BBC presenter ‘signs up for Strictly Come Dancing’ after Angela Rippon, Amanda Abbington and Layton Williams are confirmed for series
A BBC presenter has ‘signed up for Strictly Come Dancing’ after Angela Rippon, Amanda Abbington and Layton Williams were confirmed for series.
Owain Wyn Evans – often sporting colourful suits and issuing cheery greetings like ‘good morning dahling!’ – will reportedly be joining the ranks when the show returns in the coming weeks.
The Welsh weatherman, 38, who recently replaced Vanessa Feltz on BBC Radio 2’s early morning breakfast show, is said to be ‘up for the challenge.’
A source told The Sun: ‘Owain can’t wait to get started on Strictly.
‘He’s a huge fan of the show and has a genuine interest in dancing, despite being a novice.’
New recruit: BBC weatherman Owain Wyn Evans, 38, has ‘signed up for Strictly Come Dancing’ after Angela Rippon, Amanda Abbington and Layton Williams were confirmed for series
They added: ‘Owain appreciates he’ll have it tougher than most, given he’ll continue his daily radio hosting duties, but he’s up for the challenge.’
MailOnline has contacted the BBC for comment.
Owain is a LGBTQ+ rights advocate who went viral with a drag-themed forecast and raised more than £2.5million for kids with a 24-hour charity drumathon.
His TV career launched at age 18 when he appeared in children’s programmes on Welsh channel S4C. He then became a weatherman after studying meteorology with Open University.
He found wider fame during lockdown when a video of him drumming along to the BBC News theme tune went viral.
An hour after he posted the clip on Twitter, it had more than 20,000 likes and had been shared 5,000 times.
Owain had also caught the attention of thousands in 2019 when he referenced dozens of Ru Paul’s Drag Race stars during his on-air forecast in an effort to celebrate International Drag Day.
‘The time has come for me to forecast for my life,’ he told viewers. ‘I’m going to spill the tea alright and tell you that some of these clouds today are going to be throwing some serious shade, okay?’
‘So this weather front brought us some rain yesterday which is great news for our Nina Flowers in the garden, but I hope you didn’t get Courtney Act in any downpours. So that weather front has indeed, sashayed away.’
Bring it on: The Welsh presenter, who recently replaced Vanessa Feltz on BBC Radio 2’s early morning breakfast show, is said to be ‘up for the challenge’
It comes following the news that Angela Rippon, Amanda Abbington and Layton Williams have been confirmed as the first three stars for the upcoming series of Strictly Come Dancing.
The news was announced during the BBC’s The One Show on Friday, with all three stars making an appearance.
As the host of Come Dancing, Angela Rippon knows a thing or two about ballroom.
But she has revealed that her decision to take part in Strictly as she approaches the age of 79 was a ‘scary one’ as she prepares to perform the Argentine Tango as the show’s oldest ever contestant.
Confirming she has signed up for the BBC One dance programme, she said: ‘Having been a fan of Strictly since day one, and as a former presenter of Come Dancing, this will be quite an adventure for me.
‘A scary one, considering I’m about to be 79. But I’m looking forward to the challenge, and perhaps being able to learn to dance the Argentine Tango.’
Appearing on The One Show on Friday, Angela revealed the first thing she asked the BBC show when they approached her was ‘why didn’t they ask me 10 years ago’.
She added: ‘The serious reason behind doing it is because I’ve been advocating ever since I did a series called How To Stay Young with Chris van Tulleken where we demonstrated as part of the programme that dance is the complete full mind and body exercise for everybody, regardless of your age, but particularly for people as they get older.’
Her appearance on the show comes 47 years after high-kicking dance routine she performed during Morecambe and Wise’s 1976 Christmas special which was watched by 27 million viewers.
While she admits she is only able to kick her leg up to waist height, Angela still takes regular ballet classes in an effort to stay fit and healthy.
She told recently the Sunday Mirror: ‘I still do a ballet class as often as I can. I worked on a documentary which found that dance is the best way of staying fit, supple and strong.
‘I studied classical ballet until I was 17 and you never forget the basics. Can I still hold the positions? Well, yes.
‘Put it this way – the mind is willing, the body sometimes says, “What the hell do you think you’re doing?” I used to be able to do 10-to-six high-kicks but I can probably do to about [waist height] now.’
Signed up! It comes following the news that Angela Rippon has been confirmed as taking part on the upcoming series of Strictly Come Dancing
Twinkle-toed: The BBC also announced during The One Show on Friday that Sherlock actress Amanda Abbington will also be joining the line up
Born to perform: Layton Williams, who is known best for performances as the title role in Billy Elliot and Everyone’s Talking About Jamie, is an early favourite to win the competition
Well practiced: The former newsreader hosted Come Dancing between 1988 and 1991, before returning in 1998 when the show ended for good
The BBC also announced on Friday that Sherlock actress Amanda Abbington will also be joining the line up, as well as theatre star Layton Williams – who is likely to prompt controversy as he is a fully trained dancer and has been performing on stage since he was just six-years-old.
Amanda, 49, who starred as Mary Watson alongside her former partner Martin Freeman in the drama series said: ‘I’m thrilled to have been asked to do Strictly. I’m actually really shy and self-conscious so this will be a great opportunity for me to overcome those things.
‘I get to learn to dance which I am incredibly excited about and I’m really looking forward to the training too, I’m quite competitive as my family and friends will tell you.’
Angela hosted Come Dancing – described as the ‘original Strictly’ between the years of 1988 and 1991.
Last year she appeared on the dance show as part of the BBC’s 100th birthday celebrations where she took part in a skit where she introduced Kym Marsh and her dance partner Graziano Di Prima’s routine.
BBC bosses are said to be ‘thrilled’ that she has signed up, with some expecting her to decline the offer due to her age.
Until now the oldest ever competitor was comedian Johnny Ball who took part in 2012 at the age of 74.
A source close to the show told the Mail on Sunday last month: ‘It’s such a coup to get Angela. She was Mrs Come Dancing so what a wonderful thing that she is going to be on Strictly all these years later.’
Meanwhile, Layton, who is known best for performances as the title role in Billy Elliot and Everyone’s Talking About Jamie, is an early favourite to win the competition.
Speaking taking part on the show, the 28-year-old said: ‘Absolutely buzzing to confirm that I will be taking part in THE most iconic dance competition in the UK! It’s time to bring it to the Ballroom. So excited to learn new skills from the best. Bring on the sequins… ALL the sequins!’
He added that he would like to be paired with a male professional dancer so he can be lifted up during the performances.
Overcoming fears: Amanda said: ‘I’m thrilled to have been asked to do Strictly. I’m really shy and self-conscious so this will be a great opportunity for me to overcome those things’
Tough time: Amanda revealed that she considered suicide after her split from ex-husband Martin Freeman left her ‘hating herself’ (pictured together in 2014)
Performer: Layton is likely to prompt controversy as he is a fully trained dancer and has been performing on stage since he was just six-years-old
On stage: Layton started his career at the age of 12 playing the title role in the West End production of Billy Elliot (pictured in 2016 as Angel in musical Rent)
Seasoned performer: The West End performer starred in hit musical Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, which is based on the 2011 BBC documentary Jamie: Drag Queen at 16
He has also appeared as Stephen Carmichael in the Bad Education movie and the television series that followed, as well as Beautiful People, Benidorm, The Cleaner, and I Hate Suzie.
Last week, The Mail on Sunday revealed former Family Fortunes host Les Dennis, 69, is set to slip on his dancing shoes for this year’s competition.
They will join BBC presenter Angela Scanlon, actor Nigel Harman and former Love Island contestant Zara McDermott.
Also tipped to appear are Bobby Brazier, son of the late Big Brother star Jade Goody, and actor Adam Thomas, who stars in BBC One drama Waterloo Road.
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