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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Entertainment
Connie Rusk

Strictly Come Dancing 2022 stars with reality TV backgrounds as bosses U-turn on ban

Strictly Come Dancing will return to our screens this autumn, with the 2022 line-up almost complete.

From Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps actor Will Mellor to Paralympian Ellie Simmonds, there is a whole host of talent set to take to the dancefloor.

And while reality TV stars were previously shunned from forming part of the line-up, some of this year's stars rose to fame on competition shows.

Here we take a look at all the stars so far confirmed for this series who have reality TV backgrounds - from Popstars to Britain's Got Talent.

Kym Marsh

Kym Marsh, 46, was announced as the second star to join this year's line-up.

The actress said: "I've considered doing Strictly for years but the timings never worked out.

"I’m so delighted that this year they have! I’m a huge fan of the show and can’t believe I’m going to go from watching at home in my pyjamas to actually dancing in front of the judges in a glittery dress, it’s unreal!"

Kym Marsh, 46, was announced as the second star (BBC)
The actress rose to fame on Popstars back in 2000 (ITV)

Kym actually started out her career on reality TV back in 2000, when she auditioned for ITV talent show Popstars.

She formed one fifth of the band Hear'Say, with Danny Foster, Myleene Klass, Suzanne Shaw and Noel Sullivan.

In March 2001, the band released Pure and Simple which went straight to number one.

She formed one fifth of the band Hear'Say (pictured 2001) (SHARED CONTENT UNIT)

Less than a year later, Kym announced she was leaving the band and auditions were held to find a replacement for her but the group split in October of that year.

Despite starting out in reality TV, Kym went on to forge a successful acting career starring in Coronation Street and Waterloo Road.

Molly Rainford

Molly Rainford was announced as the tenth star (BBC)

Molly Rainford was announced as the tenth star to join Strictly Come Dancing, but it won't be the first time she competed on a TV show.

Ten years ago, when she was only 11 years old, Molly auditioned for Britain's Got Talent with a phenomenal rendition of Jennifer Hudson's One Night Only.

The judges, including Alesha Dixon, Simon Cowell, David Walliams and Carmen Electra, were floored by her soulful voice.

She received four yeses, with Alesha telling her: "You are 11 years old and you sing with such maturity and control. You've just blown me away."

Ten years ago, when she was only 11 years old, Molly auditioned for Britain's Got Talent (ITV)

Music mogul Simon added: "I've got to tell you, Molly. I like you because you've got soul. I really do believe that."

Molly sailed through the competition and even reached the finals, singing a flawless version of Ave Maria.

All four impressed judges gave her a standing ovation when she finished belting out the lyrics.

She was pipped to the post in 2012 by dog act Ashley and Pudsey, leaving Molly winding up in sixth place.

Jayde Adams

Comedian Jayde Adams, 37, will also waltz onto the dancefloor.

She said when her signing was announced: "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."

While she hasn't auditioned on a reality show, Jayde landed a presenting gig back in 2019 for Snackmasters.

Along with Fred Sirieix from Channel 4 's First Dates, Jayde hosted the BAFTA nominated TV show which aired on Channel 4 in 2019.

In a cook off at the KitKat factory, Monster Munch Factory and Burger King Factory, two top chefs competed to make the perfect replica, before being judged by the workers and bosses behind the real thing.

Jayde landed a presenting gig back in 2019 for Snackmasters (Channel 4)

There will be some noticeable changes to this year's Strictly, with pro dancers Oti Mabuse and Aljaz Skorjanec and judge Bruno Tonioli leaving the show.

Four new pros have been drafted in, including European cup winner Vito Coppola , Chinese National Champion Carlos Gu , former Under 21 British National Champion Lauren Oakley and Latin dance champion Michelle Tsiakkas.

The forthcoming 20th series will see audiences return to the studio, with the launch show scheduled to be recorded on September 7.

Fleur East

Fleur is a contestant in Strictly (BBC)
She was previously on X Factor (PA)

Fleur East was recently announced as a contestant in this year's dancing competition.

The singer is no stranger to competing her way to the top as she appeared on X Factor in 2005.

She was part of the girl group called Addictiv Ladies on the series of but was eliminated in week one.

Fleur returned to the singing show in 2014 and auditioned with John Legend's Orginary People.

The star made it all the way to the final but lost to Ben Haenow.

Four years later, the singer joined I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! and finished fourth place.

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