Fleur East has been unveiled as the twelfth star joining Strictly Come Dancing 2022.
The BBC One show is back next month for its 20th series, with a big shake-up to the line-up including newly permanent judge Anton du Beke - who will replace Bruno Tonioli and sit alongside Shirley Ballas, Craig Revel Horwood and Motsi Mabuse. There will also be four new professionals after Oti Mabuse and Alijaz Škorjanec quit.
Lauren Oakley, Michelle Tsiakkas, Vito Coppola and Carlos Gu will join the series this year, with many fan favourites also set to return for the coming series too. The new series will kick off next month, with the latest star taking to the dancefloor announced today as they prepare to put on their dancing shoes and salsa to victory.
Speaking about joining the show, she said: "I’m equally nervous and thrilled to be part of this year’s Strictly line up.
"I’m excited to learn new skills and I want to soak up every moment of this magical experience. It’s such an honour to be on the show after years of watching it with my Father who loved it so much. Unfortunately my Dad is no longer with us but I know he will be watching over the ballroom in spirit. I’m doing this to make him and my family proud and can’t wait to get my dancing shoes on!”
It comes after Loose Women's Kaye Adams was one of a number of TV stars confirmed to be joining the upcoming series.
Speaking about joining the show, she told her fellow panellists: "Actually it’s quite funny because I’m terrified, I’m absolutely terrified because as Nadia very kindly says, as a supportive friend does - ‘Let’s face it, you can’t dance’, which is true. It’s true!"
She added: "I’ll be a journey [on the show]. I’ll be honest with you, I can think of a million reasons not to do this and I can still think of a million reasons not to do this and when these gorgeous dancers came on, I nearly exited from both ends of my body, honestly. Sorry about that! But I thought, ‘Am I going to be thinking at the end of September I wish I’d done this’.
"I’m 59, 60 at the end of this year and I was like, ‘Well, why not?’ I’m a really competitive person and Nadia, you know that’s true but in this I’m not. If I enjoy myself, I’ll be so happy."
Paralympian Ellie Simmonds - known for bringing home the medals in her swimming career - also signed up to the show, and as a self-confessed Strictly fan, expressed her excitement about joining the new series.
She said in a statement: "Oh my gosh!! I’m literally bursting with excitement!! It’s been soooo hard keeping this secret as I’ve wanted to tell everyone. I’m going on Strictly Come Dancing!! I’m a tad nervous too, well more than a tad… I’m absolutely petrified!
"To be asked to be part of the Strictly family is just so exciting and I cannot wait, it’s going to so much fun. I’m counting down the minutes until it starts; learning to dance, meeting my partner and everyone else involved in the show."
She added: "Plus wearing the sequins and all that, It’s going to be a blast. I’ve been watching Strictly from as far back as I can remember; it’s a traditional lead up to Christmas with my family and it’s a genuine privilege to be part of it."
Other stars on the list for the new series includes Coronation Street's Kym Marsh and Will Mellor and comediennes Ellie Taylor and Jayde Adams. Footballer Tony Adams and Britain's Got Talent's Molly Rainford will also be taking to the dancefloor.
