Lee Ryan confirmed for Strictly Come Dancing 2018 line up

Popstar turned soap actor Lee Ryan has been confirmed for Strictly Come Dancing 2018.

He is the twelfth celebrity contestant announced for this year’s Strictly line up.

Lee said: “I’m so excited to be joining this year’s Strictly line-up. It is a real honour for me and I can’t wait to get out on the dance floor.”

Lee Ryan is most well-known for being a part of super successful boy band Blue and more recently playing EastEnders bad-boy Woody Woodward. Lee rose to fame in the early 2000s as part of Blue along with Simon Webbe, Antony Costa and Duncan James.

The band had three UK number one albums and sold 16 million records worldwide. After a six-year hiatus they reunited in 2011 to represent the UK in the Eurovision song contest with their track I Can, coming 11th in the competition. Since taking part in the 2013 show The Big Reunion (ITV) they have released a further two albums, Roulette and Colours.

During his time away from the band, Lee embarked on a solo singing career, his self-titled album charting at number six in the UK charts in 2005. In 2017 fans were sent into a frenzy when Lee made his EastEnders debut playing bad-boy “Woody” Woodward. He played the role for just over a year and went on to receive the 2017 Inside Soap Award nomination for Best Newcomer.

The news was revealed this afternoon (Monday 20th August) on ITV’s Loose Women.

Also confirmed for the cast of Strictly 2018 are documentary maker Stacey Dooley, TV doctor Dr Ranj, Cricketer Graeme Swann, radio DJ and TV host Vick Hope, YouTube vlogger Joe Sugg, Steps singer Faye Tozer, actor Danny John-Jules and Katie Piper on this year’s confirmed cast.

Joining them are Pussycat Doll singer Ashley Roberts, BBC journalist and newsreader Kate Silverton and comedian Seann Walsh.

The remaining celebrity contestants joining the new series will be announced in the coming days.

Strictly Come Dancing launches on BBC One in September with its red carpet launch show.