Bosses of the hit BBC show Strictly Come Dancing are hoping that it will be third time lucky as they look to sign Steph McGovern for this year’s show.
The Beeb is reportedly poised to make a further approach for the presenter of Channel 4 ’s Packed Lunch despite twice being snubbed, and if they land their star she will follow in the footsteps of her Packed Lunch co-star, chef John Whaite, who caused a sensation on last year’s Strictly through his same-sex pairing with pro Johannes Radebe.
A TV insider told The Sun : “Steph has the personality and profile which makes her a perfect choice in the eyes of Strictly producers. They completely understood why she’s had to say no in the past. She was just establishing Packed Lunch on Channel 4 and wanted to give that her complete attention.
“But now it is a firm fixture in the schedules. It was nominated for a Bafta earlier this year and only last month it was announced it had been recommissioned and will run into 2023.”
Packed Lunch is filmed in Leeds, close to where Steph lives with her partner and two-year-old daughter. That means any pro she was partnered with could rehearse with her locally, as has happened in the past when Gorka Marquez travelled to Manchester to pair up with Hollyoaks star Katie McGlynn.
Steph hosted the Breakfast show for the BBC from 2010 to 2019 before moving to C4.
Packed Lunch co-star John gave Steph a ringing endorsement following his own stint on the show, where he finished as runner-up. He said: “I think Steph would be a hit with fans. She can move.”
The line-up is typically announced in August on the pre-recorded launch show. The dancers are then paired with their pros to give them time to practice ahead of the first live show, which then continues through to the finale.
At present, there are no confirmed cast members for this year's series. But, as always, there are a fair few rumours and among those said by Digital Spy to be being considered are Death in Pradise star Josephine Jobert, filmmaker Louis Theroux, reality TV star Scarlett Moffatt, former Gogglebox cast member Tom Malone jnr and comedian Rosie Jones.
Among other changes to the programme, Anton Du Beke will take up a permanent spot among the judges. The long-standing member of the team switched to the judges' panel last year to temporarily replace Bruno Tonioli.
