It’s that time of year again where all other major telly channels can finally have their moment in the spotlight because ITV’s Love Island has gone into hibernation for another few months. Step forward BBC One and Strictly Come Dancing…
Although, saying that, the popular BBC dancing competition has certainly been ever-present in a different kind of spotlight these last few months, but it doesn't look like the various scandals, bombshells, departures and resignations are inhibiting this year’s series from going ahead.
So here's your need to know on Strictly 2024...
Strictly Come Dancing official line-up 2024 (so far)
Chris McCausland
On Monday 5 August 2024, comedian Chris McCausland – who is blind due to retinitis pigmentosa – was confirmed as the first celebrity contestant taking part in this year’s series of Strictly.
Chris McCausland has been a comedian for over two decades and is a regular face on comedy shows like Have I Got News for You, Would I Lie to You?, QI, The Last Leg, and 8 out of 10 Cats Does Countdown. Chris currently hosts his own Saturday morning chat show for ITV: The Chris McCausland Show.
The popular comedian told the BBC, "If anybody out there is thinking - How the hell is he going to do that? - then rest assured that I am thinking exactly the same thing. I don't dance, I haven't danced, I can't dance, I can't see the dancing I will have to do. What can possibly go wrong? Ok don't answer that…!”
JB Gill
On Monday 5 August 2024, JB Gill became the second confirmed celebrity. The singer, TV presenter and author rose to fame as a member of one of the UK’s biggest boybands – JLS. The boyband accumulated five number one singles, over 10 million record sales worldwide and have won a multitude of awards.
He told the BBC, “I danced in the Strictly Christmas special over a decade ago and LOVED it, so when I got the call to join Strictly this year, it was an immediate yes from me. I’m raring to go to and looking forward to showing off some new skills to the JLS boys."
Wynne Evans
The third contestant to be announced is opera singer Wynne Evans, perhaps best known for his role as Gio Compario in the Go Compare insurance adverts. Throughout his 25-year career he has had two number one classical music albums, has been a principal at most of the major opera houses around the world and has given over 200 performances at the Royal Albert Hall in London. Wynne currently has a daily radio show on BBC Radio Wales and has previously had radio shows on BBC Radio 3 and Classic FM.
Toyah Willcox
The fourth contestant to be announced is rock legend/punk princess Toyah Willcox. Toyah has been performing across stage and screen for over 50 years. She is an award-winning rock legend with hit singles like It's A Mystery, I Want to Be Free and Brave New World and played at this year’s Glastonbury Festival with her husband, Robert Fripp. She has amassed thirteen top 40 singles, recorded twenty-five albums, written two books, appeared in over forty stage plays, acted in over twenty feature films and presented many television programmes.
Dr Punam Krishan
The fifth celeb set to take to this dance floor this Autumn is media medic and broadcaster Dr Punam Krishan. Punam is a resident GP on BBC ‘Morning Live’ and BBC Radio Scotland. Alongside being a practising NHS GP, she regularly reports on health news as a broadcaster on TV, radio and national newspapers and has also written her own children’s book.
Tasha Ghouri
It's so not Closer's style to say we told you so, but... we told you so.
The sixth celebrity confirmed for this year's series of Strictly Come Dancing is Love Island icon, model and dancer, Tasha Ghouri. She appeared on Love Island in 2022, making it all the way to the final with boyfriend Andrew Le Page, and since then has amassed a following of over 2.2 million across her social media network. Tasha – who is deaf and is a Cochlear Implant user – is a published author with her debut novel Hits Different and has her own podcast, Superpowers with Tasha.
Tasha told the BBC, "Pinch me, I can't believe I'm going to be on Strictly Come Dancing! I’ve been watching the show since I was little – it's a firm Ghouri family favourite - so this is a total dream come true. I know it's going to be an unforgettable experience and I hope to represent and make everyone proud out on that dance floor.”
Pete Wicks
TOWIE legend Pete Wicks is the seventh celebrity confirmed for Strictly 2024.
Now that the first few dominos have fallen it is likely the remaining members of this year’s line-up will be announced this week. Pete first appeared on our screens on TOWIE in 2015. Alongside this, Pete Wicks co-hosts the award-nominated podcast Staying Relevant which has had over 5million downloads to date and has been number one in the comedy charts numerous times. Pete Wicks is also an animal rights advocate and supports many charities.
Sharing the news with Jordan and Perri on KISS Breakfast, the TOWIE icon said, “Can you really imagine me doing this?
"Sam [Thompson] already knows, and Sam cried. I’m not even joking you, there were actual tears. Sam is the one person who will be there every single Saturday. The guy really needs to get a life. He’s my number one fan in life. He’s like Martha in Baby Reindeer - that’s basically our relationship.”
Shayne Ward
X Factor legend Shayne Ward was announced for Strictly 2024 on Thursday 8 August.
Shayne's debut single and album topped the UK charts, with his single, That's My Goal making it to Christmas number one after he won the second series of The X Factor in 2005. Shayne is also a multi-award-winning actor with his character, Aidan Connor in Coronation Street. In addition, Shayne has performed in a number of musicals and feature films, including Rock of Ages on the West End stage. He’s currently the lead character in crime-drama series The Good Ship Murder on Channel 5.
Sarah Hadland
Actress Sarah Hadland was also announced on Thursday 8 August. She has an extensive background in film, television and theatre. She is best known for her role as Stevie in Miranda as well as being one of the original cast members of the multi-award winning series Horrible Histories. Sarah has appeared in numerous films, including the Bond epic Quantum of Solace and her notable theatre credits include Noises Off on the West End.
Jamie Borthwick
EastEnders Jamie Borthwick is the tenth celebrity confirmed for Strictly Come Dancing 2024. Jamie rose to fame playing Jay Brown in ‘EastEnders’ which he has starred in since 2006. He is now one of the longest serving actors on the show. Jamie also won the 2023 Strictly Come Dancing Christmas special, so this isn't his first time taking to the dance floor.
Tom Dean MBE
Three-time Olympic swimming champion is the eleventh celebrity taking part in Strictly 2024. At the Tokyo 2020 Olympics Tom made history as the first British man to win a gold medal for the men’s 200m swim freestyle in over 100 years, going on to win a further gold medal in Tokyo and become England’s most decorated athlete at the subsequent 2022 Commonwealth Games, winning a total of seven medals. Most recently, he brought home his third gold medal for Team GB from the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in the team 4 x 200m freestyle relay.
Montell Douglas
Montell Douglas - better known as Fire from Gladiators – is the twelfth celebrity contestant confirmed for Strictly 2024. She is a multi-talented sports star who has competed as an Olympic Bobsledder and Team GB Sprinter. In 2010, Montell Douglas won Commonwealth Gold in the 4x100m relay race. She also held the British woman’s record for fastest 100m sprint. Her appearance at the Beijing Winter Olympics in the Bobsledding team etched her name into sporting history as she became the first female UK athlete to compete at both the Summer and Winter Olympic Games.
Nick Knowles
BAFTA-winning TV presenter Nick Knowles is the thirteenth celebrity contestant confirmed for Striclty 2024. For the last 24 years, Nick Knowles has been the face of the BBC’s BAFTA-winning DIY SOS. Alongside this, Nick has always been passionate about travelling and most recently, worked with Channel 5 on various travel programmes including Into the Grand Canyon, The Mighty Mississippi and Nick Knowles in South America.
Paul Merson
Arsenal legend Paul Merson is the fourteenth celebrity contestant confirmed for the brand new series of Strictly Come Dancing. Paul Merson made his debut playing for Arsenal FC when he was 17 years old and went on to win the PFA Young Player of the Year. Paul played for the club for over a decade, playing 424 times, scoring 99 goals and winning all domestic trophies, as well as the European Cup Winners’ Cup. Paul played 21 times for England, scoring three times and went on to play for Middlesbrough, Aston Villa, Portsmouth. Paul is now a football pundit and commentator and has written numerous books that cover his football career and personal life.
Sam Quek MBE
Sam Quek MBE is the fifteenth celebrity contestant confirmed for the new series. Sam is an Olympic and European Gold medallist, former England and Team GB hockey player and now a TV and radio presenter. Sam Quekwon 125 international caps for the England and Great Britain women’s hockey teams, including a Gold Medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics. In 2017, Sam was awarded an MBE for ‘Services to Hockey’.
When does Strictly start?
BBC bosses have finally confirmed that the first episode will air on Saturday 14 September.
Which dancing professionals will be taking part in Strictly 2024?
The line-up of professional dancers recently changed following news of Graziano Di Prima's departure from the BBC show. The dancer released a statement on Instagram on Monday 15 July saying he "deeply regrets" the events leading up to his exit and acknowledged that his "intense passion and determination to win might have affected my training regime".
A BBC spokesperson has now also confirmed that Graziano is "no longer a part of the line-up of professional dancers for the upcoming series". The departure follows claims – reported by The Mail on Sunday – that Graziano was "sacked" following allegations of "gross misconduct" towards his former partner, Love Island star Zara McDermott.
The news comes just weeks after a complaints row involving former contestant Amanda Abbington led to dancing professional Giovanni Pernice leaving the show earlier this summer. An investigation is still underway, but as such, he too, will not be taking part in the upcoming series.
On a more positive note, the BBC recently confirmed that Strictly favourite Aljaž Škorjanec will be returning to the Strictly Come Dancing ballroom as a professional dancer for the brand-new series, after a two year hiatus.
Aljaž will join Professionals Dianne Buswell, Nadiya Bychkova, Amy Dowden, Karen Hauer, Katya Jones, Neil Jones, Nikita Kuzmin, Gorka Marquez, Luba Mushtuk, Jowita Przystal, Johannes Radebe, Kai Widdrington, Nancy Xu, Carlos Gu, Lauren Oakley, Michelle Tsiakkas and Vito Coppola on the Ballroom floor this autumn/winter.
Who will be on the judging panel for Strictly Come Dancing 2024?
No shake-ups required with this awesome foursome; Queen of Latin Shirley Ballas, the magnificent Motsi Mabuse, the fantastically fab-u-lous Craig Revel-Horwood and the always effervescent Anton Du Beke, are all set to return to the series as judges.
What time is Strictly on?
You can watch Strictly on BBC One every Saturday evening but the timings usually vary from 6:20pm to 6:30pm. You can watch the results show on Sundays from 7:20pm.