Strictly Come Dancing confirm two new names have signed up as soap legend says ‘it’s the right time!’
STRICTLY Come Dancing has confirmed two more names have signed up to the 2024 series.
X Factor winner and Coronation Street hunk Shayne Ward joined actress Sarah Hadland on ITV’s Lorraine for the big reveal today.
Shayne, 39. told host Christine Lampard: “My kids are at home watching this, we’ve watched it for so many years, I feel massive admiration for people who take part because it’s not easy.
“I’ve always loved watching the progress to the next stage. But for me honestly I always felt like I was nervous to do it, like I couldn’t do it, like I wasn’t good enough.
“But now after many years I feel in my gut this is the right time, I’m excited for it, I’m hungry!”
Miranda actress Sarah, 53, who is best known as Stevie Sutton in the beloved BBC sitcom, admitted she hadn’t told her mum the news yet.
She told Christine: “I’m doing it finally, every year she says, ‘do you think you’ll do it this year? And now I can say yes I will. Massive morning for my mum.”
Christine said to the pair: “We know Strictly has been in the press for the wrong reasons, how does it feel to be in the new series?”
Shayne, who has been focusing on his drama The Goodship Murder, said: “I’ve been away hiding for three months so I haven’t seen anything. I’m just focused on meeting all the dancers and the rest of the contestants and having the most amazing experience.”
Sarah replied: “I’m just happy to be covered in glue and rolled in glitter and tan.”
The announcements come after Love Island star Tasha Ghouri and Towie legend Pete Wicks also confirmed they will be appearing on the 20th series of Strictly.
And swimmer Tom Dean announced he has signed up after reaching the final of the men’s 200 metres individual medley in the Paris 2024 Olympics last week.
The popular BBC dancing show has made headlines recently after a storm of controversy over the alleged treatment of contestants on the show.
And Just six women have joined the upcoming line-up.
The results of an investigation, launched by the BBC following allegations made about Giovanni Pernice by former participant Amanda Abbington, have not yet been published by the corporation.
Pernice rejects the allegations and fellow dancer Graziano Di Prima has also left the show.
The competition is fierce this year with just six women signing up – and two of them have vast dance training.
Tasha has been forced to defend her dance experience after announcing she’s joining the competition.
The star – who used to date ex-pro dancer Giovanni Pernice – competed in a number of major dance events before finding fame on Love Island.
Meanwhile, Sarah’s pal, Doctor Who’s Alex Kingston, previously said it would be ‘unfair’ to compete against Sarah on Strictly.
Alex shared in 2019: “Sarah Hadland and I talked about how much we’d like to do Strictly Come Dancing.
“Then I discovered that she’s actually a trained ballet dancer.
“Hang on a minute! That’s not fair!’ So, I can’t do it on a season when she is on it.”
TV star Sarah has starred in countless other shows including The Job Lot, Waterloo Road and That Mitchell and Webb Look.
