Strictly Come Dancing confirms opera star, doctor, rock singer for latest series

Wynne Evans, Toyah Wilcox and TV doctor Punam Krishan have been announced as the latest stars to shimmy onto the dance floor for Strictly Come Dancing 2024.

The BBC is progressively unveiling the fresh roster of celebrities set to compete in a bid to become ballroom champions, starting with Chris McCausland who was revealed as the first contestant on Monday, August 5.

Vernon Kay announced three new contestants for this year's show on his BBC Radio 2 show on Tuesday (August 6). Wynne Evans, famous for being the Gio Compario man in the Go Compare adverts, is also an opera singer and BBC Radio Wales host.

Wynne said: “I am honestly still pinching myself, a portly balding opera singer, me, taking part in Strictly Come Dancing?! I’m not entirely sure how I’ll get along, if all else fails I’ll just have to learn the art of distraction. What I do know is I will give it my all and aim to make Wales proud. I’m definitely going to try and combine my love of Opera into one of my routines. Plus, after winning Celebrity MasterChef last year, maybe the route to the judges’ hearts will be through their stomachs!”

Toyah Willcox is a singer and actress who has been performing across stage and screen for over 50 years. She said: "Wow Strictly Come Dancing, can you believe it! This is going to be a wild and wonderful ride, and I'm here for every sparkly second.

"I’m used to performing for big crowds but this is completely fresh for me, how I will do, it’s a mystery… I just want to get cracking and learn some dance routines now!"

Punam Krishan, who is one of the resident doctors on BBC Morning Live, was the final contestant to be announced on Vernon's Radio 2 show. She said: "This still doesn’t feel real, I am overjoyed to be a contestant on this year’s show. I have watched Strictly every year with my family and it feels extra special that it’s the 20th year, I can’t believe I will be the one getting Strictly-fied now.

"This is so out of my comfort zone, but I’m up for the journey and will give it my absolute all.”

While gracing the sofa on This Morning, comedian Chris shared the news and conveyed his thoughts to presenters Craig Doyle and Josie Gibson: "If anybody out there is thinking - How the hell is he going to do that? - then rest assured that I am thinking exactly the same thing. I don't dance, I haven't danced, I can't dance, I can't see the dancing I will have to do. What can possibly go wrong? Ok don't answer that...!"

Chris, at the age of 47, has been lighting up the comedy stage for more than twenty years and frequently features on top comedy panels such as 'Have I Got News for You', 'Would I Lie to You?', 'QI', 'The Last Leg', and '8 out of 10 Cats Does Countdown'. He's taken the stage for Live at the Apollo three times, even hosting in 2021, which complemented his standout appearance on The Royal Variety Performance that same year.

JB Gill was confirmed as the second celebrity to join the show. Speaking about signing up for the new series, he said: "I did the Christmas special - it was great fun! It was the most similar dance to what I've done in JLS.

"A lot of the ballroom styles are very alien to me - I didn't do those dances growing up. I am not a trained dancer."

The suspense is still on for the celebrities eagerly anticipating to discover their professional dance partners. The professional lineup returning this year includes Dianne Buswell, Nadiya Bychkova, Amy Dowden, Karen Hauer, Katya Jones, Neil Jones, Nikita Kuzmin, Gorka Marquez, Luba Mushtuk, Jowita Przystal, Johannes Radebe, Kai Widdrington, Nancy Xu, Carlos Gu, Lauren Oakley, Michelle Tsiakkas and Vito Coppola.

After a two-year break, Aljaz Skorjanec is making a comeback to the ballroom for the 20th anniversary of the nation's favourite show.

The BBC has announced that this year's series will be particularly memorable as it marks its 20th birthday. A unique one-off programme will also be aired on BBC One and iPlayer, offering a trip down memory lane with 20 years of unforgettable entertainment, iconic performances, and heart-warming interviews with past celebrity stars, professional dancers, and judges.