The first three celebrities on the Strictly Come Dancing 2019 line up have been confirmed.
The BBC started to unveil this year’s Strictly 2019 cast on The One Show at 7PM yesterday evening (Wednesday, July 31).
Before the episode, The One Show teased the code names of the celebrities they’d be confirming after it was revealed this year’s contestants had been given superhero monikers to keep their real identities hidden.
The three celebs had been going by the names The Hulk, Banana-Man and Mystique.
They were revealed to be England international goalkeeper David James, comedian Chris Ramsey and EastEnders Emma Barton respectively.
David, who said he had turned down the show in the past, said: “I’m really excited to be on Strictly this year. Not just competing against this year’s stars, but being compared to previous sport stars from previous Strictly seasons. I have some big shoes to fill.”
Chris commented: “I’m both excited and absolutely terrified to be doing the show. You will not find me on the dance floor at parties, you will find me at the buffet table. All night.
“At my wedding I danced with my wife; that one song took about six months practice, and I definitely stood on her feet a couple of times. So I’m looking forward to the possibility of making a fool of myself in front of millions of people… there better be a buffet after the live shows.”
Emma added: “As possibly one of the biggest Strictly fans on the planet, I still can’t believe this is happening. I’m very much a dance around your handbag kinda girl, but now I’ve been given this wonderful opportunity to learn all the different styles of dancing from the very best in the business.
“So, I’m whipping off Honey’s ‘Minute Mart’ tabard and diving right in to all the glitter and sparkle. From Albert Square to the Strictly dance floor – I just can’t wait!”
More celebs will be revealed for the line up over the coming days.
Rumoured Strictly Come Dancing 2019 celebrity contestants include Blue Peter presenter Radzi Chinyanganya, BBC sports presenter Mike Bushell, TV legend Anneka Rice, Made In Chelsea’s Jamie Laing and Radio 1 DJ Dev Griffin.
More potential celebrity contestants are footballer Alex Scott, soap actress Catherine Tyldesley, plus RuPaul’s Drag Race judge Michelle Visage, Olympic rower James Cracknell, Happy Mondays performer Bez, model Vogue Williams and football manager Sam Allardyce.
Meanwhile, before the first celebs being confirmed, the BBC has unveiled a brand new pro dancer.
Following last week’s reveal of new Strictly judge Motsi Mabuse, this week the BBC has confirmed another addition to the Strictly family.
World-class Latin dancer Nancy Xu joins the pro-dancer line up on their first day of rehearsals for the new series of BBC One’s Strictly Come Dancing.
Nancy said: “I’m thrilled and excited! I cannot wait to start this new journey with all these amazing people and share the magic together.”
She joins the previously confirmed line up of Strictly Come Dancing 2019 pros who were announced earlier this year.
They are AJ Pritchard, Aljaž Škorjanec, Amy Dowden, Anton du Beke, Dianne Buswell, Giovanni Pernice, Gorka Marquez, Graziano Di Prima, Janette Manrara, Johannes Radebe, Karen Hauer, Katya Jones, Kevin Clifton, Luba Mushtuk, Nadiya Bychkova, Neil Jones and Oti Mabuse.
Strictly Come Dancing will start in September on BBC One.
