Faye Tozer of pop band Steps and Red Dwarf actor Danny John-Jules have been revealed as the latest contestants for the new series of Strictly Come Dancing.
Tozer (42) had been widely expected to be among the line-up for the hit dance show, which returns to BBC One in the Autumn.
5, 6, 7, 8... which celeb on #Strictly would be great? Everybody clap your hands, get on up and dance for Faye Tozer! 👏 @Faye_Tozer https://t.co/cnGzlyVtRC pic.twitter.com/ikYkjCwHTJ
— BBC Strictly✨ (@bbcstrictly) August 13, 2018
57-year-old John-Jules is best known for playing Cat in the sci-fi comedy series Red Dwarf and policeman Dwayne Myers in crime drama Death in Paradise.
The Cat's out of the bag 🙀Danny John-Jules is going to be having fun, fun, fun on #Strictly this year! https://t.co/4k1rKuZzjb pic.twitter.com/d2zqSgTiom
— BBC Strictly✨ (@bbcstrictly) August 13, 2018
Their names were unveiled on The One Show on BBC One on Monday evening.
Tozer said she was relieved that the secret was out. "I've lied to so many people!" she said, adding that she
was looking forward to the glitz and glamour.
"I am all about the costumes," she said. "The huge hair, the make-up, the themed nights!"
John-Jules, who is a keen dancer, said he felt daunted when he learned that Tozer was also in the running for the Glitterball trophy, saying the competition was "already nerve-wracking".
Earlier on Monday, 34-year-old television presenter Katie Piper was named as the first celebrity to take part in the contest, as rumours spread about who would be in contention to lift the glitter ball trophy.
Speaking about her decision to take part in the show, Piper told BBC Breakfast, "For me, it's really out of my comfort zone and it's nothing like I've ever done before, so I was really worried - will I be the first person to go home?"
It's time for our very first celeb reveal of 2018! Welcome to #Strictly, Katie Piper 👋✨ @KatiePiper_ https://t.co/Z7nFu32YcR pic.twitter.com/KzJBbxVfnk
— BBC Strictly✨ (@bbcstrictly) August 13, 2018
With so much secrecy surrounding the series, she said the only person she told was her husband and "he thought I was joking."
Piper said her dream dance partner would be Giovanni Pernice on the show, but she doesn't know how her rhythm would match up.
"I like having fun and music and parties, but dance-wise, I went to a musical on Thursday with my friend, and he noted that I wasn't even clapping in time, so in terms of rhythm, I don't know how well that's going to go," she said.
Piper, who was the victim of an acid attack in 2008 which left her partially blind and with severe scarring, is also an author and works to support other acid attack survivors through the Katie Piper Foundation.
The 34-year-old presenter and campaigner was the first celebrity dancer to be announced as rumours grow rampant about who could be in contention to lift the glitter ball trophy.
