Yahoo News 'Strictly Come Dancing' breaks reality star ban by signing 'Made in Chelsea' star Jamie Laing
Strictly Come Dancing bosses appear to have lifted their previous rule of not having reality star contestants on the show, signing Made in Chelsea’s Jamie Laing for its upcoming series.
“It is a surprising U-turn from the BBC and Strictly,” a source recently told The Sun. “They said previously that low-rent reality stars like Jamie would not be allowed on the show but things now seem to have changed.
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“There’s only so many famous faces out there so clearly they have decided enough is enough and have had to retreat a bit in order to get enough celebs for this year.”
Back in 2017, the publication reported that The Only Way is Essex star Gemma Collins urged producers to get her on the show after she went viral for falling through a trap-door onstage at the Radio 1 Teen Awards.
The media personality allegedly threatened to sue the broadcaster if they didn’t give a place in the popular dance competition.
It turned her down for Strictly, but had her take part in Celebrity MasterChef the following year instead.
Collins’s fellow TOWIE alum Sam Faiers also asked to be paired up with a professional for a previous series and was said to be “in talks” to join the line-up in 2018. However, she didn’t make it onto the show.
Laing has been a regular cast member of E4’s West London-set Made in Chelsea since its second series aired in 2011. He is the great-grandson of the late Alexander Grant, who created the beloved McVities’ Digestive biscuit.
The 27-year-old has previously appeared on reality shows such as the Great British Bake Off for Stand Up To Cancer and I’m A Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!
