Strictly Come Dancing line up confirms seventh celebrity contestant

Karim Zeroual has become the next confirmed contestant on Strictly Come Dancing 2019.

Strictly is back for its 17th series next month on BBC One.

And now a seventh celebrity has been confirmed for the line up.

Karim Zeroua is a children’s television presenter on CBBC, presenting directly from the CBBC HQ as well as numerous other titles, including BBC Young Dancer and Wimbledon Live.

Karim said today: “To be offered the chance to take part in Strictly is dumbfounding, I’m pinching myself…! I’m so excited to be Strictlified. I want THE LOT. The skimpiest of clothes, the widest of flares, the brightest of colours and the tallest Cuban heel a guy can find! The more flamboyant the better… sequins galore please!!”

The TV host is currently filming a brand new travel and sport documentary for CBBC called “A Week to Beat the World”, in which he takes three British kids to countries like Guatemala, Brazil and Japan to play the national sports and see if they can beat the locals at their own game.

Karim started his career as a child in West End shows including Chitty Chitty Bang Bang at the London Palladium, The Far Pavillions at the Shaftesbury Theatre and The Lion King at the Lyceum.

He’s also appeared on TV shows including EastEnders, Da Vinci’s Demons, Blue Peter, Top Class and Saturday Mash-Up, and most notably the role of Sadiq in sci-fi drama The Sparticle Mystery, which ran for three series between 2011 and 2015 and has had over two million hits on BBC iPlayer to date.

Karim joins a cast which right now also includes BBC sports presenter Mike Bushell, soap star Catherine Tyldesley and YouTube vlogger Saffron Barker.

The first trio of celebrities were confirmed on Wednesday night during an appearance on The One Show.

They are England international goalkeeper David James, comedian Chris Ramsey and EastEnders Emma Barton.

The remaining celebrity contestants joining the new series will be announced in due course.

Rumoured Strictly Come Dancing 2019 celebrity contestants include Blue Peter presenter Radzi Chinyanganya, TV legend Anneka Rice, Made In Chelsea’s Jamie Laing and Radio 1 DJ Dev Griffin.

Also linked to the show are footballer Alex Scott, plus RuPaul’s Drag Race judge Michelle Visage, Olympic rower James Cracknell, model Vogue Williams and football manager Sam Allardyce.

Strictly Come Dancing will start in September on BBC One.