Strictly Come Dancing 2023 line-up: All the celebrity contestants confirmed for the BBC competition
The lineup for 2023’s edition of Strictly Come Dancing – series 21 – is being unveiled.
The date of the first episode is unconfirmed, but it will be some time this autumn, running through to December.
The BBC are staggering the announcements of the cast of the latest version of their iconic show across a range of their other TV and radio coverage.
So, who is in the running to be this year’s champion? And who might surprise us?
Find out who have been confirmed as cast members for Strictly Come Dancing 2023 below.
Big reveal: Angela Rippon (left) and Amanda Abbington (right) were announced as members of Strictly Come Dancing 2023 on the same episode of The One Show
Strong background: Layton Williams’ background in the West End should make him one to watch in series 21
Layton Williams
Stage and screen actor Layton Williams was announced as a new cast member for Strictly on The One Show on August 4.
From Bury, the 28-year-old is best known on-stage for his title-role performances in the West End productions of Billy Elliot and Everyone’s Talking About Jamie, and on-screen for his roles in Bad Education and The Cleaner.
Layton also runs his own performing arts company – Pros From The Shows – which, along with his personal performance background, should set him up as one of the series favourites.
Ahead of the show he said he was ‘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!’
Amanda Abbington
Excited: Amanda Abbington said she was ‘thrilled’ to have been asked to do the iconic BBC show
Before Layton made his appearance on The One Show, Angela Abbington had already been unveiled by Alex Jones and Roman Kemp.
The Sherlock star has been in an array of TV hits, with the 49-year-old also appearing in Mr Selfridge and Doc Martin.
Like her co-star Layton, Amanda has appeared on-stage recently, in Steven Moffat’s West End show The Unfriend.
She said she was ‘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!
‘Plus, I get to learn to dance which I am incredibly excited about. I’m really looking forward to the training too, I’m quite competitive as my family and friends will tell you. I can’t wait to start!’
Angela Rippon CBE
Keep dancing: Angela Rippon CBE presented Strictly’s predecessor Come Dancing, as well as presenting and competing on Dancing On Ice
The final new cast member revealed on The One Show’s initial unveiling was Angela Rippon CBE.
The former newsreader will be the oldest ever contestant at 78.
One advantage could be that she appeared previously on Dancing On Ice in 2011.
However, she only lasted one episode, so you might see this as a sign she will not be in Strictly for the long-haul.
She was also a presenter of Come Dancing, the predecessor to her new endeavour.
Angela 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 really looking forward to the challenge, and perhaps being able to learn to dance the Argentinian Tango!!’
Krishnan Guru-Murthy
Doubtful: Though delighted to be on the lineup, Krishnan Guru-Murthy admitted that he is concerned about his ‘general decrepitude’ holding him back
Channel 4’s Krishnan Guru-Murthy was revealed the day after the initial trio, on Claudia Winkleman’s Saturday slot on BBC Radio 2.
The newsreader has been in his current post at Channel 4 News since 1998, making him the network’s longest serving current presenter.
He is the latest in a long list of newsreaders to compete on the programme, after Susanna Reid, Dan Walker, and Kate Silverton in recent years.
The anchor played down his chances, saying: ‘I’m surprised, delighted and slightly confused to find myself taking part in Strictly on the basis of “you only live once!” and I can’t wait to start learning to dance, but I am slightly worried about my general decrepitude.’
Eddie Kadi
Big year: Along with competing for the Strictly glitterball, Eddie Kadi is also a nominee for Royal Television Society Best Breakthrough Award and Best Breakthrough Presenter at this year’s Edinburgh TV Awards
BBC Radio 1Xtra’s Eddie Kadi announced his participation in this year’s series on his own radio show on August 6.
As well as that role as presenter of The Official UK Afrobeats Chart Show, Eddie is known as an actor and stand-up comic.
To go with fighting for the famous glitterball trophy, Eddie has also been nominated for this year’s Royal Television Society Best Breakthrough Award and Best Breakthrough Presenter at the Edinburgh TV Awards at the end of August.
He said: ‘Anyone who knows me understands that music and dance is so important and central to who I am.
‘I’m so unbelievably proud and honoured that Strictly and the BBC have asked me to join the 2023 Team. I promise you, I’m going to give it everything I’ve got.’
Angela Scanlon
So many questions: TV presenter Angela Scanlon asked ‘will they make me tan? How itchy are sequins?! Do they do flesh coloured sports bras?’
Angela Scanlon was announced as the sixth new contestant on August 7 on BBC Radio 2’s breakfast show.
The Irish TV presenter, 39, hosted shows on RTE before moving to England to work on BBC shows.
Starting there in 2015, she has presented The One Show, Robot Wars, and Your Home Made Perfect.
She has expressed her excitement at this role, asking: ‘Will they make me tan? How itchy are sequins?! Do they do flesh coloured sports bras? Well – there’s only one way to find out, right!?’
Zara McDermott
First: Zara McDermott will be the first person to ever cross the Love Island-Strictly Come Dancing divide
Zara Mcdermott was the seventh contestant to be confirmed for Strictly Come Dancing 2023.
But she is the first person to ever cross the Love Island-Strictly Come Dancing divide.
Zara competed on the ITV reality TV hit’s fourth series in 2018, but survived just one recoupling.
Since then, she has transitioned into more serious programming, including working with the BBC on Zara McDermott: Revenge Porn.
Upon joining Strictly, she said: ‘I am so excited to be joining the world of Strictly!
‘I grew up watching it every year with my nan and she was the biggest Strictly fan.
‘We would dance around the house and I have such fond memories of that time in my life.’
Who are the professionals on Strictly Come Dancing 2023?
Regular viewers should recognise most of the professional’s on this year’s Strictly come dancing, as they have all appeared on a previous series.
READ MORE: Strictly’s Amy Dowden is supported by fellow pro Dianne Buswell amid her chemotherapy treatment
They comprise some of the most talented Latin and Ballroom professional dancers from all across the globe, and are:
- Dianne Buswell
- Nadiya Bychkova
- Graziano Di Prima
- Amy Dowden
- Karen Hauer
- Katya Jones
- Neil Jones
- Nikita Kuzmin
- Gorka Marquez
- Luba Mushtuk
- Giovanni Pernice
- Jowita Przystal
- Johannes Radebe
- Kai Widdrington
- Nancy Xu
- Carlos Gu
- Lauren Oakley
- Michelle Tsiakkas
- Vito Coppola
Consistency: Judges (L-R) Anton Du Beke, Shirley Ballas, Motsi Mabuse, and Craig Revel Horwood all return for 2023
Who are the Strictly Come Dancing 2023 judges?
The judges are also unchanged from last year.
The desk will, therefore, be host to Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, Anton Du Beke and Shirley Ballas – who will return as head judge.
One change we will set this year, is that Fleur East will be co-presenting It Takes Two, as a new sidekick to Janette Manrara.
STRICTLY COME DANCING 2023: WHO ARE THE CONTESTANTS?
Angela Rippon
Age: 78
Profession: Journalist
Angela says: ‘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.’
Amanda Abbington
Age: 49
Profession: Actress
Amanda says: ‘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.’
Layton Williams
Age: 28
Profession: Actor
Layton says: ‘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!’
Krishnan Guru-Murphy
Age: 53
Profession: Journalist
Krishnan says: ‘I’m surprised, delighted and slightly confused to find myself taking part in Strictly on the basis of ‘You only live once!’ I can’t wait to start learning to dance, but I am slightly worried about my general decrepitude.’
Eddie Kadi
Age: 40
Profession: Comedian and radio presenter
Eddie says: ‘WOW. Anyone who knows me, understands that music and dance is so important and central to who I am. I’m so unbelievably proud and honoured that Strictly and the BBC have asked me to join the 2023 Team. I promise you, I’m going to give it everything I’ve got. This is going to be a VIBE.
Angela Scanlon
Age: 39
Profession: TV presenter
Angela says: ‘I’m not particularly fit, I’ve no idea how my pelvic floor is going to react to this dancing. I’ve never done any dances apart from drunken jiving at a wedding!’
Zara McDermott
Age: 26
Profession: Documentary maker and former Love Island star
Zara says: ‘I am so excited to be joining the world of Strictly! I grew up watching it every year with my nan and she was the biggest Strictly fan. We would dance around the house and I have such fond memories of that time in my life.’
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