Strictly Come Dancing 2024 line-up as 15 stars compete for Glitterball trophy on BBC show
The new series of Strictly Come Dancing launched last week and now 15 different stars are getting ready to compete for Glitterball glory as the live shows begin.
This year marks two decades since Strictly made its debut on the BBC, with its first run in the summer of 2004 being won by newsreader Natasha Kaplinsky, together with popular pro dancer Brendan Cole. After series one proved to be a real ratings winner for the BBC, a second aired before the end of the same year, with Jill Halfpenny emerging victorious.
The ever growing list of Strictly champions now also includes the likes of Louis Smith, Abbey Clancy, Darren Gough, Harry Judd, Kelvin Fletcher and 2023 winner Ellie Leach. And with the dusts now fully settled on her triumph with pro partner Vito Coppola, talk has now turned to who might followed in her footsteps this year.
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Stars like Hannah Waddingham, Blue's Duncan James and comedian Sarah Millican were strongly linked to appear on the new series, but none of them ended up on the confirmed line-up. Here are the stars who are cha cha cha'ing into the ballroom this year:
Strictly Come Dancing 2024 line-up
Chris McCausland
The comedian was the first star to be officially confirmed for Strictly this year. His participation was announced on Strictly's Instagram account, with the caption: 'Swapping stand up routines for dance routines @chrismccauslandcomedy is our first #Strictly celebrity of 2024"
Head judge Shirley Ballas was one of the first to comment, telling Chris: "Welcome to Strictly." The comedian will make history as the show's first ever blind contestant.
JB Gill
JLS member JB was the second star to be unveiled on the Strictly line-up on Monday, August 5.
JB shot to fame back in 2008 alongside bandmates Aston, Marvin and Oritse on The X Factor, when they finished second to that year's champion Alexandra Burke. After that they landed two numbers 1 in a row single singles Beat Again and Everybody in Love.
JB is also known for being a TV presenter on Countryfile and was also a contestant on Channel 4's The Jump.
Wynne Evans
The man best known for being the voice of the Go Compare adverts is contestant number three, being revealed in an announcement that read: 'Will ballroom dancing be his forte? We’re about to find out as opera singer @wynneevans joins our #Strictly 2024 ensemble.'
Wynne already has experience of BBC triumph, having won Celebrity Masterchef last year.
Toyah Willcox
80s pop icon Toyah will be swapping the stage for the dancefloor, fulfilling a long held ambition to be on Strictly. Putting herself in the frame for a spot on the BBC show she commented: "'I'd have to do it sooner rather than later, because I'm not gonna be able to move. I do understand how hard they work. I'm friends with Angela Rippon and she was extraordinary.
"If I'm going to do it, it's gonna have to happen within the next few years because I don't think I'll be able to move like that in two years' time. But, you know, the whole wants to do Strictly, I wouldn't say no"
Dr Punam Krishan
Morning Live's resident health expert is hotfooting it over to another BBC studio to take part in the new series of Strictly.
Posting on Instagram about life as a working GP, Dr Krishnan wrote: "Being a GP is a real honour and I love my job, even though I’m absolutely frazzled & exhausted by the end of the week! So, here’s to the weekend. Hope you have a lovely, restful one."
Tasha Ghouri
Tasha made history on ITV's Love Island in 2022 as the dating show' first ever deaf contestant and used her stint on the show to help raise awareness, something she has continued to do since making it all the way to the final with boyfriend Andrew Le Page.
After she was officially announced a Strictly star, Tasha took to Instagram to say: "I am, so excited! This has been the hardest secret to keep, the biggest dream of mine; I cannot believe this is happening."
Pete Wicks
The second of two reality TV stars to be confirmed for Strictly on the same day, TOWIE star Pete has been strongly linked with the show this year, after cheering on best mate Sam Thompson's girlfriend, Zara McDermott, last year.
Sam and Zara were among the stars to quickly react to the news, with friend Vicky Pattison telling Pete she couldn't wait to see him in a sequined leotard doing the cha cha cha,.
As well as being on TOWIE for years, Pete has also been on Celebs Go Dating and Celebrity SAS and has a successful podcast with Sam, which they took on tour earlier this year.
Shayne Ward
Nearly 19 years after he won The X Factor, singer Shayne is now trying his luck at Strictly. After winning X Factor, Shayne hit number 1 and went multi platinum with debut single That's My Goal, which he followed up with top 5 hits No Promises and No U Hang Up.
Shayne also earned great acclaim for his role as Aiden Connor in Coronation Street, especially for his fi8nal scenes when his character took his own life. Last year, Shayne appeared alongside his former Coronation Street love interest Catherine Tyldesley in Channel 5's Good Ship Murder.
Sarah Hadland
Sarah is most famous for p0laying Miranda's best friend and business partner Stevie in the hit BBC comedy and now she's swapping her character's fancy dress shop for the Strictly dancefloor.
Jamie Borthwick
Bit of a controversial one here, as EastEnders star Jamie already has Strictly experience and actually won last year's Christmas special, alongside pro partner Nancy Xu.
Jamie has been playing Albert Square favourite Jay since the 00s and last year was involved in the tragic storyline which saw girlfriend Lola die after a battle with brain cancer.
Tom Dean
After he let the cat out of the bag himself, Olympic swimmer Tom has now been officially confirmed for Strictly 2024.
Last week he and his Great Britain teammates successfully defended their Olympic title in the 4x200m freestyle relay in Paris.
Montell Douglas
The former athlete, who achieved a huge first by becoming the first Team GB star to compete at both the summer and winter Olympics is now best known as Fire on BBC's Gladiators.
The post about her joined Strictly on the show's official Instagram account, quickly got a reply from Gladiators, which read: "The Strictly ballroom is just about to get a bit hotter"
Paul Merson
The former Arsenal and England star was one of the last to be confirmed for the new series and talking about doing Strictly, said: ""It hasn’t really sunk in yet because I try not to worry about things beyond my control. People ask if I’ll be nervous, but I won’t know until it happens. I prefer to take life one step at a time."
Sam Quek
The Olympic and European hockey champion turned TV presenter is very excited to be stepping into the Strictly ballroom, saying: "As a former hockey player I’m used to playing as part of a team, but the thought of dancing on the Ballroom floor in front of a live audience is quite daunting! I’m chuffed to be a part of this legendary show and Quickstep into the shoes of a performer, it feels absolutely surreal but I’m ready for every bit of the adventure."
On Strictly's success, she added: ""Also 20 years of a show doesn't happen by accident. It goes to show how successful it is and how it still maintains a top spot in UK entertainment and across the world. To be part of that 20th series and have my name on the board is pretty cool."
Nick Knowles
DIY SOS host Nick was one of the first celebs to be linked to the new series of Strictly, but one of the last to be announced.
On signing up for the biggest show on TV, he said: "I’m so, so excited to be doing Strictly this year. People may be more used to me getting stuck in on a building site or travelling the world, but dancing live on TV will be a whole new adventure.
"I’ve spent my whole life learning new skills and I’ve never been afraid of a challenge - there’s life in the old dog yet to take on one more big one – being taught how to dance! I’ll give it my everything... and try not to embarrass my kids of course!"