Dancers step out

Celebs ready to put best foot forward at rehearsal studios

- BY NICOLA METHVEN

THIS year’s Strictly lineup has been revealed and it includes drag artist La Voix and Ellie Goldstein, the first contestant with Down's Syndrome.

But will any of the 15 celebs be any good when the BBC show returns next month? Here, we reveal who they are...

Harry Aikines-Aryeetey, athlete turned Gladiator, 36

We know Harry, aka Nitro from Gladiators, can move - he did it on the Christmas special with Nancy Xu. He must fancy his chances if he's back so soon. “It was so nice, I had to do it twice,” he said.

Dani Dyer, reality TV star, 29

The Love Island winner said in her 2019 autobiography she could put “qualified dancer” on her CV. The joint favourite went to weekend stage school for 12 years from the age of two and said: “I'd get home and prance around the house.”

Alex Kingston, ER actress, 62

Alex is so nervous she could only scream in her unveiling interview. But like most actors, she'll have a bit of dance training. She was inspired to take part by pal Sarah Hadland, a finalist last year.

Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, former footballer, 53

Footballers tend to struggle on Strictly, but will Jimmy be different? He signed up to impress his daughters, who love the show, but has no experience. “Swapping the pitch for the ballroom is not something I've done before,” he sighed.