Close Menu

    Final five celebrities for Strictly Come Dancing are revealed

    Katrina ReesBy

    With just a few weeks to go until this year’s Strictly Come Dancing, the excitement has been ramped up by the announcement of the final five celebrity contestants.

    Dubbed as Mega Monday, Charlotte Hawkins, Chizzy Akudolu, Debbie McGee, Jonnie Peacock and Alexandra Burke were all confirmed to join this year’s line up today.

    Charlotte was the first to be announced earlier this morning. The news was revealed on Good Morning Britain, where Charlotte works as a newsreader. Speaking about taking part, she said: “I am so thrilled to be one of the contestants on Strictly this year! I’ve always been a big fan of the show. It is a dream come true to be taking part and I’ll be following in the footsteps of my Good Morning Britain colleagues. I’m looking forward to stepping out from behind the news desk to cha-cha-cha my way across the dancefloor!”

    Next up to be announced was actress Chizzy Akudolu, best known for playing Mo Effanga in Holby City. Sharing her excitement, Chizzy 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 gorgeous sequined 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 final three were revealed on The One Show, with Debbie McGee leading the pack. Dancing in memory of her husband, the legendary Paul Daniels who competed on Strictly in 2008, Debbie said: “There are no words to describe how I feel about performing on Strictly Come Dancing. The excitement is overwhelming. I can’t stop smiling. It’s been the hardest secret I have ever had to keep!”

    The fourteenth celebrity to be announced is Double Paralympic, World and European T44 100m Champion Jonnie Peacock. Speaking about taking part, he said: “The opportunity to be the first contestant with a disability to take part in Strictly’s main show was too good to turn down. I’ve got no previous dance history outside of the occasional ‘worm’ at a mate’s party and I know this will be a challenge and a new experience. I can’t wait to see what I can achieve and how far I can push myself.”

    Completing the line up is former X Factor winner Alexandra Burke. The singer and West End performer said, “I am so excited to be joining this year’s Strictly cast! I love this show and have followed it from the beginning, so being able to be a part of it is just a dream come true for me – I still can’t believe it! I am very nervous as I am a singer not a dancer, but I am going to give this my absolute everything and try my best to make everyone proud.”

    All five celebrities will be joining the previously announced Mollie King, Davood Ghadami, Ruth Langsford, Gemma Atkinson, Reverend Richard Coles, Joe McFadden, Simon Rimmer, Aston Merrygold, Susan Calman, and Brian Conley.

    With the line up now complete, we can fully get excited for when Strictly Come Dancing returns to our screens this Autumn.

    What are your thoughts on this year’s Strictly Come Dancing line up? Who will you be rooting for? Let us know on Twitter @CelebMix

     

    Share.

    MORE news from CELEBMIX