The first celebrity contestant to take part in BBC Strictly Come Dancing's Christmas special has been announced by the broadcaster.
Podcaster and author Rosie Ramsey will be lacing up her dancing shoes for the programme. She will be joined by professional dancer Neil Jones as she competes with five other stars to be crowned champion.
Rosie is known for co-hosting the critically acclaimed podcast Sh**ged. Married. Annoyed. with husband her comedian husband Chris Ramsey - who made it to the semi final of Strictly in 2019. She also co-presents The Chris & Rosie Ramsey Show which will return for a second series next year on BBC Two and BBC iPlayer.
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On joining the Strictly Christmas line-up, Rosie said: “I am thrilled to be dancing in this year’s Strictly Christmas special! After watching my husband Chris compete a few years ago, I’ve been desperate to get on that dance floor myself! I also absolutely LOVE Christmas, and my partner Neil is lovely, so this is just perfect. Best. Christmas. Ever!”
The news was revealed on BBC One's Morning Live on Wednesday (November 20). She told the programme: “I watched Chris do it in 2019. I was insanely jealous. So as soon as I got asked to do this, I just grabbed it with both hands.”
She went on: “(Chris is) giving me tips and he’s just kind of understanding that it is difficult, but he could not dance at all when he started and he did so so well.” She added: “(The training is) really hard. I have got so much more respect for anyone who’s ever taken part in the show over all of the years. It’s a lot. It’s a lot of cardio, let’s put it that way.”
Ramsey also hopes that having Strictly judge Craig Revel Horwood as a guest on her show might mean he will let her off “some dodgy knee turns”. She added: “You never know with Craig, do you? You just never, ever know how he’s going judge it or whether he’s going like it or not. I watch the show with my seven-year-old, Robin, and he loves Craig, but he’s also terrified that he’s going to give (me) a really bad score.”
Ramsey said she used to dance in a cabaret band at holiday parks and was a Bluecoat at Pontins resorts. She added: “I think… I can move my feet – let’s put it that way.”
The Christmas special will see six couples perform a festive inspired routine. Judges Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, Anton Du Beke and head judge Shirley Ballas will return for the occasion.
The Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special will air on BBC One and BBC iPlayer on Christmas Day.
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