HUGE football star and manager 'to star on the upcoming season of Strictly Come Dancing'

Daily Mail​

4 hours ago

Football icon Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink is reportedly set to appear on the upcoming season of Strictly Come Dancing.
The former Chelsea and Netherlands striker and ex-England coach, 53, is believed to have signed up to the BBC flagship show, according to The Sun.
A source told the publication: 'Jimmy has a huge fanbase from his years playing in the Premier League and is a very likeable character.
'Show producers are always keen to book a retired footballer as it gets footie fans tuning into the series and becoming unlikely fans of the show.
'Jimmy has a competitive edge and is going to get his head in the game.'
The father-of-four was a professional player with Leeds and Middlebrough for two decades before he retied in 2008.
MailOnline has contacted representatives for Strictly Come Dancing for comment.
The rumour comes weeks after Strictly bosses announced the professional lineup for this year's show and revealed there will be two brand new dancers joining.
Dianne Buswell, who lifted the glitter ball in December with Chris McCausland, will be joining Nadiya Bychkova, Karen Hauer, Katya Jones, Neil Jones, Nikita Kuzmin, Gorka Marquez, Luba Mushtuk and Jowita Przystal in returning to the dance floor this September.
They will be joined by Johannes Radebe, Aljaž Škorjanec, Nancy Xu, Lauren Oakley, Michelle Tsiakkas and Vito Coppola who will all take to the floor once more alongside two new stars, who will be announced closer to the time.
Amy Dowden, who pulled out in the opening weeks of last year's show due to a foot injury, will also be back on Strictly for 2025, as will Carlos Gu and Kai Widdrington, who didn't have a celebrity partner last year.
Despite rumours that he might be making a return after missing out on last year's series, Giovanni Pernice will not be heading back to the ballroom this time around.
Sarah James, Executive Producer, BBC Studios said : 'The excitement is already building ahead of the new series and in addition to welcoming back our fantastic returning Pros, we are looking forward to welcoming two brand new Professional Dancers to the line up who will help bring another unforgettable series of dazzling dance and loads more besides to viewers later in 2025.'
As well as the pros taking part in the competition itself, all of them will be taking to the floor each week in group routines.
The rumour comes weeks after Strictly bosses announced the professional lineup for this year's show and revealed there will be two brand new dancers joining
MailOnline previously revealed that Strictly Come Dancing professional Karen will return to the BBC show this year.
It was rumoured that the programme's longest-serving dancer was axed by bosses, sparking an 'ageism' row among the cast but it has been confirmed that the star, 42, will be back as normal when the series returns in September.
Karen, who joined the lineup in 2012, is yet to win the glitter ball trophy but has reached several finals including with celebrity partners Made In Chelsea 's Jamie Laing and former TOWIE star Mark Wright.
Last year, Karen was partnered with former footballer Paul Merson, 57, but the pair were eliminated in week five and the previous season the dancer performed with DJ Eddie Kadi.
The Venezuelan, who was previously married to ex-pro Kevin Clifton, returns to the show alongside the likes of Strictly favourites Gorka Marquez, Johannes Radebe, and Jowita Przystal, who reached the semifinal stages last year with Pete Wicks.
In November, it was reported that Karen was at 'risk' of losing her place on the show because of her age when dancers like Dianne Buswell, 35, and Michelle Tsiakkas, 29, are younger participants.
Meanwhile, Carlos Gu (pictured, left) and Kai Widdrington (right) will be returning after not appearing in the 2024 edition
Johannes Radebe (pictured, left) is back for the 2025 edition after receiving a huge spike in popularity, leading to a busy diary and will join Aljaž Škorjanec (right)
Katya Jones (pictured, left) will be joining Jowita Pryzstal (right) on the much-awaited return of Strictly this September
A TV source told MailOnline: 'Karen is a well loved and respected member of the Strictly cast and there's no way she would be axed, especially not because of her age.
'She has dedicated years to the programme and can't wait to get back in the training room with a new partner in the next coming months.'
Following speculation surrounding whether she would axed from the long running series due to being in her 40s, Karen spoke about not being 'threatened' by younger competitors.
Indeed, she said performing alongside new joiners makes her feel empowered and she is 'inspired' by the younger generation.
In February, she said: 'Of course, Strictly brings in younger female dancers. I'm the longest serving on the show, but new dancers don't threaten me - I watch them and I learn from them.
'They inspire me and build my confidence. I've become the person for them that I didn't have when I joined the show. I'm always there to help because there is a big spotlight on you on Strictly.'
As well as competing on the show with celebrity contestants Jeremy Vine, Simon Rimmer, Greg Wise and Chris Ramsey, Karen also danced with comedian Jayde Adams, which was her first female partnership.
On competing with a female for the first time in 2022, Karen said: 'I've danced with a lot of male dancers, but it's finding what works for them. This is more natural.
Luba Mushtuk (pictured, left) was partnered with Nick Knowles in 2024 while Nancy Xu (right) danced with singer Shayne Ward last year
Lauren Oakley (pictured, left) stepped in for Amy as JB Gill's partner and Michelle Tsiakkas (right) was with Jamie Borthwick last time
'It is female empowerment for me to be dancing with Jayde. I feel the most comfortable because there is that friendship.
'We are girls and we talk about everything. We cry together, we laugh together. We share so many things.
'When it comes to the dancing we are able to put that emotion into it.'
It was alleged last year that a Strictly 'cull' of the professional dancers would see a change in the lineup, with Gorka rumoured not to be coming back for the upcoming season.
Throughout his time on the show Gorka has been partnered with the likes of EastEnders actress Tameka Empson, Coronation Street star Katie McGlynn, and radio host Nikita Kanda.
In 2024, he competed with Morning Live doctor Punam Krishan and the pair impressed the judging panel with their Couples' Choice performance where they danced a Bollywood routine.
His partner Gemma Atkinson starred on Strictly in 2017, which is how the couple first met, and the fitness model reached the final, narrowly missing out to Joe McFadden and his partner Katya for the glitter ball trophy.
It was alleged last year that a Strictly 'cull' of the professional dancers would see a change in the lineup, with Gorka Marquez rumoured not to be coming back for the upcoming season
The World Latin Champion, who started dancing at the age of 12, landed a new role earlier this year on the judging panel for the Spanish version of Strictly.
He's also been up and down the country performing with fellow pro dancer Karen on their Speakeasy tour.
Gemma has admitted the time she finds most difficult as a mother is when Gorka is rehearsing for Strictly, saying his intense work schedule means he often isn't at their family home in Manchester.
She said: 'He's never here. It's Strictly from July to December. If they get a partner, they're based where their partner is in the week. Obviously London at the weekend.'
In recent years, the Strictly pro lineup has seen Italian dancers Graziano Di Prima and Giovanni be axed following complaints about their conduct in the training room.
Giovanni faced bullying accusations from former celebrity partner Amanda Abbington while Graziano 'kicked' ex-Love Island star Zara McDermott during rehearsals.
There were also reports of a 'mass cull' with producers keen to revamp the Strictly pro cast.