TV
Strictly Come Dancing 2023: The Star line up
The BBC ballroom is ready to fill with celebrities for a new series of Strictly Come Dancing. Lets take a look at the names of 2023…
And we have to start with Angela Rippon CBE. Angela’s career spans over 50 years, having presented a wide variety of programmes from hard news and current affairs, to quiz shows and magazine programmes for broadcasters across the world.
She currently presents BBC’s Rip-Off Britain and is the voice of The Wall. Angela is a regular on Morning Live and The One Show, she presented the original Come Dancing between 1988 – 1991 and has fronted shows such as Top Gear, Antiques Roadshow, The Holiday Programme, Crufts, How to Stay Young and The Truth About Dementia to name a few. She was the second star revealed by the Beeb to appear on this years ballroom battle.
Angela Rippon CBE:
“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!!”
The next star in our top to bottom list of A to Z of Strictly 2023 celebs is Jody Cundy CBE. A decorated World and Paralympic Champion, he has represented Great Britain at seven Summer Paralympics winning eight Gold, one Silver and three Bronze medals across swimming and cycling events. He has also competed in multiple World Championships, winning 23 world titles. The most recent win coming at the World Cycling Championships in Glasgow this week .
After competing at Tokyo 2021, Jody became the first man in Paralympics GB history to win medals at seven different games. In 2012 the Anglia Ruskin University made him and Honorary Doctor in Health Sciences, and a month later he was given an Honorary Master of Science degree from the University of Hertfordshire. In 2009 he was awarded an MBE for his services to Disability sport, in 2017 this was upgraded to an OBE for his services to Swimming & Cycling & in 2022 he received a CBE for services to cycling.
He currently holds the world record in the Flying 200m and the 1km Time Trial. He also holds 14 consecutive world titles in the MC4 Kilo Time Trial. Jody was the eleventh celebrity contestant confirmed for Strictly Come Dancing 2023.
Jody Cundy CBE:
“Excited to be welcomed into the Strictly family and throw myself head first into the world of ballroom dancing. So far away from what I’m used to, but I’m looking forward to the challenge and pushing myself way out of my comfort zone, especially as I’m always last onto the dance floor” Can’t wait to get stuck in, bring on the glitter and sequins!”
Third most famous in ATV Today’s ranking of Strictly whose who – Les Dennis. Dennis has been in showbiz for over 50 years, including famously hosting Family Fortunes for 16 years.
Les Dennis started his career as a comedian on the Working Men’s Club circuit in and around his native Liverpool. He got his big break on ATV talent show, for ITV, New Faces, and went on to star in sketch and variety show The Laughter Show, forming a double-act with the late Dustin Gee. His TV career includes roles in Crossroads, Extras, Brookside, Death in Paradise and Midsomer Murders and two years in Coronation Street.
On stage he’s starred with the Royal Shakespeare Company, the English National Opera, and in hit plays and musicals such as Hairspray, Legally Blonde The Musical and 42nd Street. Les was the last to be announced as taking part.
Les Dennis:
“I’m thrilled to be doing this iconic wonderful show as I approach my 70th birthday! In my career I’ve always gone for challenges outside my comfort zone and this is the ultimate one! Can’t wait.”
Annabel Croft was the fourteenth celebrity contestant confirmed for Strictly Come Dancing 2023. Annabel is a former British Number One tennis player who at 15 years old was the youngest British player to compete at Wimbledon for 95 years. She also represented Great Britain in prestigious Wightman and Federation Cup competitions, and continues to play an integral role in the coverage of Wimbledon each year and has done for many years.
Outside of tennis, Annabel has fronted entertainment shows such as Treasure Hunt and Inceptor and has enjoyed a long lasting broadcast career covering all the major tennis events worldwide. Her TV and radio career includes presenting, commentating, and working as a highly respected pundit for all the major broadcasters including BBC, Sky, Amazon Prime, ITV and Discovery.
Some soapy names now with Nigel Harman whose career started when he was eight – working on multiple TV series, theatre shows, and the odd movie. Most recently joining BBC’s Casualty as Max Cristie, Holby ED’s new Clinical Lead. Nigel was also in EastEnders playing Dennis Rickman and appeared in Downton Abbey. Among many stage credits Nigel has performed in Guys and Dolls in London’s West End and Shrek the Musical, which he then went on to direct for the UK tour. He was the thirteenth to be announced by the Beeb.
Ellie Leach is best known for portraying Faye Windass for 12 years on Coronation Street, nominated for multiple British Soap Awards and Inside Soap Awards for her role, hard hitting storylines included being pregnant at 13, discovering she was going through the menopause and reconnecting with the child she gave up – which led to her departing the cobbles earlier this year. Prior to Coronation Street Ellie appeared in independent movie ‘A Boy Called Dad’ and drama ‘Moving On’. Ellie was the tenth to be revealed as taking part.
More soap royalty with Adam Thomas. Adam is best known for playing Adam Barton in ITV soap Emmerdale, in which he won a TV Choice award for Best Soap Newcomer. More recently he is known for reprising his role as Donte Charles in BBC One’s Waterloo Road after being an original cast member in the original series. He was eighth to be confirmed as taking to the Strictly dance floor.
Over to the newsroom and Krishnan Guru-Murthy was the fourth celebrity contestant confirmed by the BBC. Krishnan is best known as the main anchor of Channel 4 News, as well as reporting for the foreign affairs series Unreported World and hosting live debates for Channel 4 during elections, referendums and major crises, he also won the Royal Television Society Journalism Award for best Network Presenter in 2022.
He started his TV career at the BBC presenting youth programmes before moving onto Newsround, Newsnight, BBC World and News 24.
Eddie Kadi is recognised as one of the most globally celebrated stand up personalities, British-Congolese Eddie Kadi, continues to dominate the world of comedy, reaching across cultures and continents and performing to huge crowds all over the world. His signature brand of brilliant, bold, high energy entertainment has won him an ever-growing international fanbase and he was the first British black comedian to headline the O2 Arena in London. Eddie was the fifth celebrity contestant confirmed for Strictly Come Dancing this year.
Nikita Kanda was the ninth celebrity contestant to be revealed for 2023.Nikita is best known for being the current host of the BBC Asian Network’s Breakfast show, previously having presented the Saturday afternoon show. Recently nominated for Presenter of the Year at the Asian Media Awards, Nikita has also fronted regular reports on BBC One’s The One Show on a range of topics from the rise of cashless businesses to government support for female sport.
Amanda Abbington was the first celebrity contestant confirmed for the brand new series of Strictly Come Dancing. Amanda has starred in some of the UK’s top drama TV series, including Sherlock, Mr Selfridge, Wolfe, andDesperate Measures, she also had a lead role in the series The Net and feature film The Lost King.
Angela Scanlon is an Irish Television presenter for the BBC and RTÉ, she was the sixth name confirmed for the ballroom battle while third reveal saw Layton Williams announced. He is best known as a stage and screen actor and has performed in London’s West End however he is best known on for playing Stephen Carmichael in the Bad Education.
Zara McDermott was the seventh celebrity contestant confirmed. Zara was a government policy advisor, working for the Department of Energy and Climate Change and Department of Education before appearing on Love Island in 2018. And finally Bobby Brazier. Bobby is the son of deceased racist Jade and television presenter Jeff. He’s known for playing Freddie Slater in EastEnders although the acting ability falls between zero and appalling. However, with his model looks he’s gained a following of fans who appreciate image over substance.
