logo
Strictly signs two new professional dancers as head judge Shirley Ballas reveals new line-up is ‘off the charts'

Strictly signs two new professional dancers as head judge Shirley Ballas reveals new line-up is ‘off the charts'

Scottish Sun14-07-2025
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window)
Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
STRICTLY Come Dancing's head judge Shirley Ballas has confirmed that two brand-new professional dancers are joining the upcoming series — and she's calling the line-up 'off the charts'.
Appearing on ITV's This Morning earlier today, Shirley couldn't hide her excitement as she spilled a few juicy titbits about what fans can expect when Strictly waltzes back onto screens later this year.
Sign up for the Entertainment newsletter
Sign up
6
Shirley Ballas appeared on This Morning today
6
She revealed two new pros have joined Strictly
6
Celebs Go Dating guru and Married at First Sight expert Paul C Brunson crossed over with Shirley - after The Sun revealed he has signed to the new celebrity line-up
'I can tell you that we have two new professionals joining the show and they are amazing,' she gushed.
'There's a few little changes — you know they do little things every year. But we've got the cast of all cast. It's going to be off the charts!'
Things took a cheeky turn when Paul C Brunson, relationship expert from Married At First Sight, happened to cross over with Shirley.
Host Ben Shephard couldn't resist stirring the pot, referencing The Sun's exclusive story that Paul has been signed to the 2025 series.
Ben said: 'Well apparently Paul is in the line-up… show us a move!' to which Paul responded with a slick body wave that had the studio in stitches.
Shirley clapped but played coy and expertly deflected the speculation, refusing to officially confirm anything.
It comes after Giovanni Pernice and Graziano Di Prima's exits from the show.
Giovanni, 34, sensationally quit Strictly in May last year following allegations about his behaviour in rehearsals from former partner Amanda Abbington.
Months later Graziano, 31, was sacked after an altercation with Zara McDermott during her time on the show.
Last month The Sun revealed one of the new dancers in talks to join the show after he was seen in rehearsals with the team.
Strictly Come Dancing's Dianne reveals show's two new pro dancers have been signed up after Gio and Graziano's sackings
We told how dancer and choreographer Luke Miller is hotly tipped to be announced as one of professionals.
Fellow professional Dianne Buswell, 36, has also revealed two new dancers will join the competition when Strictly returns later this year.
Speaking on her podcast with Chris McCausland, she told her co-host: 'You were in my dream the other day.
'We've got two new pros this year on Strictly - don't know who they are yet - a new boy and a new girl.'
Comedian Chris, 48 - who won the show with Dianne last year - asked: 'Who are they getting rid of?'
Dianne replied: 'Nobody, but we're adding two more. I dreamt that you were the new pro male. But I was fake happy, and it's really mean for me to say that, but I wasn't really happy for you.
'I was like, 'what the hell? He's going to think he's better than me now'.
'And to make it worse you won the series, so you were a double winner and I was like, 'this isn't fair, now everyone's going to think it wasn't me who made him win it was actually himself that won it the first time'.'
6
Shirley was on This Morning to announce a casting call for a dog to star in Coronation Street
Credit: Shutterstock Editorial
6
Gio quit the show last year following allegations from Amanda Abbington
Credit: Shutterstock
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Britain's Got Talent judge Bruno Tonioli quits after 2 years
Britain's Got Talent judge Bruno Tonioli quits after 2 years

South Wales Argus

timean hour ago

  • South Wales Argus

Britain's Got Talent judge Bruno Tonioli quits after 2 years

Bruno Tonioli, who was formerly a judge on Strictly Come Dancing, has stepped away from the role on BGT due to other filming commitments. Rapper KSI, who featured as a guest judge on this year's series, is in talks to become Bruno's permanent replacement, according to The Sun. A show insider told The Sun: 'Bruno has officially quit Britain's Got Talent and they are hoping that KSI will replace him. "He absolutely loved being on the panel with Simon, Alesha Dixon and Amanda Holden but Bruno just can't juggle his schedule with filming. There is no bad blood and Bruno is leaving with a smile on his face.' Bruno's ongoing commitments include US dance competition Dancing With The Stars. Earlier this week, rumours had circulated about Bruno quitting the show as a source said: "The filming schedule in 2024 meant that Bruno could get away with not being present for filming one week of auditions." "But it would be virtually impossible for him to miss two weeks, because in the final edit, that equates to half the episodes in the new three-month run of BGT, which will air from February of 2026." The 69-year-old joined the judging panel in 2023 alongside Simon Cowell, Amanda Holden and Alesha Dixon, following David Walliams' departure. Who is KSI? Newcomer KSI, born Olajide 'JJ' Olatunji, is an internet personality, musician and boxer. Recommended Reading: From Watford, he found his fame on YouTube through his channel KSIOlajidebt, typically through the popular football video game FIFA. He has since ventured into music, with his last album All Over The Place, debuting at number one on the UK Album Charts in 2021. KSI proved to be a massive hit with viewers when he joined the panel for BGT's Blackpool auditions this year and went on to appear at the live semi-finals.

Actress Monica Dolan ‘immensely proud' of Post Office campaigners
Actress Monica Dolan ‘immensely proud' of Post Office campaigners

STV News

timean hour ago

  • STV News

Actress Monica Dolan ‘immensely proud' of Post Office campaigners

Bafta award-winning actress Monica Dolan has said she fell in love with acting as she 'just got a feeling from it that I didn't get from anywhere else'. Speaking as she appeared as the guest on BBC Radio 4's Desert Island Discs, the Mr Bates Vs the Post Office star said she first got the bug for acting at school. 'I just got a feeling from it that I didn't get from anywhere else,' she told presenter Lauren Laverne. 'I think it was basically a feeling of being noticed, or being seen as people now say. I thought, 'I want more of this'.' Dolan, who won an Olivier award for her role in All About Eve along with a Bafta for Appropriate Adult, received several award nominations for Mr Bates Vs the Post Office. She told Laverne how she prepared to play the real-life character of subpostmistress Jo Hamilton in the acclaimed ITV drama series based on the true story of Horizon IT scandal. 'I think you have to slightly put yourself in there,' Dolan said. 'You have to think, well if I was this person, how would I behave? I was very lucky with Jo because she was definitely more approachable than most people that I've played. 'One of the things I did very early on actually which was really helpful, which I'd definitely do again, was to ask her – if it wasn't too intrusive, and I felt with her that I could – to ask her to record her life story. Just a little version – like a 15 minute version – up to the point where the script begins – where it all starts. 'That was really useful, waiting for filming – I could listen to her voice, and I'd have her voice in my head, and also I'd have her background in my head. 'That was very useful indeed because you're kind of absorbing that person.' Dolan also said of those who campaigned for justice following the Post Office scandal: 'I was immensely proud of people, for being that collectively angry.' The actress, who said her luxury item would be a walk-in wardrobe with a cold glass of champagne and a new outfit for every day inside, said she would also like to take a book on flora and fauna on the island so she could identify what she saw. Among her desert island disc choices were her childhood favourite The Tra La La Song (One Banana, Two Banana) from the TV show The Banana Splits, MacArthur Park by Richard Harris, and Us Amazonians by the 'tremendous' Kirsty MacColl. Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country

Married At First Sight star Elizabeth Sobinoff reveals heartbreaking miscarriage
Married At First Sight star Elizabeth Sobinoff reveals heartbreaking miscarriage

Daily Mirror

timean hour ago

  • Daily Mirror

Married At First Sight star Elizabeth Sobinoff reveals heartbreaking miscarriage

Former Married At First Sight Australia star Elizabeth Sobinoff has revealed on Instagram that she suffered a miscarriage between her two pregnancies. Former Married At First Sight participant Elizabeth Sobinoff has revealed she suffered a heartbreaking miscarriage between the births of her two children. ‌ The 34-year-old reality TV alum shared the personal news on Instagram on Monday, reflecting on a difficult chapter in her life. Sobinoff, who rose to fame during her appearances on MAFS in 2019 and 2020, is now a mother to an 18-month-old daughter and a newborn son, who was born in April. ‌ 'Saying goodbye to a chapter of life that had its ups and downs,' she wrote in her caption, adding: 'It is bittersweet to say goodbye to that chapter of my life. I have my two babies and it is the most beautiful feeling in the world.' ‌ In the post, she disclosed that her children are 17 months apart and shared that she experienced a miscarriage before falling pregnant with her second child. 'My babies are 17 months apart,' she wrote. 'I had a miscarriage between my two pregnancies. I lost a baby. The baby had a strong heartbeat after my first scan… Less than 48hrs later I was experiencing a threatened miscarriage. The scan was on a Wednesday and by that Sunday I lost the baby.' ‌ She went on to describe how deeply the experience affected her, revealing that she felt a strong need to become pregnant again following the loss. 'I was focused,' she wrote. 'I couldn't get past this. Losing the baby, I thought I need to give myself a rest. Around a week and a half later I fell pregnant with my son.' ‌ Reflecting further on the emotional aftermath, she admitted she had not fully processed the grief at the time. 'I just lost a baby that I wanted so badly,' she said. 'Then I fell pregnant, and I was told this. I hadn't dealt with my emotions. I pushed it down, deep inside. I remember getting the phone call that I was pregnant. My girlfriend was with me and I cried with happiness.' The MAFS star concluded her message by sharing how motherhood has shifted her focus in life. ‌ 'The last few years I've been pregnant. Now I find I'm on the journey of enjoying my children and finding my new identity, other than being pregnant. It is bittersweet.' Dubbed ' Australia 's Most Confident Bride' during her season six appearance on MAFS, Elizabeth is now married to engineer Alex Vega and has stepped away from reality TV to focus on her family life.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store