The final four stars to shine in the 2024 Strictly Come Dancing ballroom…
Montell Douglas was the twelfth celebrity contestant confirmed for the brand new series of Strictly Come Dancing. Montell Douglas or ‘Fire’ is a Gladiator and an Olympian.
In 2023 Montell Douglas was unveiled as ‘Fire’ in the BBC One series of Gladiators. She is a multi-talented sports star who has competed as an Olympic Bobsledder and Team GB Sprinter. In 2010, Montell Douglas won Commonwealth Gold in the 4x100m relay race. She also held the British woman’s record for fastest 100m sprint. Her appearance at the Beijing Winter Olympics in the Bobsledding team etched her name into sporting history as she became the first female UK athlete to compete at both the Summer and Winter Olympic Games.
Next to take on the battle for the glitterball trophy is Nick Knowles.
For the last 24 years, Nick Knowles has been the face of the BBC’s ‘DIY SOS’. Alongside this, Nick has always been passionate about travelling and most recently, worked with Channel 5 on various travel programmes including ‘Into the Grand Canyon’, ‘The Mighty Mississippi’ and ‘Nick Knowles in South America’.
Over the past two decades, Nick has presented across an extensive list of formats spanning news, factual, travel and entertainment and has solidified himself as one of the UK’s most familiar faces on television.
Nick Knowles:
“I’m so, so excited to be doing Strictly this year. People may be more used to me getting stuck in on a building site or travelling the world, but dancing live on TV will be a whole new adventure. I’ve spent my whole life learning new skills and I’ve never been afraid of a challenge – there’s life in the old dog yet to take on one more big one – being taught how to dance! I’ll give it my everything …. and try not to embarrass my kids of course!”
Paul Merson, the fourteenth to be announced taking part by the Beeb, made his debut playing for Arsenal Football Club when he was 17 years old and went on to win the PFA Young Player of the Year.
Paul played for the club for over a decade, playing 424 times, scoring 99 goals and winning all domestic trophies, as well as the European Cup Winners’ Cup. Paul played 21 times for England, scoring three times and went on to play for Middlesbrough, Aston Villa, Portsmouth and becoming player-manager at Walsall Football Club.
Paul is now a football pundit and commentator and has written numerous books that cover his football career and personal life.
Finally, Sam Quek is an Olympic and European Gold medallist, former England and Team GB hockey player, TV and Radio Presenter and now the fifteenth celebrity contestant confirmed as taking part in SCD.
Sam Quek won 125 international caps for the England and Great Britain women’s hockey teams, including a Gold Medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics. In 2017, Sam Quek was awarded an MBE for ‘Services to Hockey’. She is now a broadcaster and has presented on BBC ‘Morning Live’ and was a Team Captain on ‘Question of Sport’. Sam Quek presents for a range of sports including Football, American football, Rugby and Cricket. She co-anchored the BBC’s Tokyo Olympic Games Breakfast programme and regularly appears on programmes across the BBC’s radio channels.
Sam Quek:
“As a former hockey player I’m used to playing as part of a team, but the thought of dancing on the Ballroom floor in front of a live audience is quite daunting! I’m chuffed to be a part of this legendary show and Quickstep into the shoes of a performer, it feels absolutely surreal but I’m ready for every bit of the adventure.”
