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BreakingNews.ie
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- BreakingNews.ie
Model Ellie Goldstein announced as latest celebrity for Strictly Come Dancing
Model and CBBC actress Ellie Goldstein has been announced as the latest contestant for the upcoming series of Strictly Come Dancing. The 23-year-old will become the first person with Down's syndrome to compete on the main series of the BBC dancing show, after TV presenter George Webster appeared on the 2022 Christmas special. Advertisement Goldstein said: 'I'm absolutely over the moon to be joining the cast and pros of Strictly Come Dancing this year. It's a show I've loved watching for so long, and the chance to now be part of it feels like a dream. View this post on Instagram A post shared by BBC Strictly (@bbcstrictly) 'I know it's going to be challenging, but I'm ready to do it with the glitter and glamour and make some magic on that dancefloor. Let the Strictly journey begin.' Goldstein's appearance on the show was announced on BBC Breakfast on Wednesday. She made history in 2023 as the first model with Down's syndrome to make the cover of British Vogue, and she has also featured on the covers of Glamour, Elle, Mission Mag and Euphoria, as well as campaigns for brands such as Gucci Beauty and Adidas. Advertisement Two years ago, Goldstein partnered with Mattel to launch the first Barbie with Down's syndrome, and she recently starred in a guest lead role in CBBC's Mallory Towers. She also works with charity Mencap to challenge misconceptions about people with learning disabilities. Jon Sparkes, the charity's chief executive, said: 'We are so proud to see our Mencap myth buster Ellie revealed as a celebrity dancer for this year's Strictly. Ellie has never been afraid to push boundaries, and this is just another way to show what people with a learning disability can achieve with the right support. 'At Mencap we know how important it is for people to feel seen, included and recognised. Advertisement 'We really hope that seeing Ellie do her thing on a Saturday night will start important conversations among the millions of viewers, so we can all move towards a more inclusive society. 'It shouldn't be unusual to see someone with a learning disability sharing their talents and we hope this prompts more shows to include them. Go Ellie, we are with you all the way.' La Voix is to join the upcoming series of Strictly (Ben Whitley/PA) RuPaul's Drag Race UK star La Voix and former England rugby player Chris Robshaw were also announced as contestants during Scott Mills BBC Radio 2 Show on Wednesday. La Voix said: 'I've performed for royalty, RuPaul and Simon Cowell, but nothing fills me with more excitement, and quite a bit of terror, than the thought of dancing in front of millions on live Saturday night TV. Advertisement 'Strictly is a national institution and I can't wait to get started. All that's left to say is, good luck to my partner. Here's hoping they can help me go from La Voix into La Danse.' Robshaw added: 'This is about as far out of my comfort zone as it gets. I'm hoping to take my dad dancing to a whole new level, and my mum can't wait to drag me along to her Zumba class. 'Let's see if a rugby sidestep works in the Cha Cha Cha.' Chris Robshaw is to join the upcoming series of Strictly Come Dancing (Adam Davy/PA) It comes after 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. Advertisement Clarke, 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.' On the same day, EastEnders actress Balvinder Sopal was revealed as a contestant during a segment filmed live from Albert Square on ITV's Good Morning Britain. 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-Bowen, Gladiators star Harry Aikines-Aryeetey, Doctor Who actress Alex Kingston and former footballer Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink. 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. The popular show, hosted by Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly, will return to BBC One and BBC iPlayer in September with Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, Anton Du Beke and Shirley Ballas on the judges' table.
BreakingNews.ie
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- BreakingNews.ie
Love Island winner and YouTube star among first batch of Strictly contestants
A YouTube star, a Love Island winner and an EastEnders actress are 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. Advertisement 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. Clarke, 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 comes after EastEnders actress Balvinder Sopal was revealed as a contestant during a segment filmed live from Albert Square on ITV's Good Morning Britain (GMB). YouTuber George Clarke (BBC/PA) She said that 'being on Strictly is a dream that I held on to, with no proof that it would ever happen'. Advertisement 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, Dyer, 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.' View this post on Instagram A post shared by BBC Strictly (@bbcstrictly) Former Chelsea footballer Hasselbaink 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.' Advertisement Actress Kingston, 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.' Aikines-Aryeetey, 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. Daly and Winkleman will return as presenters with Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, Anton Du Beke and Shirley Ballas on the judges' table. Advertisement Strictly will return to BBC One this September.
BBC News
27-07-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Strictly announces new professional dancers Alexis Warr and Julian Caillon
Two new professional dancers are joining the Strictly Come Dancing line-up when it returns to screens in the autumn, the BBC has Alexis Warr and Australian-born Julian Caillon will feature in the BBC One show alongside 18 returning professional won US dance series So You Think You Can Dance in 2022 and has performed as a guest professional dancer and in the dance troupe of Dancing With The Stars, the US version of has appeared as a professional dancer on three seasons of Australia's Dancing With The Stars. A former personal trainer, he has also completed two triathlons this year. "I've admired Strictly for years, so joining this incredible family is such an honour," Warr said in a statement."I've watched it for years, especially cheering on all the amazing dancers I know and work with who've been part of it," Caillon and Caillon are being interviewed about their new roles on BBC Radio 2's Breakfast Show on Monday Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, Anton Du Beke and Shirley Ballas will be returning as judges, with Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman as hosts. The celebrity line-up for the series will be revealed later in the year, the BBC show, which has been airing since 2004, has faced multiple controversies over the past year relating to the behaviour of some of its professional dancers and celebrity dancers Giovanni Pernice and Graziano Di Prima left the show last year following allegations about their behaviour towards their dance BBC announced new welfare measures for Strictly last July. These include having chaperones in all rehearsal rooms, adding two new welfare producers and providing additional training for the professional dancers, production team and January, Welsh opera singer Wynne Evans, who had been a celebrity dancer in last year's series, made what he described as an "inappropriate and unacceptable" comment during the Strictly live tour launch. He took time off from his BBC Radio Wales daytime show after the incident, and the BBC said in May that he will not be returning to star Jamie Borthwick was suspended by the BBC last month after The Sun reported that he used a slur against people with disabilities while backstage during Strictly rehearsals in November. Borthwick apologised and the BBC said his language was "entirely unacceptable".
