Strictly Come Dancing is back in action once more as the contestants for this year’s series have started being announced.
The primetime family favourite is currently embroiled in controversy over how the professional dancers teach the celebs, with multiple accusations emerging of bullying and abusive behaviour.
But that hasn’t stopped bosses from going full steam ahead with the show’s latest series which will mark 20 years of Strictly on the air.
There will be one change to the lineup this year, however, with reports claiming that show is set to feature more men than women for the first time in history.
As Strictly prepares to make its return, MailOnline looks at the celebrities who have been confirmed so far.
Blind comedian Chris McCausland was the first celeb contestant of the 2024 series, to be uveiled, appearing on This Morning on Monday to announce the news.
The signing is a first for the dance competition which previously featured deaf EastEnders actress Rose Ayling-Ellis who won the glitterball trophy alongside Giovanni Pearce in 2021.
Comedian and CBeebies actor Chris, 46, lost his sight aged 22 due to a hereditary condition, Retinitis Pigmentosa.
Chris has previously spoken about blind representation in the media, telling The Observer: ‘I think the best way to represent a disability is to make people forget about it whenever possible. It’s always part of you.
‘People are interested, you let them in and laugh about it. But if you can do a show, where, say, 80% of it isn’t about being blind, that makes it more impactful and funnier when you do talk about it. I believe in representation within the mainstream.’
Later on This Morning JLS star JB Gill was the second celeb confirmed.
The singer first found fame on the fifth series of The X Factor where he finished as runner-up with the other members of JLS.
The group released for albums before they went their separate ways in 2013, with each member thought to be worth £6million at the time.
JB follows in the footsteps of his bandmate Aston Merrygold who was eliminated in 10th place during the 2017 series.
The star also has history with Strictly, winning the Christmas Special of the BBC One dancing show back in 2012, performing the Jive with Ola Jordan.
Speaking about signing up for the new series, he said: ‘I did the Christmas special – it was great fun!’
‘It was the most similar dance to what I’ve done in JLS. A lot of the ballroom styles are very alien to me – I didn’t do those dances growing up. I am not a trained dancer.’
Away from his music career, JB is married to dancer Chloe Tangney and is father to son Ace and daughter Chiara.
Punam Krishnan is an NHS GP and is one of the resident doctors on the BBC’s Morning Live.
Based in Scotland, she regularly covers health topics for TV shows and newspapers and has also written a children’s book.
Punam told Vernon about joining Strictly: ‘This still doesn’t feel real, I am overjoyed to be a contestant on this year’s show.’
‘I have watched Strictly every year with my family and it feels extra special that it’s the 20th year, I can’t believe I will be the one getting Strictly-fied now. This is so out of my comfort zone, but I’m up for the journey and will give it my absolute all.’
‘This is surreal, me and the kids sit down and watch it and now I’m jumping off the sofa and onto the TV. I don’t know what the kids will think but I’m sure they’ll be watching and I don’t know how this is happening to someone like me.’
She is looking forward to geting advice from her Morning Live colleagues Helen Skelton and Kym Marsh who have both competed on Strictly before.
‘The Morning Live gang don’t know until now but I’m so blessed and Helen Skelton and Kim Marsh have all done it and they’re working mums and I want to know how they did it and showed up and sparkled with everything else.’
‘Its a pinch me moment for the 20th year and being a fan I’m so grateful for the opportunity.’
Wynne is best known for his operatic skills. Throughout his 25-year career he has had two number one classical music albums, has been a principal at most of the major opera houses around the world and has given over 200 performances at the Royal Albert Hall in London.
Wynne told Vernon Kay on BBC Radio 2: ‘I couldn’t believe it because its like cloak and daggers. You’re given a code name and you audition and meet the celebs and it is my favourite thing.’
‘The waltz, the classic ballroom I’m looking forward to. I did a lot of opera and I think that would suit me.’
‘The stuff I’m nervous about is the ones that involce jumping, I don’t really want to do the jive, I’m kind of a bit nervous about that but I’m taking inspiration from Bill Bailey. I’m going to throw myself into it.’
‘I’m moving around the house lighter footed, I’ve bought dance shoes, ballet shoes new gym kit, bag, pencil case and note pad to make notes. I love the glitz and glamour.’
‘I’ve been in these adverts which has been in everyone’s head and now the Strictly tune is in my head.’
Wynne is currently has a daily radio show on BBC Radio Wales and has previously had radio shows on BBC Radio 3 and Classic FM.
He told Strictly: ‘I am honestly still pinching myself, a portly balding opera singer, me, taking part in Strictly Come Dancing?!’
‘I’m not entirely sure how I’ll get along, if all else fails I’ll just have to learn the art of distraction. What I do know is I will give it my all and aim to make Wales proud.’
‘I’m definitely going to try and combine my love of Opera into one of my routines. Plus, after winning Celebrity MasterChef last year, maybe the route to the judges’ hearts will be through their stomachs!’
Toyah has amassed thirteen top 40 singles, recorded twenty-five albums, written two books, appeared in over forty stage plays, acted in over twenty feature films and presented many television programmes.
She fronted the eponymous band Toyah before branching out as a solo artist in the mid-1980s.
In 2018 Paul McCartney awarded Toyah a Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts Companionship for Outstanding Achievement in music, drama, performance and media.
Toyah appeared in the Radio 2 studio with Vernon and admitted she has been bursting to let the news slip, especially after performing at Glastonbury in June, saying the show will top off what has been an incredible year for her.
‘I’ve done so many festivals and Glastonbury and I wanted to be like ‘guess what?!’.’
I played the Avalon stage and I kept denying I was doing Strictly. I wanted to say to people ‘do you like my moves”.
‘I’m super excited and love this show. To be a part of it, the spray tan the glitter. Its a landmark year for me I came a pensioner, Glasto and now I get spray tans.’
And Toyah is equally excited to work with Wynne who she told Vernon she has known for over 30 years.
As for what dances she is looking forward to she confessed that ‘the ones I am most looking forward to are a bit ambitious for me but Salsa Cha Cha Cha.’
Tasha Ghouri
Tasha became the first Love Island star to appear on the show with a cochlear implant, which is an electronic device she had fitted aged five.
The model is passionate about raising awareness for the deaf community.
She appeared on ITV’s Love Island in 2022, and since then has amassed a following of over 2.2 million across her social media network.
Tasha has worked with Number 10 Downing Street, The Department of Education and MED-AL to champion issues close to her heart. She is a published author with her debut novel ‘Hits Different’ and has her own podcast, ‘Superpowers with Tasha’.
Announcing the news on the KISS FM Breakfast Show, Tasha gushed: ‘Pinch me, I can’t believe I’m going to be on Strictly Come Dancing!’
‘I’ve been watching the show since I was little – it’s a firm Ghouri family favourite – so this is a total dream come true.
‘I know it’s going to be an unforgettable experience and I hope to represent and make everyone proud out on that dancefloor.’
Strictly face being embroiled in a new fix row following the signing of Tasha, who is a trained dancer.
MailOnline revealed the reality star has competed in a number of major dance events and featured in music videos, sparking concern she will have an unfair advantage over her celebrity co-stars.
A show insider said: ‘Tasha’s signing has certainly raised a few eyebrows. She’s a dancer by trade as well as a reality star and model, so it feels like she’s too qualified to appear on the show.
‘Tasha is certainly no novice and will always be so far ahead of her co-stars before training has kicked in.
‘There is a feeling her being on Strictly is a touch unfair on everybody else competing, especially those totally new to dance.’
Pete Wicks
Pete soared to fame when he joined The Only Way Is The Essex in 2015, with his storylines often revolving around his romantic relationships – namely Megan McKenna and Chloe Sims.
Previously Pete has appeared on shows such as Celebs Go Dating, Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins, Celebrity MasterChef and The Real Full Monty.
The reality TV veteran called into Kiss FM to confirm his signing.
He told the show: ‘its a mixture of excited and petrified, generally petrified. I’ve been telling people, can you really imagine me really doing this and their like, yeah your right you wouldn’t.’
‘I’m going to have to switch my phone off now I’ll have a load of messages.’
He revealed that he had already spilled the news to his best friend Sam Thompson, who ‘cried.’
‘I’m not joking he screamed jumped up and down and cried. He has already planned that he is coming every Saturday and he’s making T-shirts and he is my number one fan in life, he is already making T-shirts. He’s a bit like Martha in Baby Reindeer.’
Pete is close friends with best pal Sam’s girlfriend Zara McDermott, who starred on the 2023 series of Strictly, with Pete often in the audience at the live shows.
Graziano Di Prima, 30, admitted to kicking Zara during their sessions, causing him to be sacked from the BBC series.
It follows claims his abusive behaviour was caught on video, in clips Zara stated were ‘incredibly distressing to watch.’
A source told MailOnline: ‘Zara is so happy for Pete landing the Strictly gig. Her experience on the show was so individual – she hopes no one will go through the same again.
‘She knows that Pete will have an amazing time and could even impress the judges, he’s incredibly hardworking and a good person, and will thrive in the environment, which can be intense, but he performs best when he’s challenged and under pressure.
‘Zara doesn’t want anything that happened to her to taint his Strictly journey and backs Pete even if it is a bit close to home.’
