Strictly Come Dancing has made a return to our screens.
From now until Christmas a host of celebrities will take to the dancefloor each week as they try to impress the judges and stay in the competition.
And among those taking part this year is Strictly 'superfan' Richie Anderson. The 34-year-old, who is best known for being a BBC radio and TV presenter, will follow in the footsteps of John Whaite and be part of this year's all-male partnership.
Richie started his radio career at BBC West Midlands where he presented his own show between 2015 and 2020. Since 2019 he has been the weekday travel news reporter on BBC Radio 2.
He has also been a regular presenter on The One Show and this year featured in BBC One’s Platinum Jubilee coverage.
Richie is in a relationship with his partner Dean Eagles and they have been together for 10 years. They recently celebrated an anniversary in Italy.
He posted about the romantic getaway on Twitter on July 23. He wrote: "This time last week, me and my Dean were sailing the Mediterranean on the beautiful @CelebrityCruise celebrating our (early) 10 year anniversary. We had the most amazing adventures #holiday #summer #SaturdayMotivation."
Ahead of his Strictly debut, Richie said appearing in the show is an 'honour' and 'dream come true.'
He said: "I am a Strictly Come Dancing superfan and I've dreamed about doing this for years. To me, Strictly is like the equivalent of like a warm log fire on a winter night, it just makes my soul glow. As soon as I hear the first few chords of the iconic theme tune, I just feel pure escapism and I’m in my happy place. So to be part of that is just a massive honour."
Richie said dancing has never come naturally to him - and described his moves when he was younger as being 'like Bambi on ice.'
Richie added: "When I was seven, I used to go to an after school dance club at my local church. My mum sent me there as she wanted to improve my balance, because she said I used to be like Bambi on ice. I went to this dance club for about eight weeks and it somehow got worse. So I went and played football instead.
"But I can do every single Steps routine, so if there are any transferable skills between 5,6,7,8 and an Argentine Tango, you might as well give me the Glitterball now.
"I also once came second in a talent competition in Benidorm, I got on stage and I did a Spice Girls routine."
However, Richie has been preparing hard for the show and has been watching YouTube videos of previous dancers to get some tips.
He said: "I started watching old YouTube videos of previous contestants, but I had to stop because I was thinking “I can't do that!” So my preparation is to just pretend it's not happening. Just pretend I'm turning up every Saturday and I'm going to the local disco, dancing with a handsome man and then I'm going home. I'm taking the pressure off by thinking that way!"
Away from his presenting duties West Brom fan Richie is a keen footballer and played for Sunday League team for Coombs Wood F.C.
In 2018 Richie came out as gay to his teammates following a game as part of a film for BBC's The One Show which aimed to show the pressures of homophobia in the sport. The film showed his teammates hugging him as they supported him.
Speaking on the film Richie said: "I expected it as they’re a good bunch of lads. It probably helped that I scored as well, but I’m so relieved"
"The main thing is, I hope there’s people watching this that are in the same boat I was in, and they’re thinking, ‘You know what? I can do that as well.'"
The celebrities taking part in Strictly this year are Ellie Simmonds, Ellie Taylor, Fleur East, Hamza Yassin, Helen Skelton, James Bye, Jayde Adams, Kaye Adams, Kym Marsh, Matt Goss, Molly Rainford, Richie Anderson, Tony Adams, Tyler West and Will Mellor.
They will be watched and scored by Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, Anton Du Beke and head judge Shirley Ballas.
Strictly Come Dancing launches at 7pm on Friday, September 23, on BBC One before the first live show airs Saturday, September 24, at 6.45pm. The show had been due to launch on Saturday 17 September but was put back six days following the death of the Queen.
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