It's that time of year again... as Strictly Come Dancing confirms which celebrities will be taking to the dance floor for this year's series.
Strictly Come Dancing will return to BBC One for its 20th series this autumn, once again bringing glitter, glamour and glorious dancing to homes across the nation.
Those confirmed to be taking part, are...
Will Mellor
Actor
Will Mellor is the first celebrity contestant confirmed for the brand new series of Strictly Come Dancing. He is an actor known for many acting roles over the last 30 years including Hollyoaks, Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps, Line of Duty and Broadchurch. Most recently he appeared in Coronation Street as Harvey Gaskell
As well as his acting career, Will reached number 5 in the UK Singles Chart with When I Need You in 1998. And Wil recently toured the UK with a live version of the popular podcast he co-hosts with Ralf Little, Two Pints with Will and Ralf.
Speaking about taking part in Strictly, Will Mellor said "I'm honestly so chuffed to be taking part in Strictly Come Dancing this year! Not going to lie, it's totally out of my comfort zone and I know it will be a huge challenge but that's what life is all about."
"This is also my Mum's favourite show and she’s had a really tough few years so I’m doing this for her as well. Bring it on!"
Kym Marsh
Actress, television presenter and singer
Kym Marsh is the second celebrity contestant confirmed for the brand new series of Strictly Come Dancing. She is well known for playing Michelle Connor in Coronation Street and recently played the notorious Alex in the touring theatre production of Fatal Attraction.
She is currently a presenter on BBC One’s Morning Live and is soon set to star in the revival of BBC One drama Waterloo Road.
Kym has also had a successful music career in the band Hear’Say, which she won a place in after appearing on Popstars, and as a solo artist. Currently a presenter on BBC One’s Morning Live, Kym is soon set to star in the revival of BBC One drama Waterloo Road.
Speaking about taking part in Strictly, Kym Marsh said "I’ve considered doing Strictly for years but the timings never worked out. I’m so delighted that this year they have! I’m a huge fan of the show and can’t believe I’m going to go from watching at home in my pyjamas to actually dancing in front of the judges in a glittery dress, it’s unreal!"
Richie Anderson
Radio and TV Presenter
Richie Anderson is the third celebrity contestant confirmed for the brand new series of Strictly Come Dancing. He is well known for his well-established role on BBC Radio 2’s Breakfast Show, presenting the travel bulletins as well as hosting a wide variety of his own shows.
He is also a regular presenter on The One Show and is often seen on BBC One and was proud to be part of the channel’s recent Platinum Jubilee coverage.
Speaking about taking part in Strictly, Richie Anderson said "This is a dream come true! I cannot wait to get in those sparkles and sequins and shimmy across the most famous dance floor in the world!"
"Strictly is the ultimate feel good show, as soon as I hear that iconic theme tune it’s just pure escapism. I’m going to have to cancel my legendary Strictly launch night kitchen party that I throw every year, I’m sure my friends and family will understand."
"It’s also a massive honour to be part of an all-male dance partnership, it’s so important we have that inclusion on such a huge show."
Kaye Adams
TV and Radio Presenter
Kaye Adams is the fourth celebrity contestant confirmed for the brand new series of Strictly Come Dancing. She is best known as an anchor on ITV topical discussion show Loose Women as well as for hosting the morning show on BBC Radio Scotland.
Having started her career as a news journalist she has presented programming for various TV channels including STV, the BBC and Channel 5 and recently started her popular podcast, How To Be 60 with Kaye Adams.
Speaking about taking part in Strictly, Kaye Adams said "I wanted to make the last year of my fifties memorable and I can’t think of a better way of doing it than showing the world my two left feet. Pray for me!”
Jayde Adams
Comedian, actor and presenter
Jayde Adams is the fifth celebrity contestant confirmed for the brand new series of Strictly Come Dancing. She is best known as a comedian, having won several comedy awards and was nominated for the coveted Best Newcomer with her Edinburgh Fringe debut stand-up hour.
Her Amazon Prime special, Serious Black Jumper, received global critical acclaim and she recently starred alongside Sophie Willan in her hit BBC Two comedy Alma's Not Normal as well as Prime Video’s Good Omens, BBC One’s The Outlaws and will soon be seen in the upcoming Take That movie Greatest Days.
Jayde has a weekly BBC Radio 4 podcast, Welcome to the Neighbourhood, has hosted Netflix’s Crazy Delicious, co-hosted Channel 4's Snackmasters and is the co-creator and star of ITV2’s upcoming brand new series Ruby Speaking. She is currently performing at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe with her stand-up show Men, I Can Save You.
Speaking about taking part in Strictly, Jayde Adams said "Since I watched the first series in 2004, I feel like every step I’ve taken in my career over the last 11 years was to be on Strictly. I cannot begin to express the emotions I am feeling, this means so much to me and my family. I’ve always watched it, apart from a brief hiatus in 2011 as I was relentlessly gigging every weekend (to try and get on Strictly)."
"I’ve been a massive fan of the show for years. I feel like I’m watching myself in a dream and I can’t believe I’ve manifested this. Holding this in has been torture for me!"
Ellie Simmonds OBE
Paralympic champion and broadcaster
Ellie Simmonds OBE is the sixth celebrity contestant confirmed for the brand new series of Strictly Come Dancing. She is a five-time Paralympic champion and broadcaster, best known as a gold medal-winning Paralympic swimmer.
At the age of thirteen she was the youngest British athlete at the 2008 Summer Paralympics in Beijing, and won gold medals in the 100m and 400m freestyle events. In 2012 she achieved gold in the 400m freestyle and the 200m Individual Medley at the Summer Paralympics in London and won a further gold in the 200m Individual Medley at Rio 2016.
In addition she has won ten gold World Championship titles. At the age of 13 she won BBC Young Sports Personality of the Year and a year later, at just 14 years old, she became the youngest person ever receive an MBE. She was elevated to OBE in the 2013 New Year Honours for services to Paralympic sport.
After retiring from competitive swimming in 2020, Ellie has gone on to present for BBC Sport, most recently for the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, as well as making documentaries such as Ellie Simmonds: A World Without Dwarfism? for BBC One and is set to explore disability and adoption in a recently announced ITV film.
Speaking about taking part in Strictly, Ellie Simmonds OBE said "Oh my gosh!! I’m literally bursting with excitement!! It’s been soooo hard keeping this secret as I’ve wanted to tell everyone. I’m going on Strictly Come Dancing!!"
"I’m a tad nervous too, well more than a tad... I’m absolutely petrified! To be asked to be part of the Strictly family is just so exciting and I cannot wait, it’s going to be so much fun. I’m counting down the minutes until it starts; learning to dance, meeting my partner and everyone else involved in the show."
"Plus wearing the sequins and all that, it’s going to be a blast. I’ve been watching Strictly from as far back as I can remember; it’s a traditional lead up to Christmas with my family and it’s a genuine privilege to be part of it."
Tyler West
Presenter, radio host and DJ
Tyler West is the seventh celebrity contestant confirmed for the brand new series of Strictly Come Dancing. He is best known for hosting weekday afternoons on KISS and began his career in children’s television, presenting various programming across CBBC.
He has also hosted MTV News, HQ Trivia and the 2020 EE BAFTA Awards Red Carpet Live Show. And last year he launched his first BBC Three series, co-hosting Flat out Fabulous as well as becoming the host of The MTV Movie Show.
Speaking about taking part in Strictly, Tyler West said "I am SO gassed to be joining the Strictly family! As I started writing this I already got cramp. It’s going to be one crazy incredible journey which will no doubt be SO far outside my comfort zone. It’s a show that means so much to me and my family and I can’t wait to seriously shake a leg on that shiny dance floor… with a side of sequins."
Matt Goss
Singer-songwriter, musician and actor
Matt Goss is the eighth celebrity contestant confirmed for the brand new series of Strictly Come Dancing. The music legend has enjoyed huge success as the front man of BROS, with their debut album Push going platinum seven times. It remained on the UK top ten music charts for an astonishing 54 weeks.
With continued success as a solo artist, Matt is about to release his solo album, The Beautiful Unknown and over the last decade, Matt has had a record breaking residency on the Las Vegas strip, receiving the revered Icon Award and has even been given his own Matt Goss Day on 8 August, which amazingly is his late mother’s birthday.
The cult classic documentary, After the Screaming Stops, was nominated for three BAFTAs which resulted in a win and it also won the BBC Moment of the Year and a National Television Award, to name a few.
He is also a best-selling author with new books in the works and is set to play the lead role in upcoming psychological thriller movie, Cobbler Killer Stranger.
Speaking about taking part in Strictly, Matt Goss said "I’m extremely nervous and excited, but I’m optimistic because I’m very supple from the knees down."
Ellie Taylor
Comedian, broadcaster, writer and actor
Ellie Taylor is the ninth celebrity contestant confirmed for the brand new series of Strictly Come Dancing. She began her career as a stand-up comedian after appearing on ITV’s Show Me The Funny and has gone on to write and perform five stand-up comedy shows, one of which, Cravings, streamed on Netflix as part of Comedians of the World.
Ellie is known as a regular on the BBC’s Mock The Week, The Mash Report and Live at the Apollo, Late Night Mash on Dave and, most recently, as a co-host on Channel 4’s The Great Pottery Throw Down. She also stars in Apple TV’s Ted Lasso and in 2021 released her debut book, My Child and Other Mistakes.
Her forthcoming projects include two brand-new formats as she presents You Won’t Believe This (working title) for Channel 4 and co-hosts Cheat alongside Danny Dyer, which is coming soon to Netflix.
Speaking about taking part in Strictly, Ellie Taylor said "Well, cover me in fake tan and roll me in sequins! I'm absolutely over the moon to be a part of Strictly 2022! I've watched the show for years so to be able to take to the dance floor is a dream come true, for both me and mum who is a Strictly super fan!"
"At the moment I'm focusing on the excitement and glitter and choosing to ignore the fact that I have the dancing ability of a newly born giraffe. Bring it on!"
Molly Rainford
Singer and actress
Molly Rainford is the tenth celebrity contestant confirmed for the brand new series of Strictly Come Dancing. The 21-year-old first burst onto our TV screens at the age of 11 in 2012, when she became the youngest ever finalist of Britain’s Got Talent.
Choosing to continue her studies after BGT, Simon Cowell and Sony Music honoured Molly with their first ever drama school scholarship at the internationally renowned Sylvia Young Theatre School.
Since graduating, Molly starred in the lead role of intergalactic pop superstar Nova Jones in the hit CBBC show Nova Jones which returns for a second series this autumn. With a third series already filmed!
She has also released two EPs, including single Commitment, which has garnered over two million streams to date
Speaking about taking part in Strictly, Molly Rainford said "I'm so excited to be part of Strictly Come Dancing, I've watched it for years and can't wait to meet the pros and the others taking part! I can't wait to learn the moves and get dancing!"
Tony Adams MBE
Former English football player and manager
Tony Adams MBE is the eleventh celebrity contestant confirmed for the brand new series of Strictly Come Dancing. He is a football legend whose formidable football career spanned over 22 years, playing for both Arsenal and England. Having captained both, he is regarded as one of Arsenal’s greatest ever players and one of the all-time greats of English football.
The centre-back won 66 caps for England, appeared at four major tournaments and had 10 major trophy wins. He is still the only player in English football history to captain a team to three top-flight titles over three different decades.
As captain of England, he famously led the national team to the Euro 96 final. Whilst he was playing he founded Sporting Chance, a charity to help sportspeople with mental health and addiction issues of which he remains Honorary president today.
Speaking about taking part in Strictly, Tony Adams MBE said "To say I’m excited is an understatement - the lure of the sequins and the call of the salsa has me swapping my battered old football boots for a set of Strictly soft shoes."
"Am absolutely thrilled to be giving it my all on this year’s 20th anniversary of Strictly Come Dancing. I can’t wait to meet my partner - god help her - and start the dancing."
Upon retirement Tony Adams MBE, a father to six and husband to wife Poppy, went into coaching and management before recently launching his new venture, SIX MHS, which delivers Mental Health and Addictions services to non-sportspeople and non-sports organisations. He remains a patron of four other additional charities, NACOA, Forward Trust, Saving Faces, School Home Support and has started the charity, 6 Addiction, for people that can’t afford private mental health services.
Fleur East
Singer-songwriter, TV and radio presenter
Fleur East is the twelfth celebrity contestant confirmed for the brand new series of Strictly Come Dancing. Since finishing runner-up in series 11 of The X Factor, Fleur has been a regular face in the world of music and broadcasting.
As a singer she has released two albums, with Sax reaching number three in the UK singles chart. After appearing on I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here in 2018 she became host of the Hits Radio Breakfast show which she hosts every weekday.
She has also appeared as a presenter on the last three series of Ant & Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway and hosted ITV gameshow The Void.
Speaking about taking part in Strictly, Fleur East said "I’m equally nervous and thrilled to be part of this year’s Strictly line up. I’m excited to learn new skills and I want to soak up every moment of this magical experience. It’s such an honour to be on the show after years of watching it with my Father who loved it so much."
"Unfortunately my Dad is no longer with us but I know he will be watching over the ballroom in spirit. I’m doing this to make him and my family proud and can’t wait to get my dancing shoes on!"
Hamza Yassin
Wildlife cameraman and presenter
Hamza Yassin is the thirteenth celebrity contestant confirmed for the brand new series of Strictly Come Dancing. He is best known for being one of the presenters of BBC's Animal Park as well as being a guest presenter on Countryfile.
He is also well known to younger viewers under the guise of Ranger Hamza, presenting CBeebies live-action show Let’s Go For A Walk and new series Ranger Hamza’s Eco Quest later this month.
Hamza moved to the Scottish Highlands when he was younger to follow his dream of filming Scottish wildlife and becoming a wildlife cameraman. He has lived there ever since and recently fronted Channel 4 documentary Scotland: My Life in the Wild and Scotland: Escape to the Wilderness, in which he guided celebrity companions on journeys through western and eastern Scotland and the Highlands.
In his spare time, Hamza competes in the Highland Games and enjoys riding the country roads on his motorbike.
Speaking about taking part in Strictly, Hamza Yassin said "I am absolutely over the moon to be joining Strictly 2022. Never in a million years did I think I’d be on such a cool show. I’ve been watching it for years and I can’t believe I’ll actually be there dancing live in front of the British public."
"My dance skills are currently at the level of ‘1970’s disco vibe’ but I’m ready to work hard and will be shaking it every time I get the chance – shake it ‘til you make it!"
James Bye
Stage and screen actor
James Bye is the fourteenth celebrity contestant confirmed for the brand new series of Strictly Come Dancing. He is best known for portraying the iconic role of Martin Fowler in BBC soap EastEnders. Since taking over the role in 2014, he has been nominated for several British Soap Awards, winning one for Best Storyline in 2016.
He has previously starred in BBC One mini-series The Great Train Robbery and films including Hummingbird, The Hooligan Factory and Cemetery Junction. On stage, he has starred in several well-reviewed theatre productions.
Speaking about taking part in Strictly, James Bye said "I’m not known for my shimmy or my twinkle toes - in fact my kids regularly laugh at my dad dancing but it’s an honour to be asked and I’m going to give it my best shot. There are some huge dance shoes to fill and it’s truly exciting to follow in the footsteps of some amazing EastEnders talent. I’d love to do everyone proud."
Helen Skelton
TV and radio broadcaster
Helen Skelton is the fifteenth and final celebrity contestant confirmed for the brand new series of Strictly Come Dancing. She started her TV career in children’s television, presenting Newsround and Blue Peter on the BBC.
Since then, she has presented shows across various channels, including Countryfile, several major sporting events for BBC Sport, ITV’s Lorraine, BT Sport’s FA Women’s Super League football matches, Channel 4’s Rugby league Super league coverage and Inside The Superbrands in addition to the highly successful On The Farm series for Channel 5 and is a regular on ITV Tonight.
As a radio presenter, Helen has stood in for Dermot O’Leary and OJ Borg on BBC Radio 2, hosted various shows across BBC Radio 5 Live and has just been announced as the host of the new-look BBC Radio 5 Live Sunday morning show.
Outside of broadcasting, Helen has also published a novel, Amy Wild: Amazon Summer and Wild Girl. A guide to adventures.
Speaking about taking part in Strictly, Helen Skelton said "I’m really excited to get stuck into a fun adventure. My family and friends have always loved the show and can’t wait for me to get started."
Strictly Come Dancing returns later this year on BBC One