It takes TEN to tango! BBC fills out 15 strong Strictly cast with a host of its own stars as actor Adam Thomas and radio presenter Nikita Kanda are set to hit the dancefloor
- BBC announces Adam Thomas and Nikita Kanda to take part in show next month
- They join a line-up of 15 contestants which already includes other BBC talents
In many other industries, it often pays to expand the talent pool by recruiting far and wide.
But the BBC has looked rather closer to home when casting its latest series of Strictly Come Dancing – hiring ten of its own stars to take to the dancefloor this year.
Yesterday the broadcaster announced actor Adam Thomas and radio presenter Nikita Kanda will take part in the show next month, joining a line-up of 15 contestants in total and already including BBC talents such as Zara McDermott, Eddie Kadi, Layton Williams and Angela Scanlon.
Mr Thomas, 34, who has worked with the corporation since he was 14 and played ‘bad boy’ Donte Charles in the original Waterloo Road, said: ‘I’ve been such a big fan of Strictly for years, I can’t believe I’m actually doing it! I can’t dance to save my life but I’m buzzing to learn and have a good laugh with my pro.’
And Ms Kanda, 28, a breakfast show host on the BBC’s Asian Network, told listeners: ‘I’m shaking. I can’t believe this. I’ve grown up watching this show every single year glued to the TV like many of you at home.’
Yesterday the BBC announced actor Adam Thomas (pictured) will take part in Strictly Come Dancing next month
Radio presenter Nikita Kanda (pictured) will also take part in the show, joining a line-up of 15 contestants in total
Ms Kanda (pictured), 28, is a breakfast show host on the BBC’s Asian Network
Ms McDermott, 26, a former Love Island contestant and rising documentary star at the BBC, was announced as a celebrity dancer on Monday.
She will compete alongside network veteran Angela Rippon, 78, who hosted the original Come Dancing series between 1988 and 1991, Sherlock actor Amanda Abbington, Radio 1Xtra presenter Mr Kadi and TV host Ms Scanlon.
Casualty actor Nigel Harman is also set to be unveiled this week alongside EastEnders’ Bobby Brazier, son of the late Big Brother star Jade Goody.
The only star announced so far without BBC links is Channel 4 News anchor Krishnan Guru-Murthy, while Les Dennis is also set to star.
By 2021, eight of the champions of Strictly’s 18 series were BBC stars, a total of 44 per cent.
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