Strictly Come Dancing’s 2018 ‘lacklustre line up’ has been blamed on a lack of cash to pay big names.
The BBC has been announcing new celebrities for the Strictly 2018 cast daily ahead of the launch show in September.
Fifteen celebs have been confirmed, with many viewers and press reports taking aim the calibre of celebrity .
Those signed up include Vick Hope, Capital Radio DJ and TV presenter, Steps star Faye Tozer and the first ever YouTube vlogger to take to the Strictly ballroom, Joe Sugg.
More confirmed names for the Strictly Come Dancing 2018 line up are BBC Three documentary maker Stacey Dooley, Pussycat Dolls singer Ashley Roberts, comic Seann Walsh. Paratriathlete Lauren Steadman, and Dr Ranj Singh, TV Doctor on This Morning.
Television presenter and fashion journalist Susannah Constantine and Casualty actor Charles Venn are also on the cast.
According to the Daily Mirror newspaper, cutbacks and new equality rules have made it difficult to sign up bigger stars.
“The BBC’s policy to save money has impacted on which people the show has signed,” a source said. “Previously they’ve been able to give a bigger fee to some, and others slightly lower.
“But now, in the interest of equality and BBC overspending, there are no exceptions.”
It’s understood that this year’s celebs get £25,000 for signing up, although the winner can make up to £100,000.
The fees don’t get close to the amounts offered by shows like Celebrity Big Brother on Channel 5 and I’m A Celebrity on ITV.
A spokesperson for Strictly declined to comment on “contractual matters”.
But an insider defended the cast and pay, saying: “As the BBC is a public broadcaster, Strictly doesn’t have deep pockets like some of its rivals.
“But previous line-ups have been met with sniggers and turned out to be amazing. They hope for the same this year.”
Strictly Come Dancing starts on Saturday, September 8 on BBC One.
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