Toyah Willcox joins Strictly Come Dancing line-up
Three more celebrities have been announced for Strictly Come Dancing, with Toyah Willcox, Wynne Evans and Dr Punam Krishan taking to the floor.
Singer Willcox had been rumoured to take part, but she’s now been confirmed by the BBC.
“I’m used to performing for big crowds but this is completely fresh for me, how I will do, it’s a mystery… I just want to get cracking and learn some dance routines now,” she said.
The new additions to the line-up were revealed on Vernon Kay’s BBC Radio 2 morning show.
The trio join JB Gill and Chris McCausland, who were confirmed on Monday.
Toyah Willcox
Eighties popstar Toyah Willcox is responsible for thirteen top 40 singles, and is including hits It’s A Mystery, I Want to Be Free and Brave New World.
And this year, she played Glastonbury with her husband, Robert Fripp.
She’s also appeared in over 40 stage plays.
The Sun on Sunday previously reported that Willcox would be starring on Strictly, and she said in April that she “wouldn’t say no” to the opportunity.
She told Kay she had been “lying” to everyone as an attempt to keep the secret, and that she was looking forward to the regular spray tans.
Wynne Evans
A lot of people might recognise Wynne Evans as the face, and the voice, behind the Go Compare adverts.
Evans has had two number one classical music albums, and has given over 200 performances at the Royal Albert Hall in London.
He’s also turned his hand to presenting, he has a daily radio show on BBC Radio Wales, and has presented on BBC Radio 3 and Classic FM.
He also has a zest for cooking, as he won Celebrity Masterchef last year.
Evans says he’s “pinching” himself at the news, and “aims to make Wales proud”. He also told Kay he’d be taking inspiration from Bill Bailey, who won the show in 2020 with Oti Mabuse.
Dr Punam Krishan
Dr Punam Krishan is switching doctors’ scrubs for sequins.
The practising NHS GP is the resident doctor on BBC Morning Live and BBC Radio Scotland, and she’s also written a children’s book, as well as newspaper columns.
“This still doesn’t feel real, I am overjoyed to be a contestant on this year’s show,” she said.
“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.”
Chris McCausland
Chris McClausland was the first celeb to be confirmed for this year’s series, which also made him the show’s first blind contestant.
The comedian is a regular face on flagship comedy shows such as Have I Got News for You and QI.
Speaking to ITV’s This Morning on Monday, he said his participation in Strictly was the “worst kept secret” in showbusiness following weeks of newspaper reports.
The national disability charity, Sense, welcomed news that he was joining the show, calling it a “pivotal moment” for disability representation.
“I don’t dance, I haven’t danced, I can’t dance, I can’t see the dancing I will have to do. What can possibly go wrong?,” joked McCausland, who lost his sight in his 20s.
JB Gill
JLS singer JB Gill was unveiled as the second celebrity contestant confirmed for Strictly’s next series.
Gill said he was looking forward to “showing off some new skills” to his fellow bandmates.
He is one part of the wildly successful boy band JLS, who rose to fame on The X Factor and went on to have hits including Beat Again and Everybody In Love.
The singer said he loved his time dancing in the Strictly Christmas special over a decade ago.
But speaking on This Morning, he admitted that some of the routines like ballroom dancing were “quite alien” to him.
“So it’s going to be a learning curve for me,” he said.
More on Strictly Come Dancing:
The remaining celebrity contestants joining the new series will be announced in due course.
Strictly has been at the centre of controversy as claims have emerged about the treatment of some of the celebrities on the show.
The actress Amanda Abbington, who was paired with Giovanni Pernice, has said she found his alleged behaviour “unnecessary, abusive, cruel and mean”.
Pernice’s spokesperson has previously denied any allegations of threatening or abusive behaviour. He will not be returning for the show’s series this year.
TV star Zara McDermott has said she was involved in incidents in the Strictly Come Dancing training room that she now finds “incredibly distressing” to watch back.
A spokesman for her professional dancer, Graziano Di Prima, later admitted to BBC News that he had kicked McDermott once in a rehearsal last year.
Di Prima has also left the show.
The BBC has said it will introduce measures to “strengthen welfare and support” on the show, including a chaperone who will be present “at all times” during training room rehearsals.
