Over the years, Strictly contestants have included soap stars, Olympians, TV presenters and plenty more – all of whom hoped to prove they didn’t have two left feet and were in with the chance of lifting the coveted Glitterball trophy, and this year will likely be no different.
As we continue to find out who will don their dancing shoes and sparkly outfits, read on to find out more about all those taking part in Strictly Come Dancing 2024, including those who are rumoured.
Strictly Come Dancing 2024 line-up: Full cast of confirmed contestants
Dr Punam Krishan
Age: Unclear
Job: NHS doctor
Instagram: @drpunamkrishan
Punam Krishan is a resident GP on BBC’s Morning Live and BBC Radio Scotland. Punam regularly reports on health news as a broadcaster on TV, radio and national newspapers and has also written her own children’s book and she has some additional books coming up!
Toyah Willcox
Age: 66
Job: Singer
Instagram: @toyahofficial
Toyah Willcox is a decorated singer, with a career across 40 years in which she has had eight top 40 singles, released over 20 albums and has appeared in over 40 stage plays.
In 2018, Paul McCartney awarded her a Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts Companionship for Outstanding Achievement in music, drama, performance and media.
Wynne Evans
Age: 52
Instagram: @wynneevans
Opera singer Wynne Evans became the third celebrity to be revealed as joining the Strictly Come Dancing 2024 line-up.
Best known for his role as Gio Compario in the Go Compare insurance adverts, but has also dabbled in various theatre performances including Andrew Lloyd Webber’s 25th anniversary special of The Phantom of the Opera at the Royal Albert Hall.
He also has a daily radio show on BBC Radio Wales and has previously had radio shows on BBC Radio 3 and Classic FM.
JB Gill
Age: 37
Job: Singer
Instagram: @jbgill
JB Gill is a singer best known for being a member of boy band JLS, who were the runners-up on The X Factor in 2008.
While the group disbanded in 2013, they reunited in 2020 for a reunion tour and have since been filling everyone will nostalgia with their various tours.
Gill previously appeared on and won the Strictly Come Dancing Christmas special in 2012 following his Jive with former Strictly pro Ola Jordan.
Beyond JLS, Gill has appeared on Countryfile, The Jump and Celebrity MasterChef.
Chris McCausland
Age: 47
Job: Comedian
Instagram: @chrismccauslandcomedy
X: @chrismccausland
Chris McCausland is a comedian, who many people will recognise from the likes of Have I Got News for You, Would I Lie to You?, QI, The Last Leg and 8 out of 10 Cats Does Countdown.
McCausland, who became completely blind at the age of 22 after years of deterioration from retinitis pigmentosa, is the first blind contestant to take part in Strictly.
Speaking about joining the line-up, McCausland said: “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!”
Strictly Come Dancing 2024 cast rumours: Which celebrities are in the speculated line-up?
Shayne Ward
Age: 39
Instagram: @shaynetward
Job: Actor and singer
Shayne Ward is a singer and actor, who rose to fame as the winner of the second series of The X Factor. Many will also recognise Ward for his portrayal of of Aidan Connor in Coronation Street from 2015 to 2018.
More recently, Shayne has starred alongside Catherine Tyldesley in Channel 5’s The Good Ship Murder.
Sam Quek
Age: 35
Instagram: @samquek13
Job: TV personality and hockey player
Tom Dean might not be the only Olympian joining the 2024 Strictly line-up, with former Team GB hockey player Sam Quek reportedly taking part.
“Sam has very much become a star in her own right in recent years, and has been carving out a niche as a presenter,” an insider told The Sun.
“She’ll also bring some much-needed glamour to this year’s line-up.”
Beyond her sporting days, Quek has presented and taken part in a number of TV programmes including Question of Sport, Celebrity Masterchef and I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here amongst others.
Tom Dean
Age: 24
Instagram: @tomdean00
Job: Swimmer
While it’s a no-brainer to keep things quiet if you have joined the Strictly Come Dancing line-up, Olympian Tom Dean was slightly loose-lipped as he appeared to confirm he would be taking part in this year’s competiton.
After his Olympics win, the swimmer said of Strictly (as per PA): “Naturally you want to take a break after you’ve had a full Olympic cycle and the opportunity arose.
“I thought it would be really exciting to try something a bit different.”
The BBC has not confirmed if Dean will make an appearance and a spokesperson for the show said “celebrity contestants for this year will be announced in due course”.
Tasha Ghouri
Age: 25
Instagram: @tashaghouri
Job: Model and influencer
Tasha Ghouri is amongst the many influencers rumoured to be taking part in this year’s line-up.
“Tasha has everything it takes to be a top drawer Strictly signing,” a source told The Sun.
“Whilst fans who like a journey will be irked she is a professional dancer, others who enjoy watching incredible moments from the off will be more than satisfied.”
Tasha rose to fame on Love Island back in 2022, in which she coupled up with Andrew LePage throughout her time on the show, whom she is still in a relationship with today.
Pete Wicks
Age: 36
Instagram: @p_wicks01
Job: TV personality
Pete Wicks is a TV personality, best known for his time on reality series The Only Way Is Essex. Over the course of his career, Wicks has starred on a number of programmes including Ex on the Beach, Celebs Go Dating and Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins.
Wicks reportedly “signed up” to Strictly Come Dancing earlier this summer with a source telling The Sun he is “excited to get started”.
“He isn’t much of a dancer but that’s what the BBC loved about him,” they said. “They wanted the show to feel more like it did in the beginning. Pete is also going to attract young viewers who have followed his career since Towie.”
When quizzed by OK! on the rumours, Wicks simply said: “I can’t name you a show that I’ve not been rumoured to be doing. But never say never. It’s been a wild year so far, I’ve been ‘rumoured’ to be doing everything.”
Nick Knowles
Age: 61
Instagram: @nickknowles
Job: TV presenter
Nick Knowles is the latest celebrity to reportedly have signed up to Strictly Come Dancing after months of talks with show bosses.
“Nick has always loved Strictly and he is so excited,” a source told The Sun. “He’s got a great personality, is incredibly driven and competitive and is up for giving anything a crack.
“He’s going on the show to entertain and to win. He’ll give it his best shot.”
Knowles is a TV presenter and musician, known known for presenting BBC series DIY SOS, which has broadcast over 32 seasons. He has been presenting the series since its launch in 1999 and is showing no signs of slowing down!
Knowles has been a mainstay on television for years, having presented various game shows including Who Dares Wins, Break the Safe and 5-Star Family Reunion.
Jamie Borthwick
Age: 30
Instagram: @jamie_b10
Job: Actor
After taking home the trophy for Strictly Come Dancing’s Christmas special last year, EastEnders actor Jamie Borthwick has reportedly signed on to do the full show this year.
An insider told The Sun: “Although an EastEnders actor is on Strictly every year, this is the first time a performer on the festive special has gone directly into the competition.
“Producers and viewers were blown away by Jamie’s dancing. It’s not clear yet whether he will take a break from the soap or if he’ll juggle dance rehearsals with doing scenes for the soap.”
Borthwick is best known for his role in EastEnders as Jay Brown – which he has starred in since 2006.
Across his tenure, he has been nominated for a number of roles, including Best Dramatic Performance from a Young Actor or Actress, Best Soap Actor (Male) and Best Actor at various awards.
GK Barry
Age: 24
Instagram: @gkbarry_
Job: Social media influencer
Back in June it was reported that social media star GK Barry, real name Grace Keeling, was in “advanced talks” for Strictly Come Dancing and speaking of the rumours, she hasn’t denied it…
During an appearance on Loose Women after the rumours began to spread, the influencer said: “So last year I was rumoured to go on Celebrity Big Brother. I’ve also been rumoured to do Celebrity SAS, God forbid.
“So I think I’m rumoured to do a lot of shows, but I do have two left feet, so take that as you will – an underdog. Take however you want that as you will, but I can’t dance.”
The influencer rose to fame from her hilarious TikTok videos, sharing anecdotes from her childhood and university days and her no-nonsense attitude has seen fans take a shine to her.
She currently hosts her own podcast, Saving Grace, in which she interviews a host of well known faces including Chloe Burrows, David Potts and Rylan and Rob Rinder!
Hannah Waddingham
Age: 49
Instagram: @hannah_waddingham
Job: Actress and singer
Vocal powerhouse Hannah Waddingham was among the first few celebrities to be rumoured for Strictly Come Dancing 2024.
According to reports, Waddingham was said to have been “approached” by show bosses to take part, with one source claiming to the Daily Mirror that “things are looking very positive”.
Waddingham is best known for her role as Rebecca Welton in Ted Lasso, which saw her nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series and the Critics’ Choice Television Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series in 2021 and 2022.
But many will also know Waddingham for her various theatre roles, including in Spamalot, Into the Woods and The Wizard of Oz.
Jordan North
Age: 34
Instagram: @jordannorth1
Job: Radio DJ and TV presenter
One celebrity who hasn’t shied away from the suggestion of taking part in Strictly Come Dancing is Jordan North. The radio DJ was asked on Katie Piper’s Breakfast Show if he would ever do the show, to which he replied: “Never say never, that is my motto.”
He added: “I did I’m a Celebrity… four years ago now and that was mainly because my mum wanted a new kitchen!”
As he began joking with Piper and fellow guest Craig Revel Horwood, North said: “No I haven’t signed anything… yet.”
Nicola Peltz Beckham
Age: 29
Instagram: @nicolaanepeltzbeckham
Job: Actress
Many will recognise Nicola Peltz Beckham for her various screen roles, including in Bates Motel and Transformers: Age of Extinction.
It was reported back in January that the actress was looking to “boost” her profile in the UK.
A source claimed to The Sun: “She’s an accomplished actress, has the right look and appearing on the show would attract a huge amount of positive promotion.”
Shona McGarty
Age: 32
Instagram: @shonabmx
Job: Actress
It wouldn’t be a Strictly Come Dancing line-up without a soap star!
Fresh off the heels of her EastEnders exit, Shona McGarty is reportedly “in talks” to take part in this year’s show. A source told The Mirror that she has been approached before but the timing would be better now.
Shona McGarty is best known for originating the role of Whitney Dean in EastEnders. Earlier this year, she left the BBC soap – saying goodbye to Whitney after 16 years.
In an interview with The Sun, the actress explained her decision: “It was a really difficult decision, because it’s all I’ve ever known. I pretty much grew up on the Square, so I feel like I’m leaving home. But I had to put on my big girl pants and be quite brave, because life is so short, and you feel that more and more as you get older.
“There are other opportunities and areas of the industry I want to explore before I get too old! All things come to an end and this is the new chapter of my life.”
Princess Anne
Age: 73
Instagram: None
Job: Member of the Royal Family
Well this would be a crossover no one saw coming!
While this is no confirmation at all, Strictly pro Nadiya Bychkova revealed last month that Princess Anne is a big fan of the dancing show.
“She is a Strictly fan and she wants to go on the show – she told me,” the dancer told The Sun. “I think she would be good – there’s a lot of personality there, isn’t there?”
Harry ‘Nitro’ Aikines-Aryeetey
Age: 34
Instagram: @aikines
Job: Olympian
Gladiator star Nitro made an appearance on last year’s Strictly Come Dancing competition, but this time he is apparently in talks for a spot on the line-up.
According to The Sun, show bosses think it’s “a great idea to cross-pollinate entertainment shows”.
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Strictly Come Dancing will return later in 2024.
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