The full celebrity line-up for this year's Strictly Come Dancing has been confirmed. Fifteen stars from the world of TV, sport and music make up the 2022 contingent. Judges Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, Shirley Ballas and Anton Du Beke are returning to the panel, while four new professionals are joining the line-up. Last year the glitterball was taken home by EastEnders actress Rose Ayling-Ellis and professional dance partner Giovanni Pernice.
The launch show is confirmed for September 7, leaving less than a month between now and the beginning of the competition. Here is the line-up in full.
Helen Skelton
Helen Skelton completes the Strictly 2022 line-up as the 15th contestant set to sashay onto the famous dance floor at Elstree this year. She is best known as a TV presenter, having been a reporter on Newsround in 2007, before joining Blue Peter from 2008 to 2013. She also started presenting Countryfile in 2008 which she still does to this day.
Skelton has since presented numerous sporting events for the BBC, including the 2016 Olympic Games. She has also appeared on the likes of Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins and has flirted with Strictly in the past, having taken part in the 2012 Christmas special. She said: "I'm really excited to get stuck into a fun adventure. My family and friends have always loved the show and can’t wait for me to get started."
James Bye
Stage and screen actor James Bye was the 14th celebrity confirmed for Strictly 2022. He is best known as Martin Fowler in the BBC soap EastEnders and has also starred in The Great Train Robbery and Cemetery Junction. Speaking about joining Strictly he said: "I'm not known for my shimmy or my twinkle toes - in fact my kids regularly laugh at my dad dancing but it's an honour to be asked and I’m going to give it my best shot. There are some huge dance shoes to fill and it's truly exciting to follow in the footsteps of some amazing EastEnders talent. I'd love to do everyone proud."
Hamza Yassin
Wildlife cameraman Hamza Yassin is best known for his roles presenting the BBC's Animal Park and guest presenting on BBC's Countryfile. He is known to younger viewers under the guise of Ranger Hamza, presenting CBeebies live-action show Let’s Go For A Walk and new series Ranger Hamza’s Eco Quest later this month.
On joining the show, Hamza said: "I am absolutely over the moon to be joining Strictly 2022. Never in a million years did I think I’d be on such a cool show. I’ve been watching it for years and I can’t believe I’ll actually be there dancing live in front of the British public. My dance skills are currently at the level of ‘1970s disco vibe’ but I’m ready to work hard and will be shaking it every time I get the chance – shake it ‘til you make it!"
Fleur East
Singer-songwriter Fleur East, a former X Factor contestant and presenter, joins the line-up for the new season - but will her musicality prove helpful to her? She said of joining the series: “I’m equally nervous and thrilled to be part of this year’s Strictly line up. I’m excited to learn new skills and I want to soak up every moment of this magical experience. It’s such an honour to be on the show after years of watching it with my father who loved it so much. Unfortunately my dad is no longer with us but I know he will be watching over the ballroom in spirit. I’m doing this to make him and my family proud and can’t wait to get my dancing shoes on!”
After coming runner-up in series 11 of The X Factor, Fleur has been a regular face in the world of music and broadcasting. As a singer she has released two albums, with European chart hit single “Sax” reaching number three in the UK singles chart. After appearing on I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here in 2018 she became host of the Hits Radio Breakfast show which she hosts every weekday. She has also appeared as a presenter on the last three series of Ant & Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway and a host of ITV gameshow The Void.
Tony Adams MBE
Tony Adams' football career has spanned across three decades, having played for both Arsenal and the England national team. Speaking about joining the line-up, the English football icon said: "To say I’m excited is an understatement - the lure of the sequins and the call of the salsa has me swapping my battered old football boots for a set of Strictly soft shoes. I am absolutely thrilled to be giving it my all on this year’s 20th anniversary of Strictly Come Dancing. I can’t wait to meet my partner - god help her - and start the dancing."
Having captained both Arsenal and England, he is regarded as one of Arsenal's greatest ever players and one of the all-time greats of English football. He won 66 caps for England, appeared at four major tournaments and had 10 major trophy wins. He remains the only player in English football history to captain a team to three top flight titles over three different decades. While he was playing he founded Sporting Chance, a charity to help sportspeople with mental health and addiction issues of which he remains Honorary president today.
Molly Rainford
Molly was 11 when she found success on Britain's Got Talent with her performance of Ave Maria. She is also the star of the CBBC series Nova Jones. Speaking about taking part in the upcoming season, Rainford said: "I'm so excited to be part of Strictly Come Dancing, I've watched it for years and can't wait to meet the pros and the others taking part! I can't wait to learn the moves and get dancing!"
Molly added on Instagram: "The secret’s finally out, I can’t believe it… I’m doing Strictly!! I already know it’s gonna be an experience of a lifetime & I can’t wait to meet the rest of the @bbcstrictly family I’ll be sharing it with. Get me to the dance floor."
Ellie Taylor
Ellie Taylor is a comedian, published writer and has had acting roles in series including the hit Apple TV+ show Ted Lasso. On joining the show, Ellie said: "Well, cover me in fake tan and roll me in sequins! I'm absolutely over the moon to be a part of Strictly 2022! I've watched the show for years so to be able to take to the dance floor is a dream come true, for both me and mum who is a Strictly super fan! At the moment I'm focusing on the excitement and glitter and choosing to ignore the fact that I have the dancing ability of a newly born giraffe. Bring it on!"
Ellie has also appeared on Mock the Week, The Mash Report, Live at the Apollo, Late Night Mash, and co-hosts on The Great Pottery Throw Down. She will soon co-host Cheat on Netflix alongside Danny Dyer.
Matt Goss
Over the last decade, Bros singer Goss has had a record breaking residency on the Las Vegas strip. He has received the revered “Icon Award” and has even been given his own “Matt Goss Day” on August 8, which amazingly is his late mother’s birthday. The cult classic documentary: After the Screaming Stops, was nominated for three Baftas which resulted in a win. It also won the BBC “Moment of the Year” and a National Television Award, to name a few. He said: “I’m extremely nervous and excited, but I’m optimistic because I’m very supple from the knees down.”
Goss is a best-selling author with new books in the works. He is also set to play the lead role in upcoming psychological thriller movie, Cobbler Killer Stranger.
Tyler West
KISS radio host Tyler West began his showbiz career on CBBC and went on to present the likes of MOTD KickAbout and Blue Peter. The presenter currently hosts weekday afternoons on KISS. West's radio work has earned him an ARIA nomination for Best New Presenter.
“I am SO gassed to be joining the Strictly family! As I started writing this I already got cramp," revealed Tyler before the show started. "It’s going to be one crazy incredible journey which will no doubt be SO far outside my comfort zone. It’s a show that means so much to me and my family and I can’t wait to seriously shake a leg on that shiny dance floor… with a side of sequins.”
Ellie Simmonds
Best known as a gold medal-winning Paralympic swimmer, Simmonds was announced for Strictly Come Dancing 2022 on BBC Five Live's breakfast show, and spoke of her excitement in joining the series.
“To be asked to be part of the Strictly family is just so exciting and I cannot wait, it’s going to be so much fun," she said. "I’m counting down the minutes until it starts; learning to dance, meeting my partner and everyone else involved in the show. Plus wearing the sequins and all that, it’s going to be a blast."
Jayde Adams
Jayde Adams is best known as a comedian, winning several comedy awards including a nomination for the coveted Best Newcomer with her Edinburgh Fringe debut stand-up hour. As an actor, Jayde has starred in BBC Two Bafta-winning comedy Alma’s Not Normal, the upcoming Take That movie Greatest Days, Amazon Prime’s Good Omens, and BBC One’s The Outlaws, while she is co-creator and star of ITV2’s upcoming brand new series Ruby Speaking.
She said: “Since I watched the first series in 2004, I feel like every step I’ve taken in my career over the last 11 years was to be on Strictly. I cannot begin to express the emotions I am feeling, this means so much to me and my family. I’ve always watched it, apart from a brief hiatus in 2011 as I was relentlessly gigging every weekend (to try and get on Strictly). I’ve been a massive fan of the show for years. I feel like I’m watching myself in a dream and I can’t believe I’ve manifested this. Holding this in has been torture for me!”
Kaye Adams
Scottish broadcaster and Loose Women mainstay Kaye Adams will also be taking part in this year's run of Strictly Come Dancing. Speaking about taking part in the series as a self-professed bad dancer, Kaye revealed: "I said I wanted to make the last year of my fifties memorable and I can’t think of a better way of doing it than showing the world my two left feet. Pray for me!"
The announcement of Kaye taking part was made on Loose Women on Friday, August 5 with her close friend Nadia Sawalha praising her for embracing the challenge.
Richie Anderson
The BBC Radio 2 presenter and former footballer is a self-confessed 'super-fan' of Strictly.
He said: "This is a dream come true! I cannot wait to get in those sparkles and sequins and shimmy across the most famous dance floor in the world! Strictly is the ultimate feel good show, as soon as I hear that iconic theme tune it’s just pure escapism. I’m going to have to cancel my legendary Strictly launch night kitchen party that I throw every year, I’m sure my friends and family will understand. It’s also a massive honour to be part of an all-male dance partnership, it’s so important we have that inclusion on such a huge show."
The radio star will be taking part in a same-sex couple, following in the footsteps of John Whaite last year.
Kym Marsh
Kym Marsh was the second contestant to be confirmed for Strictly Come Dancing 2022. The actress and presenter told BBC Breakfast: "I'm nervous but I'm really looking forward to it." But where might you have seen her before? In 2001, she won a place in the band HearSay as a result of appearing on the reality television series Popstars. HearSay's success, however, was short lived and Kym would quit the band in 2002 to pursue a solo career.
From 2006 to 2019, Kym played Michelle Connor in Coronation Street, and her portrayal was lauded by viewers and critics alike. Since October 2020, Kym has co-fronted the BBC One morning lifestyle programme Morning Live alongside Welsh presenter Gethin Jones. Earlier this year, Kym was confirmed to have joined the cast of the revival for Waterloo Road, meaning that 2022 has certainly been a busy year for the star.
Will Mellor
Will Mellor's career began when he played Ben Rowlingson in children's programme, Children's Ward, but he has since appeared in numerous TV programmes. One of Will's best known roles is Gaz Wilkinson in Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps opposite Ralf Little and Sheridan Smith. The series ended ran for 10 years and ended in 2011.
Since the series, Will has made appearances in TV favourites Hollyoaks, Broadchurch and Line of Duty. Most recently, he played the villanous Harvey Gaskell in 27 episodes of Coronation Street. The character was last seen in October 2021 when he escaped from prison and accidentally killed Natasha Blakeman (Rachel Leskovac) in a case of mistaken identity.
Will met dancer Michelle McSween when they starred together in the stage musical Oh, What a Night in 1999. They married in 2007, and have two children.
