Ballroom at all or Latin.

How are you preparing for this show?

I’ve been watching Brendan Cole’s dance with my Fitbit. Brendan and I did a reality show about five years ago where we walked from Switzerland to Rome and Brendan was really good at keeping me motivated and kept me going.

So, I watch him and Kelly Brook doing dance bits and at least I can pick up a few of the steps from that and I’m going out and walking and making sure that I do my 10,000 steps a day and just changed my diet recently just eating healthier stuff, boring stuff.

Have you had any advice from anyone who has done the show before?

I’m working with Faye Tozer, and she got to the final and so she’s telling me to make sure that I get a footbath, and Lesley Joseph has given me some bits as well.

Do you know any of your fellow 2023 contestants?

I’ve met a lot of them. Kind of… Ellie and I were on Coronation Street together but we never really worked together until the very end, just before my character died, we had a little story line together. So, it was lovely to see her.

Annabel Croft reminded me, that her and I played celebrity tennis a long time ago. Well, she played tennis and I tried to hit the ball. So, I was about as good at tennis as I am a dancer but it was lovely to catch up with her.

Who do you think is your biggest competition?

In our first rehearsal for the group dance you can only look into the eyes of your partner, you can’t look around and think how is everyone else doing so I have no idea who my competition is. But like I say I’m competing with myself. I just want to do my best.

Do you have your eye on the glitterball?

I have my eye on holding it and seeing what it feels like but I might not be here that long. No, I don’t have my eye on the glitterball. Like I say, I’m here to have a life experience and to have fun and not let my nerves get the best of me. I want to enjoy and savor every moment I’m here, however far I get.

Do you have a signature dance move that you always do?

A signature dance move. Yeah, it’s dad dancing, basically. In fact, I take that dad dancing into grandad dancing level now.

Nigel Harman

What made you want to take part in the show this year?

The easiest place to start is that I love the show. I watch the show, I love the entertainment value of it, I find it to be full of heart and full of love. There’s a magical quality to it, plus when I sit and watch with my family we always vote! When it came around and I was most recently asked to do it – I thought somebody has phoned me up with this opportunity to learn how to dance Latin and Ballroom and they’ve given me the opportunity to join this crazy, wonderful world so I really surprised myself when I thought ‘I actually want to do this.’ I tentatively went to the first meeting… and now here I am, and I am thinking what have I done?!

What do you think will be the biggest challenge?

Learning the dances every week! When I did a practice, I did the Cha Cha Cha, I looked in the mirror at myself and it was unlike anything I’ve ever seen… in a really bad way! So a big challenge is the physical side of things…

Part of my nature is quite shy and part of my nature it quite gregarious, so I’m just hoping that the gregarious side shows up! Because if the shy side comes up that might be quite difficult with some of the dances.

I’m looking forward to doing the Waltz and the Quickstep! The Rumba is like dancing on Mars for me… I’m looking forward to the challenge but I really don’t want to do that one!

How do you feel about being ‘Strictly-fied’?

I was playing cricket the other day, we were in the middle of a match and all the boys wanted to do was talk to me about Strictly… asking me what are you going to wear?!

I’m quite looking forward to it all… the fake tan… but the glitter I can take or leave. There are certain outfits, probably in the Latin section, that I’m a bit more apprehensive about – where you have to come down with your belly button hanging out… I’m 50… does the nation need to see this? But I think in for a penny, in for a pound really!

Are there any memorable or standout moments for you, from previous series?

Fleur stands out for me last year… her dance in Blackpool… she is such a rockstar! I keep telling my daughter I’m going to be best mates with Fleur when I go on It Takes Two with her.

Danny Mac was amazing, but there are so many people along the 21 years. Something about Anne Widdecombe and her relationship with Anton too was brilliant!

Do you have any previous dance experience?

Yes, I used to go to Amateur Dramatics in South Croydon, a bit of tap and jazz. I have a diploma in musical theatre… some shocking ballet dancing! I’m very good from the waist up, big face and good arms, waist down is shocking… no elasticity, nothing! When I left college I danced on a cruise ship for six months, not the best one I’ll be honest,17 costume changes in a 35 minute show, that sort of thing!

I did some musicals in London when I was first starting out, I would understudy the lead, so I had to dance well enough to do the ensemble stuff, but I would always head for the back. Very enthusiastic but not great. I haven’t really danced in 20 years though!

Enthusiastic, with a bit of training. I’ve never learnt a step of Ballroom or Latin dancing.

How are you preparing for the show?

There’s no better motivation to get you to the gym than knowing you’re going to be doing some kind of wafty shirt number on national TV in front of millions of people. I have been gymming, but not as much as I should have been really! I’m hoping in my dream world to pack it all in in the next few weeks.

Have you had any advice from anyone who has done the show before?

Charles Venn has told me to do lots of cardio and he said just be yourself, which I loved.

Do you know any of your fellow 2023 contestants?

There are people who I’m familiar with, but didn’t know, but there is an instant feeling of they are all good souls. It’s a great team, there are a lot of people to have fun with and laugh with. We all know exactly what we’re going through, I love that Krishnan got everyone’s number when we all first met, he’s a Captain! They are all lovely, it feels like we’re all in the trenches together! There’s a great range of people, personalities and experiences.

Who do you think is your biggest competition?

I don’t see it in that way really… there is no competition to me as we’re not doing the same dance altogether that week. All we’re doing is doing the best we can and the judges are going to tell us what they think!

Do you have your eye on the Glitterball?

I’m a competitive person, but not with other people, more so with myself.

Do you have a signature dance move you always do at parties?

It depends what time of the evening it is, but I am the sort of person that when the music comes on, I’ll go on the dancefloor and will lower my gaze and kind of go into my own world. I tend to just waggle around a lot!

Nikita Kanda

What made you want to take part in the show this year?

I can’t believe I was asked to do it; it was a pinch me moment. It’s such an iconic show, I literally could not say no it is a dream to do this show. So, I was never going to say no to it, ever.

What do you think will be the biggest challenge?

I think learning the dance technique and the moves, I’m not a natural dancer. I’m more like a raver in the club or wedding or something. So just genuinely remembering the steps and getting my head around that.

How would you feel about being Strictly-fied?

Oh, I am so excited, I have seen a little glimpse of my dress and I’m like, ‘Oh my God’ because I love getting glam. I am all about the makeup hair and throw as much glitter on me as you want.

Are there any memorable or standout moments for you from previous series?

I can’t get Judi Love out of my head when she did her little twerk to Sean Paul, that was epic. That was mine and my whole family’s favourite moment of Strictly. Also, obviously when Rose and Giovanni did the silent dance, I had goosebumps and was crying. Those are my two favourites from recent years.

Do you have any previous dance experience?

No, I am terrible. Like I’ve done acting and a bit singing in the past, but never dancing. Like I said, I’m just a bit of a raver. I was in Ibiza recently and I’m just like one hand up in the air. That’s all I could do, so I’m looking forward to seeing how this goes.

How are you preparing for the show?

You know what, I haven’t really done much prep. Like I’ve watched the show every year anyway so I know what the show is about. I’m trying not to overthink it and trying not to do too much prep on it, I just want to immerse myself in the experience. I’m just going with the flow.

Have you had any advice from anyone who has done the show before?

No, I haven’t actually. I haven’t spoken to anyone yet that has done the show. Obviously, there’s been previous radio presenters that have done it, but I haven’t hit them up. I actually had a message from Anita Rani, she messaged me to say you’re going to be great and just enjoy it. Everyone’s just saying enjoy it. I’m yet to have a little coffee with her, but she said we will catch up. So I haven’t had my full on debrief with her, but I’m sure we will.

Do you know any of your fellow 2023 contestants?

No. So, I’ve met Zara in passing. Eddie, I knew of but never met him. He works on the same floor at 1xtra and that’s it. For some, I knew who they were from like Coronation Street and EastEnders. So, I knew some of the faces but I’ve never met anyone else.

Who do you think is your biggest competition?

I don’t think I want to say anyone is competition, I want positive vibes because I just think everyone’s so different. I know it’s a competition, but I don’t want to be like ‘oh, that this person is my competition’ just because I don’t know yet. We haven’t danced in front of each other properly yet. I think everyone is so different, I don’t know how I can compare.

Do you have your eye on the Glitterball?

Oh, 100%. I think obviously it’d be a dream come true wouldn’t it… to have your hands on it. My mum was like ‘you better bring that back, I need it on my fireplace!’ I think whatever I do, I give 100%, so obviously you want to aim for getting to the final. If I could, it would be a dream. But either way if I don’t, it’s still amazing taking part in it. But I want to try and get as far as I can.

Do you have a signature dance move you always do at parties?

I literally just put my hands up in the air. I’m just like a side to side with my arm waving, the club dance is my signature. The Kanda club dance.

Zara McDermott

What made you want to take part in the show this year?

I think the idea of pushing myself out of my comfort zone is something that I’ve tried to do the whole of my 20s. Dancing is something that I know I’m not very good at and I’m not very strong and confident at. I’ve never been the girl to even dance in a nightclub in front of my friends, or dance at a bar because I’m just really nervous about how I look and I feel like this is going to be literally throwing myself into the deep end and doing something that I’m completely not confident with, and just giving it a go.

A really big thing for me actually is from my documentaries, I meet so many women who are literally so nervous to be on camera, to be interviewed and I’m presented every single day with really brave people who are pushing themselves out of their comfort zone, being interviewed by me and doing something that’s so crazy to them. I feel like with this I’m doing the same thing, like they’ve almost inspired that that kind of leap of faith for me.

What do you think will be the biggest challenge?

Probably trying not to get too in my own head and annoyed at myself if I get something wrong. I have to keep reminding myself that I’m not professional. I think that’s going to be the biggest thing for me is remembering it’s okay to get it wrong, it’s OK not to be good at it in the first few days.

Especially when you’re dancing with a pro like that, you’re going to feel like you want to be at that level and I need to keep reminding myself that that’s not my job. My job is to just do my best. I’m just quite a perfectionist and I want to be good from day one and if I’m not good at something I get quite frustrated, so it’s about being kind to myself I think.

How do you feel about being ‘Strictly-fied’?

I am absolutely buzzing about that, I mean I’m obviously somewhat used to the glitz and the glamour occasionally, but not in the way that Strictly works and I’m most excited about the outfits… that’s going to be incredible.

Are there any memorable or standout moments for you, from previous series?

I actually remember watching the first series when I was seven, with my Nan when she was looking after us. We would watch the show and replicate the dances ourselves in the living room. She’s sadly passed away now but I just think that she would be over the moon if she knew that I was doing this. I feel like she’s looking down on me and I’m thinking of her a lot with every moment of this, she’s my little guardian angel watching and being really proud.

Do you have any previous dance experience?

No! I went to a sports college and we had to do a physical activity for GCSE and you either had to do PE or dance. I didn’t want to do PE, so I did dance and I could just tell my dance teacher was looking at me like ‘oh, no, no’. She did give me a C to be fair, I just scraped a pass, because I think I did everything right, I just think I didn’t look great!

How are you preparing for the show?

I’m trying to work on my fitness a bit more, I’m really into my exercise and my weight training and everything anyway, but I’m trying to stretch a lot more. I’m doing stretching every day, more cardio, things like that. Because I know how intense this is going to be and I want to prepare my body as best I can.

I’m obviously scared of being injured as well, this is such a new way of movement, something I’ve never done before, so lots of stretching!

Have you had any advice from anyone who has done the show before?

Vick Hope told me that she was so tired, but so hungry at the same time that she ate a whole rotisserie chicken in the bath and got really ill! So I won’t be doing that.

Jamie Laing too, I remember seeing him when he was really injured and seeing how gutted he was when he couldn’t participate that year, so I think my biggest fear is being injured so I’m trying to prep my body as best as I can.

Do you know any of your fellow 2023 contestants?

I don’t know anyone. It’s a nice fresh start.

Who do you think is your biggest competition?

Everyone at this point!

Do you have your eye on the Glitterball?

I think everyone has, but I’m trying to not think I want to win and I’m just trying to think I’m going to do my absolute best and living day by day and just doing my best every single day. But obviously I think everyone would absolutely love to win and I think I would love to win because I feel I have the least advantage of everybody, I have no natural dance ability. So the thought of winning is just incredible.

Do you have a signature dance move you always do at parties?

No, not really! That’s the funny thing about it. Absolutely not. I just stand in the corner and try not to try not to move too much. I just do a little bop.