Here at StrictlyDB we’re super excited by the first ‘official’ contestant announcements for this year’s Strictly Ballroom Battle, made on the BBC’s One Show last Friday night (04/08/2023).
If you check our News & rumours feed, you’ll already know that the media have been in overdrive in recent months with Strictly Star speculation, with a whole host of enticing names being thrown into the hat at various points (sometimes by celebrities themselves dropping their own ‘Pick Me’ pleas!)
Amanda Abbington, Angela Rippon and Layton Williams were all widely rumoured and are now confirmed; in contrast the announcement of Krishnan Guru-Murthy blindsided us here as his name had not cropped up. Before more reveals, we thought it would be fun to sum up the rest of the speculation in anticipation of further announcements coming soon.
Let us know in the Comments below who you think will make the final line-up or perhaps more interestingly who you want to see. As a massive Wham! fan, I’m secretly hoping Andrew Ridgeley will make the Class of 2023 but suspect I might have to settle for Stuart Broad (also fantastic btw) instead!
| A | Ade Adepitan
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Former wheelchair basketball player and TV presenter, who holds an MBE for services to disability in sport, Ade Adepitan could be Strictly’s first wheelchair contestant.
Strictly Come Dancing 2023 confirmed line-up and rumours as first three stars announced |
| Amanda Abbington (confirmed) | Sherlock and Mr Selfridge star Amanda (age 49) was the first officially announced competitor.
Amanda Abbington is our first celebrity contestant confirmed for Strictly Come Dancing 2023! |
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| B | Stuart Broad | After his recent post-Ashes retirement, cricketing hero Stuart is widely tipped to be throwing his ‘bat’ into the ring, inspired possibly by his fiancée Mollie King’s 2017 Semi-Final finish with AJ.
Stuart Broad reacts to Strictly rumours with hilarious ‘the headband’ update |
| Bobby Brazier (confirmed 09/08/23) |
20-year-old Bobby, who plays Freddie Slater in Eastenders, is just one of several of the soap’s stars about whom Strictly rumours are circulating.
STRICTLY SIGNING EastEnders star to sign up for Strictly Come Dancing after wowing soap’s fans |
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| C | Rylan Clark | Everyone’s favourite It Takes Two presenter and Radio 2 DJ has been touted as a possible participant – sadly we suspect this is more wishful thinking than likely reality because he’ll be sorely missed on the show.
Strictly Come Dancing 2023: Rumoured line-up including I’m A Celeb star excited for ‘curse’ |
| Peter Crouch | 6’7” ex-England football legend Peter (who holds the record for most headed goals by a Premier League player) would make a fascinating and popular choice. He could also get top tips from this wife, Abbey Clancy, who lifted the Glitterball with partner Aljaz in 2013. It’s a pity he’s been downplaying the speculation.
12 celebrities rumoured to star on Strictly Come Dancing 2023 |
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| D | Les Dennis (confirmed 11/08/23)
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69-year-old Les is an oft-rumoured contestant who has yet to actually appear but previously it seems to have been other work commitments that held him back – maybe this year’s the year for Les!
Les Dennis ‘signs up’ for Strictly and predicted to provide ‘great entertainment’ |
| Gino D’Acampo
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Annually rumours abound that the popular Italian TV chef, restauranteur and presenter will take to the floor but maybe his recent announcement that he is leaving Road Trip frees him up to finally take part.
Strictly Come Dancing 2023: Rumoured line-up including I’m A Celeb star excited for ‘curse’ |
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| Priya Davdra | 36-year-old Priya (who played Iqra Ahmed in Eastenders) is the second Walford resident who is being tipped to trip the light fantastic in 2023.
EXCLUSIVE: EastEnders stars Bobby and Priya could go head-to-head in Strictly as both ‘singled out’ |
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| E | Brenda Edwards | Loose Women’s 54-year-old Brenda is a widely rumoured signing and her West End performance experience would certainly bring something special to the ballroom.
EXCLUSIVE: Loose Women star Brenda Edwards ‘lined up for Strictly’ and is ‘a dream signing’ |
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| G | Josie Gibson | ‘This Morning’ star Josie Gibson was heavily mentioned in the media but apparently signed for ‘I’m a Celebrity’ instead. |
| Krishnan Guru-Murthy (confirmed) | Just announced as a somewhat surprise confirmed contestant, Channel 4 News main man Krishnan Guru-Murthy (53) is reported to be looking forward to Strictly as a welcome break from his often stressful day job.
Strictly Come Dancing’s fourth contestant revealed: Krishnan Guru-Murthy added to line-up |
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| H | Nigel Harman (confirmed 10/08/23) |
Could it be the year for a triple threat from the current and former residents of Albert Square? 48-year-old Nigel also starred in Downton Abbey and Casualty, but it seems he’s not the only potential Harman in the field!
EastEnders legend latest BBC star to ‘sign up for Strictly Come Dancing’ |
| Jasmine Harman | 47-year-old Jasmine – longstanding presenter of TV’s ‘A Place in the Sun’ – definitely seems up for it.
A Place in the Sun’s Jasmine Harman pleads with Strictly bosses to join the show |
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| J | Jill Scott | 36-year-old footballer Jill Scott would be a dream contestant. Ever popular, her success on last year’s ‘I’m a Celebrity’ would surely make her a strong contender to lift the Glitterball.
Strictly Come Dancing 2023: Rumoured line-up including I’m A Celeb star excited for ‘curse’ |
| K | Roman Kemp
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Having been a bit critical of the show for its ‘gossipy’ sidelines, the 30-year-old Capital Radio DJ teased his conditions for joining the line-up. Could Johannes and Roman be a winning combination?
Roman Kemp will only go on Strictly Come Dancing if he’s paired with this male partner |
| Nick Knowles | Nick is no stranger to some of the Strictly crew, as earlier this year Anton, Katya and Graziano joined the DIY SOS team on a project to transform a Newcastle dance school. Maybe this is Nick’s way of returning the favour?
Strictly Come Dancing 2023: Rumoured line-up including I’m A Celeb star excited for ‘curse’ |
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| L | Ellie Leach (confirmed 09/08/23) |
Former Corrie star actress Emma Leach, age 22, is apparently tempted to take to the ballroom after leaving the soap earlier this year. |
| Mark Labbett | 57-year-old ‘The Chase’ star Mark (aka The Beast) has apparently made no secret of his desire to participate. If he and Peter Crouch both joined this year’s line-up that would be two 6’7” contestants!
The Chase star Mark Labbett ‘dreams of going on Strictly’ after shedding 9 stone |
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| M | Sophie Morgan | Back in March, TV presenter and disability advocate Sophie (38) was the talk of the tabloids as potentially Strictly’s first wheelchair contestant. She called out some of this coverage for basically calling her a ‘chair’. |
| Steph McGovern | The 41-year-old presenter was hotly tipped last year and it seems she’s made the media’s shortlist again in 2023 – her involvement is unlikely though as she herself has explained. | |
| N | Amy Nuttall | 40-year-old Amy, who has starred in both Emmerdale and Downton Abbey, was one of the early rumours circulating back in March after it was claimed she was looking for a new challenge following a marital split. Things have gone a bit quiet on the Amy front since then…but you never know. |
| O | Owain Wyn Jones | Welsh weather presenter Owain (who looks nothing like his reported 39 years) has made a late appearance on the Strictly wannabes list. We think he’ll be waltzing away from weather reports and onto the Strictly floor before you know it.
BBC star ‘signs up to Strictly Come Dancing’ as first three celebrities revealed |
| P | Katie Price | Model Katie added a photoshopped image of her dancing with Graziano to her Instagram earlier this year, perhaps dropping a not-too-subtle invite hint. We wonder what the Strictly team made of that?
Katie Price drops cheeky Strictly Come Dancing hint: ‘I’ve got moves you’ve never seen’ |
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| R | Angela Rippon (confirmed) | The original host of Come Dancing, Angela will take the crown of oldest competitor from Johnny Ball who took part in 2012 when he was 74. She will also enjoy her 79th birthday while taking part, but who’s counting? |
| Andrew Ridgeley | 60-year-old Andrew told Jo Wylie he would love to do Strictly, expressing a wish to be partnered with Nadiya should he get the call! He may no longer be a Young Gun but we’d love to see him go for it.
Wham! legend Andrew Ridgeley’s biggest fear over Strictly Come Dancing |
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| S | Angela Scanlon (confirmed 07/08/23) |
Podcaster and TV presenter Angela (39) seems a perfect pick for the series – and with no obvious dancing experience in her background offers viewers the potential to join her dance journey. |
| Phillip Schofield | Recent months have been a turbulent time for Phillip and there were whisperings that Strictly could be just the diverting challenge he needed. Or maybe it was just a baseless rumour generated to shift the focus from his troubles with Holly and ‘This Morning’ earlier this year. Time may tell. | |
| Shakin’ Stevens | Welsh singer Shaky would be another septuagenarian contestant if he were to join Angela Rippon in the ballroom this autumn, aged 75 as he currently is. Unbelievable!
Strictly lining up iconic 80s singer for new series after ‘trying for years’ |
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| Daniel Sturridge | It looks like the post-goal celebration of ex-England and Liverpool footballer Daniel (33) might have caught the eye of the Strictly bosses as Daniel becomes a late entrant to the possible contenders list. | |
| T | Adam Thomas (confirmed 08/08/23) |
Adam, another soap star and ‘I’m a Celebrity’ alum, is said to have been a target for the Strictly team because of his popularity and wide fan base. |
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| W | Layton Williams (confirmed) | West End performer Layton’s recruitment has not been without controversy – every year some contestants get slammed before they have even set a foot on the dance floor and it’s usually (like Layton) because they have had some professional dance training/experience. Whilst playing Billy Elliot aged 12 suggests a definite aptitude for dance everyone knows Strictly success is as much about the journey, energy and connection as it is about dance CVs. Fret not people. |
| Emma and Matt Willis
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Strictly bosses were said to be keen to get a couple on board this year, whose shared journey/rivalry would give the audience interesting alternative perspectives. Anyone remember when Gabby and Kenny Logan competed in 2007 – and being surprised by the fact that it was Kenny (with Ola) who made it to Week 9 with Gabby exiting Week 4? The Matt and Emma rumour first rumbled around back in December 2022, but has gone a bit quiet since. | |
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| Z | Zara McDermott (confirmed 07/08/23) |
Zara (26) has a wealth of reality TV show experience under her belt already having been in both Love Island and The X Factor: Celebrity. According to reports, her social media clearly shows her talent for busting some moves!
EXCLUSIVE: Zara McDermott to become the first ever Love Island contestant to appear on Strictly |
So far the four confirmed celebrities who did not make this list are: Jody Cundy (World and Paralympic Champion in Cycling and Swimming), Annabel Croft (former British tennis player and broadcaster), Eddie Kadi (BBC Radio DJ and comedian) and Nikita Kanda (BBC Asian Network and TV presenter).
Angela Scanlon makes it 6!
https://www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-news/clues-you-missed-angela-scanlon-30644339
UPDATE: Eddie Kadi (BBC Radio DJ and comedian) has been announced as the 5th participant. Did NOT see that one coming!