This year’s Strictly Come Dancing line-up is yet to be announced but there are a few names that have already been linked to the series.
Alex Kingston starred in Doctor Who with the likes of Matt Smith (Image: BBC)
Doctor Who star Alex Kingston has allegedly been confirmed to participate in this year’s series of Strictly Come Dancing.According to sources, the celebrated actress, 62, is set to be joined by reality television personality Dani Dyer, former Coronation Street star Helen Flanagan, Apprentice favourite Thomas Skinner and Neighbours legend Stefan Dennis.
Olympic champion Sir Mo Farah, television presenter Stacey Solomon and Vicky Pattison, who rose to fame through Geordie Shore, are also reportedly amongst the contestants. The BBC has yet to officially announce the celebrity lineup, reports the Mirror. A television source revealed to The Sun: “She’s a real talent and will add a lot, it’s always exciting to have a prestigious actress on the cast. It’s the first time Alex has done a reality show of any kind, but she’s a huge fan of the show and couldn’t resist the opportunity.”
Alex Kingston is set to join Strictly Come Dancing (Image: Dave Benett/Getty Images for Netflix)
Alex won over Doctor Who enthusiasts after securing the part of River Song, with her character featuring during David Tennant, Matt Smith and Peter Capaldi’s tenures on the science fiction programme.
Her television journey has extended across numerous years, having appeared in American medical series ER, historical dramas The Fortunes and Misfortunes of Moll Flanders, Arrow and A Discovery of Witches. Alex has been open about her affection for the show and expressed her desire to participate, much like Sarah Hadland.
In 2019, Alex stated: “Sarah Hadland and I talked about how much we’d like to do Strictly Come Dancing. Then I discovered she’s a trained ballet dancer. ‘Hang on a minute! That’s not fair!’ So, I can’t do it on a season when she is on it!”
A BBC spokesperson said: “We don’t comment on speculation.”
Another celebrity reportedly joining the BBC programme is model Ellie Goldstein, who aims to shift perceptions of individuals with Down’s Syndrome. Ellie has been modelling since she was 14 years old, making history by gracing the cover of Vogue and inspiring a Barbie doll.
Strictly Come Dancing will be back on TV screens in the coming months (Image: BBC)
In a chat with Metro, she said: “People like me lead to change slowly in the industry. People need to know about me and my condition. We need more disability representation out there.”
Head judge Shirley Ballas has shared her enthusiasm for the show’s return this year. While appearing on This Morning, she exclaimed: “We’ve got a cast, I know I say it every year, but we’ve got the cast of all casts. It’s gonna be absolutely off the charts.”
Shirley will be accompanied by fan favourites Motsi Mabuse, Craig Revel Horwood and Anton Du Beke.
