EastEnders actor Bobby Brazier, former Coronation Street star Ellie Leach, and British Paralympic champion Jody Cundy are the latest stars to join the Strictly Come Dancing line-up.
Brazier, who is the son of Big Brother star Jade Goody – who died in 2009 aged 27 after being diagnosed with cervical cancer – and fellow reality star and TV presenter Jeff Brazier, said he is excited to take part in the BBC's flagship programme because "I love to dance".
The 20-year-old, who has played Freddie Slater in the BBC soap since last year, told BBC Breakfast: "To perform live will be scary, I think – daunting, but exciting. There’s a real difference to doing acting and dancing live and having time to prepare.
"It’s going to be a rush I haven’t felt before. I just like to party – house and disco. I’ve got good rhythm… but as far as ballroom and Latin and proper dancing goes, I’ve not done much."
On swapping T-shirts for sequins, Brazier said: "EastEnders have had me dressed up in mad stuff – I’ve been a pumpkin, so I think sequins is fine. Even personally I wear some pretty crazy stuff anyway, and it’s all part of getting into a role for the dance and the different kinds of songs, so it’s exciting."
The model, who has walked for Dolce & Gabbana at Milan Fashion Week, also said growing up watching his father Jeff dance "taught me a lot", but added that he hopes to pass on his new skills to his younger brother, Freddie, who is a "stiff" dancer.
Meanwhile, Leach, whose participation was also announced on BBC Breakfast, said: "It still doesn’t feel real that I’m going to be doing Strictly!! It’s always been a dream of mine so I guess dreams really do come true!!!!"
The 22-year-old played Faye Windass in Coronation Street for 12 years before leaving earlier this year and was involved in storylines that included falling pregnant at 13 and later reconnecting with the child she gave up for adoption.
Cundy, an eight-time gold medallist who has represented Great Britain in cycling and swimming events at seven summer Paralympics, was unveiled on BBC Radio 5 Live.
The 44-year-old said: "I can’t believe I’m doing this. I am literally the last person to get dragged on the dancefloor so this is jumping feet-first in at the deep end, something I never imagined myself doing, but you’ve just got to say yes when they come saying 'Do you want to be on Strictly?'"
Cundy has also competed in multiple World Championships, winning 23 world titles, most recently at the World Cycling Championships in Glasgow this week, but said the prospect of getting knocked out of Strictly early will be more nerve-wracking.
He said: "My most nervous thing would be going out in the first week – even talking about it now my heart is pumping. I had a world championship final literally last night and my heart rate is probably higher now than it was then."
The Strictly line-up so far also includes BBC Asian Network’s Breakfast Show host Nikita Kanda, actress Amanda Abbington, Bad Education star Layton Williams and broadcaster Angela Rippon.
They will be joined on the dancefloor by journalist Krishnan Guru-Murthy, comedian Eddie Kadi and former Love Island star Zara McDermott.
TV presenter and chat show host Angela Scanlon will fly the flag for Ireland.
Presenters Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman will be back to host the show when it returns to screens in the autumn.
Source: Press Association
