Strictly in CRISIS!

After a lukewarm reaction to the line-up amid rumours of stars quitting, is this the end?

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Arguably, it’s been a cruel run-up to the launch of this year’s Strictly Come Dancing, and show bosses have already faced setbacks including feedback from fans, who’ve summed up the 2021 line-up as ‘scraping the barrel’.

The list of 15 celebrities features former EastEnders actor Nina Wadia, musician Tom Fletcher from McFly, actor Greg Wise and comedian Robert Webb (who memorably won Let’s Dance for Comic Relief in 2009 with his amazing Flashdance routine).

Lesser-known ‘stars’ include Matilda ‘Tilly’ Ramsay (chef Gordon’s daughter), Dragons’ Den’s Sara Davies and The Great British Bake Off’s 2012 winner John Whaite, who is forming half of the first all-male pairing.

There has also been significant upheaval on the judging panel, with Bruno Tonioli, 65, unable to join the programme due to international travel restrictions. He has been replaced by professional dancer and Strictly veteran Anton Du Beke, 55, for the series. And Bruno hasn’t been the only big loss. In May, adored host Zoe Ball, 50, quit BBC2’s sister show It Takes Two after 10 years, citing family commitments and a desire to move on to something new.

‘Rylan is back at the helm’