Strictly Come Dancing 2017 adds 12th contestant

From Digital Spy

Strictly Come Dancing 2017 has confirmed that Holby City's Chizzy Akudolu will be the 12th contestant to tango their way onto the ballroom floor for BBC One's reality series.

The news was revealed via Twitter as the show is set to announce the final few contestants on social media and during tonight's episode of The One Show.

Speaking about signing up, Chizzy, who played Mo Effanga on the medical drama between 2012 and 2017, said: "When I was 13, I made the finals of a disco dancing competition once but there was this amazing girl who exploded onto the stage with a sequinned costume, throwing glitter everywhere…

"I knew it was game over for me. That was then, this is now and this is my chance to have even more sequins."

The news comes as earlier today (August 21) it was confirmed that Good Morning Britain presenter Charlotte Hawkins was confirmed to be joining the show.

Charlotte said: "Nobody knows. I've kept this news secret from everyone, so I'm really sorry to my friends, to my family and everyone I've kept it from.

"I feel a little bad because I've kept saying, 'No, no, I'm not doing Strictly. In my dreams, I wish' – but I am. I had to keep it secret."

Meanwhile comedian Brian Conley was also announced as a contestant on Steve Wright's Radio 2 show on Friday (August 18) just hours ahead of the tragic news that legendary former Strictly host Sir Bruce Forsyth had sadly passed away aged 89.

Charlotte and Brian will join the likes of This Morning's Ruth Langsford, former Emmerdale actress Gemma Atkinson and former member of The Saturdays Mollie King.

Mollie's friend and former Strictly star Frankie Bridge recently revealed that poor old Mol might struggle a little more than she did.

Mollie isn't the only popstar in the line-up, as she'll be joined by backflip extraordinaire Aston Merrygold. Plus the show has signed up more soap stars including EastEnders' Davood Ghadami, who plays Kush Kazemi.

There's also fellow Holby City star Joe McFadden, BBC Radio 4 favourite Reverend Richard Coles, Sunday Brunch star Simon Rimmer and finally, Susan Calman, who presents on Radio 4 and CBBC show Top Class.

Meanwhile, it was revealed that former judge Len Goodman would be making a comeback to the show towards the end of this year's series, but sadly, he won't be dishing out the scores.

Len's pal Shirley Ballas is joining the series as a judge, along with Darcey Bussell, Bruno Tonioli and Craig Revel Horwood.

As for the pro dancers, the BBC released a group shot of the professional dancer line-up for this year's run.

Following a string of departures, the image provides a first look at series newcomers Amy Dowden, Dianne Buswell and Nadiya Bychkova in action, having been recently unveiled as the replacements for Natalie Lowe, Oksana Platero and reigning champion Joanne Clifton, who have all departed the ballroom series.

Strictly Come Dancing will return to BBC One in September 2017.

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