BBC faces Strictly repair row as two contestants have earlier dance expertise
Irish TV presenter Scanlon, 39, was introduced because the sixth star to be becoming a member of the favored dancing sequence this yr on Monday morning.
Back in 2001, Scanlon danced with the O’Shea Irish Dance Company, performing everywhere in the world with the group.
Irish dance is sort of completely different to the Latin and ballroom performances the star must do on Strictly, with Scanlon saying after she was introduced as a participant: “I’ve never done any of these dances [Latin and ballroom] in my life, bar a drunken jive at a family wedding.
“So, it certainly feels like there is room to learn and to really push myself.”
The star, who has two youngsters with husband Roy Horgan, added: “Look, I’m not particularly fit. I’ve no idea how my pelvic floor is going to react to that level of jumping!”
Layton Williams in his BBC Strictly press shot
/ BBCAnother signing which will ruffle some feathers is West End performer Williams, 28.
He has starred in hit musical Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, and commenced his profession aged 12 within the West End manufacturing of Billy Elliot – a couple of younger boy’s dream of changing into a ballet star.
He can also be an alumni of the Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts, the place former Strictly contestants Pixie Lott and Kelly Brook additionally studied.
A Strictly insider supply hit again on the truth each contestants have prior expertise in dance, telling the Standard: “There is no rule that celebrities cannot have dance experience before taking part and it would be near impossible to find a cast of 15 celebrities who have no previous dance experience as many people in the entertainment industry go to stage school.
“They have never been trained in Ballroom or Latin and have not tried to hide their dancing experience, but it is not remotely similar to what they will be required to learn for the show.”
Both stars and Strictly have been contacted for remark.
It comes as BBC Asian Network’s Breakfast Show host Nikita Kanda and Waterloo Road actor Adam Thomas had been confirmed as becoming a member of the Strictly Come Dancing 2023 line-up on Tuesday.
Radio presenter Kanda, who has additionally fronted The One Show and interviewed stars from Bridgerton actress Kate Sharma to pop star Nick Jonas, mentioned she “can’t believe” she might be starring in Strictly.
Announcing the news on her Tuesday morning radio present, she mentioned: “I’m literally shaking, I can’t believe this. I’ve grown up watching this show every single year, glued to the TV like many of you at home.
“This has been the biggest secret ever, it’s been so hard to keep this in and today I feel relieved, I’ve finally let this out and [I’m] sharing this moment with you.
“I just can’t wait for the glitz, the glamour, the hair, the make-up, the outfits, and even to meet those judges.
“Who would have thought all those years of me raving it up on the dancefloor, at those weddings and those nights out and parties, those moves are making it to the Strictly ballroom stage on BBC One.”
Kanda added that she is worked up to get her “dancing shoes on” as she takes half within the “most challenging and exciting moment of my life”.
She is the ninth contestant confirmed for the upcoming sequence of the dancing competitors, after Thomas, Scanlon, Williams plus actress Amanda Abbington, journalist Krishnan Guru-Murthy, comic Eddie Kadi and former Love Island star Zara McDermott.
British actor and TV presenter Thomas was additionally confirmed on Tuesday to seem on Strictly this yr.
The 34-year-old, who performed Adam Barton in cleaning soap Emmerdale and most lately reprised his position as Donte Charles in BBC One’s drama Waterloo Road, appeared in ITV’s I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here in 2016 and went on to co-host the spin-off present I’m A Celebrity: Extra Camp.
Appearing on Hits Radio Breakfast Show to disclose he might be hitting the Strictly dancefloor, Thomas mentioned: “I am so excited to be joining the cast of this year’s Strictly Come Dancing. I’ve been such a big fan of the show for years, I can’t believe I’m actually doing it.
“I can’t dance to save my life but I’m buzzing to learn and have a good laugh with my pro. Get me on that dancefloor… I can’t wait.”