RuPaul's Drag Race's La Voix is seventh contestant to join Strictly 2025 line-up
A YouTube star, an EastEnders actress and a Love Island winner were among the first batch of contestants announced for Strictly Come Dancing 2025.
The popular BBC dancing show, hosted by Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly, will return to TV screens in September with a new host of famous faces competing each week to win the glitterball trophy.
Podcast host and YouTube star George Clarke was announced as the sixth celebrity contestant on Tuesday during BBC Radio 1's Going Home drivetime show.
George, also known as George Clarkey, said: "Never thought I'd say this … but I'm doing Strictly! Honestly, I've got no idea what I'm doing but I'm excited to get stuck in … and potentially fall over a fair bit."
It came after EastEnders actress Balvinder Sopal was revealed as a contestant during a segment filmed live from Albert Square on ITV show Good Morning Britain ( GMB). She said that "being on Strictly is a dream that I held on to, with no proof that it would ever happen".
The other stars confirmed to be competing are Love Island winner Dani Dyer, Gladiators star Harry Aikines-Aryeetey, Doctor Who actress Alex Kingston and former footballer Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink.
Speaking on The One Show after her reveal, Dani, who is the daughter of actor Danny Dyer, said: "It's such a fun magical show – to be asked to do it is such an honour. I just can't wait to be able to wear (the costumes) – it's going to be so much fun."
Former Chelsea footballer Jimmy said: "I'm a father of only girls and Strictly is a part of our home life – I like the show. Let's have a go."
Actress Alex, who interrupted her holiday in Italy to speak to hosts Alex Scott and Roman Kemp, joked: "I was super excited but now I'm terrified."
Harry, known as Nitro on the rebooted Gladiators, previously competed in last year's Strictly Christmas Special and described his decision to return on Monday as 'so nice I just had to do it twice'.
In July, the BBC announced that two 'incredible' new professional dancers, US-born Alexis Warr and Australian dancer Julian Caillon, would be joining the show.
Tess and Claudia will return as presenters with Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, Anton Du Beke and Shirley Ballas on the judges' table.
Strictly will return to BBC One and BBC iPlayer this September.
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Daily Mail
3 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Love Island's Dejon and Megan put on a loved-up display as they join their glamorous co-stars at the boozy reunion party - after he broke his silence over 'exposé' book
The Love Island cast reunited for a boozy off-screen party at the One Hundred Shoreditch in London on Thursday night. Leading the way, Megan and Dejon proved their romance is still going strong as they put on a loved-up display for the cameras - after he broke his silence amid news of the release of a book detailing his alleged 'gaslighting and abuse'. Megan wowed in a daring mesh gown adorned with glittering accents and bold cut-outs, while Dejon kept it sleek in a dark-toned look. Helena made an entrance in a black corset top paired with a flowing maxi skirt. Emma and Andrada opted for plunging designs that highlighted their enviable figures, while Meg F commanded attention in a deep-red mini with a structured neckline. Emily exuded elegance in a flowing ivory halter dress, and Billykiss brought the heat in a burnt-orange set that showcased her defined midriff. Ty and Angel stepped out hand-in-hand, with the influencer dazzling in a shimmering silver co-ord. 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ITV shared the voting breakdown for the four couples that made it to the final, with the figures confirming it was the narrowest win since the show launched in 2015. In total, Toni and Cach received 33.5% of the vote, with Shakira and Harry taking 26.2% - showing the result was a close call. Yasmin and Jamie came third with 22% and Angel and Ty placed fourth with 18.3%. With just 15% between fourth and first place, it's the closest final vote in history. The results of the votes come after host Maya Jama, 30, announced that the couple had received the highest percentage of the public vote and would take home the £50,000 cash prize. In announcing news of her book, Niah said: 'Dejon is a narcissist, he's manipulative. I've been telling everyone this for the past 10 years now but no one believed me' Toni has made history as the first American contestant to enter the UK Love Island villa, and she and Cach seem set on making their relationship work despite the transatlantic distance. The couple had a rocky beginning after meeting during Casa Amor, as it wasn't long until the pair found themselves in a major love triangle with Harrison. Yet once Harrison decided to leave the villa with Lauren, Toni set her sights on Cach, and the pair went from strength to strength. Toni and Cach won despite the bookies' odds revealing it was Harry and Shakira in the running to win, just hours ahead of the live final.
Scottish Sun
4 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Smitten Taylor Swift gushes over falling in love with Travis Kelce as she reveals emotional choices behind new album
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) TAYLOR Swift has spoken in detail for the first time about falling in love with NFL star Travis Kelce — admitting she thought he was 'crazy' for publicly asking her for a date. The Kansas City Chiefs tight end, 35, bagged a first date with the superstar in September 2023 after using his New Heights podcast to beg for a chance. Sign up for the Entertainment newsletter Sign up 6 Superstar Taylor Swift has spoken in detail for the first time about falling in love with her NFL star boyfriend Credit: Mert Alas & Marcus Piggott 6 Taylor admits she thought Travis Kelce was 'crazy' for publicly asking her for a date Credit: Youtube / New Heights 6 Taylor has announced her 12th studio album, The Life of A Showgirl Appearing alongside Travis, in the latest episode of the show, Taylor, also 35, said: 'This podcast got me a boyfriend, ever since Travis decided to use it as his personal dating app. 'It was such a wild romantic gesture to be like, 'I want to date you'. 'At first when I looked at it I thought, 'This dude didn't get a meet and greet and he is making it everyone's problem'.' Travis admitted he fell head over heels for Taylor after secretly watching her perform at his team's home ground, the Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, days before he made his public plea. 'How it worked in 1973!' 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But the romances never lasted. 6 Travis and Taylor share a Superbowl kiss Credit: AP 6 Taylor posed in a series of pictures for her new album Credit: Mert Alas & Marcus Piggott 6 Taylor secretly recorded the album last summer while touring Europe Credit: Mert Alas & Marcus Piggott Now Taylor has hinted at why she thinks her relationship with Travis will go all the way. She said: 'A huge green flag for me was that Travis has had the same friends since he was four. 'He is very good at maintaining friendships and he is so loyal.' When Taylor and Travis first started dating, they tried to keep their romance as low key as possible. To avoid detection, Taylor even went undercover and walked into the Arrowhead stadium using the main gates rather than the VIP entrance in a bid to deflect any attention away from herself. Taylor said: 'I walked in through the front door. Right through general admission. I had a scarf and a mask. 'There were rumours about us seeing each other but I think people were like, 'What would they talk about?' 'Nobody thought they would see me there or go through general admission.' By January 2024, Taylor was a firm fixture of the Kelce family. She joined Travis on the pitch in Las Vegas to celebrate his Superbowl win against the San Francisco 49ers. And now she is a signed up American football fanatic. I detach from the internet in a huge way. I have had my comments disabled on Instagram for ten years. I don't miss it Taylor Swift Taylor explained: 'He was so non-judgmental about people and not judgmental about me knowing nothing about the world he is in. 'I was not a sporty person. I didn't even know what a tight end was. I fell in love with it [American football] and I became obsessed with it.' Naturally, as with all of Taylor's romances, Travis was thrust into the spotlight and their union became the focus of intense fan speculation. It led to a number of wild allegations, including someone making a fake contract about when and where the pair would end their romance. The hoax, last September, went viral and saw Travis's team furiously deny it. Insisting it is water off a duck's back, Taylor said: 'I detach from the internet in a huge way. I have had my comments disabled on Instagram for ten years. I don't miss it. 'I am not an online person at all. 'I am genuinely terrified to open my DMs — 20million unread DMs. I don't want to go there. 'I love to sew' 'Can you imagine if we just talked about what everyone said about our relationship? That is all we would talk about. 'We are too busy having an actual relationship.' She added: 'My business is making music and taking care of my fans.' Taylor wrapped up her Eras World Tour in Canada in December last year, and since then has been keeping a low profile. 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It was a lot of physical therapy and a lot of being in a state of discomfort. 'The heels for that long . . . 'I have an acupuncture mat and toe spacers. 'It was the most formative time of my life. I learned so much about how far I can push myself. 'I was on tour for so long and now I'm not on tour. I am getting my hobbies back. 'When I was on tour all I could think of was, 'What is the mash-up this week?' 'Or, 'How do I say welcome to the Eras tour in Portuguese?'' Ever the businesswoman, Taylor used her turn on Travis's podcast to announce her 12th studio album, The Life of A Showgirl. Almost one million fans watched the podcast live — and 17 hours after it was put on to YouTube more than 10million people had viewed it. The Life of A Showgirl is Taylor's first record since 2023's The Tortured Poets Department, which went on to become her 13th UK No1 album. 'Catching lightning in a bottle' That record, which detailed Taylor's break-up with British actor Joe Alwyn and her short lived romance with The 1975's Matty Healy, sold more than 3.4million copies. The Life Of A Showgirl, which comes out October 3, marks a drastic change of tone. Taylor secretly recorded the album last summer when she was in Europe at the height of her Eras Tour success. She said: 'I would do like three shows in a row [and then] I'd have three days off. 'I'd fly to Sweden, go back to the tour, and was actually working on this. I was physically exhausted at this point in the tour, but I was so mentally stimulated and so excited to be creating.' She added: 'This album is about what was going on behind the scenes in my inner life when this tour was going on. That is why it is so vibrant. 'Writing and recording it felt like catching lightning in a bottle.' The album has been produced by Swedish producers Max Martin and Shellback, who previously helped craft some of Taylor's biggest hits. These include 22, Bad Blood, I Knew You Were Trouble and Shake It Off. Taylor said: 'I said I wanted to be as proud of an album as I am for The Eras Tour and they were like that's a lot of pressure. 'I know the pressure I am putting on this record but I don't care as I love it so much. 'It comes from the most infectious, joyful, wild dramatic place I was in my life. It's bangers. 'This is the record I've wanted to make for a very long time'.
The Independent
5 hours ago
- The Independent
Narinder Kaur criticises BBC's decision to cast Thomas Skinner on Strictly
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