The Countryfile presenter Helen Skelton has been confirmed as the final contestant for Strictly Come Dancing 2022.
The 39-year-old’s participation was announced on Saturday morning by Claudia Winkleman, who co-hosts the celebrity dance show with Tess Daly, during her BBC Radio 2 show.
Skelton, who previously appeared in the 2012 Strictly Christmas Special, completes the lineup for the 20th series of the BBC show due to air in September.
The broadcaster joins contestants including EastEnders star James Bye, singer Fleur East, Ted Lasso star Ellie Taylor, Bros singer Matt Goss, Kiss radio host Tyler West, former England footballer Tony Adams and Britain’s Got Talent finalist Molly Rainford.
On making her debut on the ballroom floor, Skelton 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.”
Speaking to Winkleman on Saturday morning, Skelton revealed she had only agreed to do the show recently.
“Who gets to go to work and made to look a bit like Beyoncé and have a fun time?” she added. “So I just thought, this is madness to not do it, of course I should do it. It’ll be so much fun.”
Skelton kickstarted her TV career in children’s television, presenting the BBC’s Newsround and Blue Peter.
Over five years at Blue Peter, she took on challenges including completing the Namibia Ultra Marathon, cycling to the south pole and kayaking more than 2,018 miles down the Amazon River.
Since leaving the programme, she has presented on shows including the BBC’s Countryfile, ITV’s Lorraine, and Channel 5’s This Week on the Farm.
She has also hosted Women’s Super League football matches and Channel 4’s Super League rugby coverage.
On the airwaves, Skelton has previously stood in for Dermot O’Leary on BBC Radio 2 and was recently announced as the new host of the BBC Radio 5 Live Sunday morning show, taking over from Love Island’s Laura Whitmore.
Also joining the lineup are: Paralympic swimming gold medallist Ellie Simmonds; comedian and actor Jayde Adams; Coronation Street actors Will Mellor and Kym Marsh; Loose Women star Kaye Adams; Radio 2’s Richie Anderson; and wildlife cameraman and presenter Hamza Yassin.
The EastEnders actor Rose Ayling-Ellis and her professional dancing partner, Giovanni Pernice, took home the glitterball trophy at the end of last year’s series.
While Covid restrictions had been in place for two series of the show, a full studio audience will return for the 20th series.
Its launch is scheduled to be recorded on 7 September.
