Strictly Come Dancing 2022: 15 things we found out about this year’s stars

It’s that point once more… there’s an autumnal chill within the air, the youngsters are FINALLY again in school and sequins are frantically being stitched on to dozens of fabulous costumes. Strictly’s again!

Anton Du Beke returns to the judging panel however this time it is on a everlasting foundation as he formally takes over the reins from Bruno Tonioli.

Despite being a bundle of vitality, the Italian has clearly determined that the jetlag from bombing forwards and backwards between LA (the place he movies Dancing with the Stars) and London is an excessive amount of even for him.

Anton will once more be joined by head choose Shirley Ballas plus Motsi Mabuse and the fab-u-lous Craig Revel Horwood.

The launch present is on Friday, having been delayed due to the Queen’s death earlier within the month. To whet your urge for food, this is what the celeb contestants revealed simply as they had been starting rehearsals.

The actress’s husband was purported to drop her suitcase off to the resort however he was late and she or he completed her first sweaty dance apply forward of schedule.

“I had no garments, no change of underwear, nothing!,” she says. “Jayde [Adams] acquired one thing for me to borrow, and a Deliveroo.”

Having faced Nasty Nigel on Popstars back in the day, Kym cannot be apprehensive about Craig, absolutely?

“Nothing may be worse than that, to be referred to as fats on tv. How beautiful! But I believe [Craig] will probably be dreadful,” she jokes.

The singer says Strictly coaching could be very completely different to prepping performances as a solo artist.

“The greatest hindrance… is we’re not advised [as solo performers] ‘it’s essential to put your foot there, go away it there. You should transfer this means. You should do this.’ The cause we did not need correct jobs is as a result of we do not wish to be advised what to do on stage. And if you do it for thus lengthy, it is a arduous behavior to interrupt. So you are making an attempt to maneuver in a sure means [in training] however you might be strictly regimented with that choreography.”

Matt is again house within the UK after 11 years as a headliner in Las Vegas however says he “wasn’t blissful on the finish. I felt disconnected”.

“I decided after the success of my final document, I’m coming again to the UK. Strictly referred to as and I believed, if I do not do this I’m going to return to my consolation zone of simply working,” says the previous Bros star, who says the primary particular person he advised was his twin brother Luke.

“I wish to go disco-tastic, Staying Alive! And I wish to do James Bond,” he provides. Strictly, over to you!

The wildlife presenter and digicam operator did a documentary with the person of the fabric, who took half in Strictly in 2017.

“He’s an incredible dude,” says Hamza. “He mentioned: ‘Enjoy each single second. If you do not usually put on Lycra – they usually’re gonna ask you to put on Lycra – do it, since you’re gonna look horny in it!'”

Hamza says being on the present is a win already.

“I’m severely dyslexic. So to know that somebody that has dyslexia as extreme as me is on TV being profitable, that is superb.”

The A-list movie star is a fan of The Great Pottery Showdown, which comic and actress Ellie co-presents. So is she hoping for a video message from the person himself?

“I’m positive Brad Pitt will simply slip into my DMs and say ‘I liked you!’,” she laughs.

Ellie provides that, having executed a Strictly sketch on The Mash Report, it feels surreal to now be showing in the true factor.

“You stroll into the ballroom and assume, ‘My god, I’m right here and it is Shirley Ballas!’

“It’s mad. It feels such as you’ve simply jumped into the telly.”

The Alma’s Not Normal star has no considerations about being dismissed as a novelty act as a result of she’s a comic book.

“Well, I hope I’m! I sing, I dance, I act, I do funnies. I’ve at all times wished to be a little bit of a Bristolian Bette Midler.”

Jayde will probably be partnered with a girl this collection and is wanting ahead to experimenting.

“Whenever you could have partnerships the place you could have a plus dimension man [with a female professional], it is simple for him as a result of he can at all times elevate the lady however when you could have it the opposite means spherical, you could have that imbalance. The [professional] guys are nice they are not rugby gamers. So I simply thought I’d be capable to get into all of the acrobatics.”

On who will lead and who will observe, she says: “I believe we would possibly combine it up a bit.”

The Radio 2 journey presenter will probably be lacking one large Strictly custom this yr.

“Every yr I’ve an enormous cocktail occasion at my home on launch evening,” he explains. “So my mum’s fuming [that there won’t be one this year]! I make a Charleston cocktail, it is like a blackcurrant liqueur. I’ll provide the recipe!”

The Strictly super-fan is dancing with a male accomplice.

“It was a no brainer [choosing to dance with a same sex partner]. I want as a homosexual teenager… I might have switched on primetime tv on a Saturday evening and seen two males dancing collectively.”

The Paralympic swimming star has been discovering her toes each on set and behind the scenes.

“With [having] dwarfism, I used to be capable of go right down to the studio simply to ensure that things can work for me, even one thing easy like they’ve given me decrease rails so I can put my outfits on. We get physio assist and psychology assist, too.

She says she and her [yet to be announced] dance accomplice will probably be studying collectively.

“He’s by no means danced with anybody with dwarfism earlier than. And I’ve by no means danced earlier than in my life. We’re simply… going to adapt. Like if I’ve to carry him in another way, I’ll maintain him in another way… however I believe if I can do it… individuals watching from house can realise they’ll adapt. Dancing is for all.”

The actor was picked out by the choose throughout an interview on BBC’s The One Show final month, with Craig saying of Will: “I believe he is acquired an actual attraction about him and I believe he’ll be capable to convey that on to the dance flooring.”

Will jokingly references a well-known Tina Turner observe: “I used to be Craig’s personal dancer for a few years, his dancer for cash.”

Ahead of being “Strictly-fied”, Will tells us essentially the most outrageous outfit he is worn (up to now) was one for “a Mamma Mia revamp on ITV… carrying knee-high platform boots. I watched it after and thought: ‘That may need been a mistake!'”

The former Arsenal and England captain is below no illusions on the problem forward.

“This just isn’t the soccer pitch. It’s a bit completely different! I’m on my toes fairly a bit. The solely factor in widespread is the trailing leg!”

Several ex-pro footballers have taken half within the present beforehand, together with Peter Schmeichel, Peter Shilton and Robbie Savage.

“They all mentioned do not do it, do not be silly,” Tony jests.

“I’m at a stage in my life after I can do something. I’m free of addiction, I’ve not taken drink or medication for 26 years and I can simply go into it, nuts and bolts.”

CBBC star and singer Molly first found fame on ITV’s Britain’s Got Talent as a baby, reaching the finals 10 years in the past. But she’s barely extra anxious this time round.

“When I used to be 11, I do not assume I knew what I used to be moving into,” she says. “Whereas now I sort of do. I’m positively a bit of bit extra nervous than I used to be after I was little.

“Because I’ve had Simon [Cowell as a judge], am I fearful of Craig? I do know Simon had a bit of gentle facet and he was actually an enormous teddy bear on the finish. So hopefully Craig’s the identical!”

The singer and presenter is buddies with AJ Odudu, who took half in final year’s Strictly.

“She simply mentioned: ‘Surrender to the sequins! This goes to be so arduous however one of the best factor you are ever going to do.’

“I’d love to bounce to my very own music, that will be superb. My mum’s from Ghana and I grew up on highlife music and Afrobeats. It can be actually enjoyable to do one thing like that.”

Fleur is feeling the pressure already – she was two hours late to her radio breakfast present after the primary day of filming.

“I’m sorry I allow you to down however I used to be simply shimmying and shaking to the wee hours and it knocked me out!” she advised her listeners on Hits Radio. You’ll get used to it, Fleur.

“I used to be nervous about the lifts as a result of though I am going to the gymnasium and… I really feel fairly bodily sturdy, this is totally completely different,” he says. “Doing that [a lift] after an entire minute working across the dance flooring is mad!”

He says he is excited about individuals attending to know him.

“It offers you a chance to only current who we really are. And I really feel like if I used to be the child watching a present like Strictly with my household and [could] say: ‘Wait, I appear like them or I sound like him or I’ve acquired dreadlocks or no matter,’ that is motivation. The illustration is there.”

James Bye, who performs Martin Fowler in EastEnders, says he does not really feel any strain after his co-star Rose Ayling-Ellis received Strictly final yr.

“I’m not a really aggressive particular person. So so long as I beat Rose, I’m not bothered!” he laughs.

James is certainly one of a protracted line of EastEnders actors to participate so who else would he wish to see give it a go?

“I might love Lacey (Turner) to do it. I do not know if she would, however I believe she can be improbable. Or Steve McFadden. I believe Phil Mitchell in sequins can be the last word!”

“I believe the great factor for me about this is… usually I’m alone, it is simply the character of my work,” the previous Blue Peter presenter says.

“I went to Antarctica [for Sport Relief], they deliberately acquired a non-English talking sound man as a result of they wished me to be alone, like an actual explorer. Whereas this, it is good to be in and round individuals, to be sharing one thing in a staff. That’s why I speak quite a bit!”

Her household are gearing as much as watch Helen strut her stuff later this month.

“My mum’s excited, my dad’s excited, even my brother, and I really like him as I say this, he is essentially the most severe man on the earth – and he is excited!”

The Loose Women anchor has been practising her Charleston swivel.

“Why did I do this? It took me six weeks [to be able to do it]! I’m going to enroll in 2023!” she jokes.

Don’t fear although, Kaye’s had some nice recommendation from the Loose Women who’ve already taken half within the present.

“They mainly mentioned to me: ‘Don’t screw it up!'”