Strictly Come Dancing 2022: Radio 2 DJ Richie Anderson will perform in an all-male partnership as he’s unveiled as show’s third contestant after Kym Marsh and Will Mellor were confirmed
- Richie will perform as one half of the 20th series’ all-male partnership, following in the footsteps of John Waite and Johannes Radebe
- The Radio 2 DJ went viral in 2018 when he came out to his Coombs Wood F.C teammates in an emotional clip for The One Show
- Kym Marsh and Will Mellor were confirmed as the first stars joining the 2022 lineup on Thursday
- Kym, who has starred in Coronation Street and currently hosts Morning Live on BBC, revealed she’s wanted to take part for a ‘number of years’
- Will, who played Gaz Wilkinson on the BBC comedy Two Pints Of Lager And A Packet Of Crisps, was the first star confirmed earlier in the show
- Strictly Come Dancing will film its launch show on Wednesday September 7, to be broadcast later that month
Richie Anderson has been announced as the third celebrity confirmed for this year’s Strictly Come Dancing, and he will be part of an all-male partnership.
The BBC Radio 2 DJ, 34, revealed he will be joining the 2022 series during his radio show on Friday, and joins Coronation Street stars Will Mellor and Kym Marsh in the current line-up.
The former Sunday League footballer – who went viral in 2018 when he came out as gay to his teammates at Coombs Wood F.C in an emotional documentary – said that it’s a ‘massive honour’ to be part of the show’s all-male partnership.
Congratulations: Richie Anderson is the latest celebrity confirmed for this year’s Strictly Come Dancing, and he will be part of an all-male partnership on the show
He said in a release: ‘This is a dream come true! I cannot wait to get in those sparkles and sequins and shimmy across the most famous dance floor in the world! Strictly is the ultimate feel good show, as soon as I hear that iconic theme tune it’s just pure escapism.
‘I’m going to have to cancel my legendary ‘Strictly’ launch night kitchen party that I throw every year, I’m sure my friends and family will understand.’
He added: ‘It’s also a massive honour to be part of an all-male dance partnership, it’s so important we have that inclusion on such a huge show.’
Last year’s series saw Great British Bake Off star John Waite form the show’s first all-male partnership with pro Johannes Radebe – with the couple reaching the final.
The year before saw the show’s first ever same-sex pairing as boxer Nicola Adams was paired up with Katya Jones – however the duo had to withdraw from the competition in week three after Katya caught Covid.
At last! The first two stars for Strictly Come Dancing were announced on Thursday, with actor Will Mellor (right) and soap favourite Kym Marsh (left) joining the lineup
In 2018, Richie famously came out as gay to his Sunday league football teammates during a feature for The One Show exploring homophobia in the sport.
The team knew Richie was filming a piece for the daily BBC One programme, but it wasn’t until he sat them down in the locker room after the match that they discovered he was looking into the issues around being gay in grassroots football.
‘One of the big issues we’ve looked at this week, erm, it’s really close to my heart, is homophobia in football,’ Richie began.
Candid: In 2018, Richie famously came out as gay to his Sunday league football teammates during a feature for The One Show exploring homophobia in the sport
‘The reason why that means a lot to me is – I’m a gay footballer. So I just wanted to be open and honest with you lot. It’s just been class.
‘This is really hard for me to do…’ he added, before his teammates began to applaud him.
Richie went on to say he was ‘So, so relieved. I can’t even tell you.’
He continued: ‘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.”‘
Talented: Last year’s series saw Great British Bake Off star John Waite form the show’s first all-male partnership with pro Johannes Radebe – with the couple reaching the final
Groundbreaking: 2020 saw the show’s first ever same-sex pairing with boxer Nicola Adams and Katya Jones – however the duo had to withdraw after Katya caught Covid
On Thursday, the first two stars for Strictly were announced, with actor Will and soap favourite Kym joining the lineup.
The Coronation Street actress and the Two Pints Of Lager and A Packet Of Crisps star, both 46, were unveiled on Thursday’s BBC Breakfast, with Kym revealing she’s wanted to join the show for ‘a number of years.’
She 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!’
Speaking on Breakfast, Kym admitted she hadn’t told her Morning Live co-host Gethin Jones about taking part in the show, despite hm previously taking part in 2007.
She said: ‘I was joking with him and I said ”were you on Strictly because you’ve never mentioned it!” I think he was always asking me if I was going to do it, and he kept going on about it again over the next few months, and of course I’ve not spoken to him and I’ll probably get a message later saying ”you never told me!”
Here she is! Former Coronation Street star Kym was unveiled as the second contestant on Thursday’s BBC Breakfast
Soap favourite: Kym is best known for playing Michelle Connor on Coronation Street from 2006 to 2019
Speaking via. Zoom, Kym revealed that her parents were both hiding behind a curtain while she took part in the interview, and they were even more excited to see her take to the dancefloor.
The actress, who rose to fame as a star of the band Hearsay, added she’s open to learning the new dance styles, as they will be a stark contrast to her pop star days.
She continued: ‘I’m just very keen to learn watching it, I’ve done dancing before when I was a little girl, and when I was in Hearsay, my husband is very excited about me being able to teach him, so we can do it when we go to the balls.
‘Any of them really, just to learn how to dance properly would be brilliant.’
Asked whether she’ll fear the harsh critiques of Craig Revel Horwood and the rest of the judging panel, Kym added: ‘I was judged by Nasty Nigel in Popstars don’t forget that, he was the villain back in the day!
‘These are the people I truly respect, this is what they do, I’m just going to have to suck it up I guess, you’ve just to take it on the chin.’
Determined: Asked whether she’ll fear the harsh critiques of Craig Revel Horwood and the rest of the judging panel, Kym added: ‘I was judged by Nasty Nigel in Popstars don’t forget that’
Kym is best known for playing Michelle Connor in Coronation Street from 2006 to 2019, and since October 2020 has co-hosted BBC’s Morning Live.
It is set to be a busy year for Kym as she also set to film Waterloo Road at the end of the year, joining the school drama as mother-of-two Nicky Walters.
Kym’s unveiling came after fellow Corrie star Will was unveiled as the first contestant earlier in the show, with the actor saying he’s signed up to bring some joy to his mother after a ‘tough time’ for his family.
He said: ‘I’m honestly so chuffed to be taking part in Strictly Come Dancing this year! Not going to lie, it’s totally out of my comfort zone and I know it will be a huge challenge but that’s what life is all about.
‘This is also my Mum’s favourite show and she’s had a really tough few years so I’m doing this is for her as well. Bring it on!’
First big star! Kym’s unveiling came after fellow Corrie star Will was unveiled as the first contestant earlier in the show
Following a series of clues alluding to his previous acting roles, Will was unveiled as the first Strictly star during the Breakfast show, and said he agreed to join the show after vowing to ‘grab life’ following his father’s death in 2020.
He told Naga Munchetty and Charlie Stayt: ‘Excited is one word for it, terrified is another, that’s one of the reasons I’m doing it, it’s stepping out of my comfort zone.
‘When I said yes to doing it, it was a long way away, but it’s going a bit closer it starts settling in and it gets a bit frightening now.’
Tragic: He said he signed up for the show to bring some joy for his mum, after his beloved father Bill passed away from cancer in 2020
Will added that he has already told his two children he would be joining the show, adding he wanted their blessing to take part over fears he could embarrass them.
He added: ‘I had to tell my kids, because I had to ask if it was alright, they’re 18 and 14, I’m not going to do anything they find mortifying, they’re OK. It’s something that I’ve never done before.’
Will also revealed that he decided to join the show after vowing to ‘grab life and create new memories,’ and said he wanted to bring some positivity for his mother following his dad’s death in 2020, two weeks after being diagnosed with cancer.
Blast from the past! Will starred in the BBC comedy Two Pings Of Lager And A Packet Of Crisps from 2001 to 2011
Sinister: He also played the villains drug lord Harvey Gaskell on Coronation Street last year
‘I lost my dad in 2020, and from then I thought I’ve just got to grab life and do things and create new memories, and that’sone of the reasons I said yes.
‘Because she’s had such a tough time of it I wanted to give her something to look forward to, she lost my dad and her brother and brother-in-law and sister in a year and it was a really tough time for the family. I think mentally it will be good for me as well.’
While he is best known for playing Gaz Wilkinson on the BBC comedy Two Pints Of Lager And A Packet Of Crisps, Will has also had roles in Holby City, Broadchurch and more recently, drug lord boss Harvey Gaskell in 2021.
Ready to dance? Following the announcement, Will was in high spirits as he exited the BBC Breakfast studios
Dance it out! He showed off some of his best moves as he stepped out in Media City Salford
Return: It comes after the launch date for this year’s Strictly was revealed as Wednesday September 7 (Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly pictured)
It comes after the launch date for this year’s Strictly was revealed as Wednesday September 7, when the series will film a pre-recorded launch show which sees this year’s celebrity contestants paired up with their professional partners.
Strictly bosses released a statement confirming the date while inviting fans to apply for tickets, with launch set to air on BBC One later that month.
They wrote: ‘Dust off your dancing shoes, Strictly Come Dancing is back!
‘The stunning 20th series returns, bringing glamour and show-stopping dancing back to Saturday nights on BBC One – and we’re extremely excited to be able to welcome an audience back to the studio for this year’s shows.
‘Hosted by the very talented and glamorous Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman, the show will once again come live from Elstree Film and Television Studios.
‘Registration is now open to be part of the exciting Launch Show, which is recording in advance of this year’s live shows on Wednesday, September 7.’
Show: The series will film a pre-recorded launch show on this date, meaning viewers will likely see the celebrity contestants paired up with their partners the weekend of September 10 (L-R Shirley Ballas, Anton Du Beke, Craig Revel Horwood and Motsi Mabuse)
To mark the BBC’s 100th anniversary, the professional dancers will be putting on a special group routine like they have never done before.
In another statement, Strictly bosses said fans can enter a draw to watch a recording of the special performance take place on August 24.
They said: ‘Strictly Come Dancing is celebrating 100 years of the BBC! The professional dancers will be throwing a party like only they know how, with a group number full of all the usual sparkle and glamour.
‘There may well be a surprise or two as well, with special guests and fun tributes to some of your favourite BBC shows.’
Show: To mark the BBC’s 100th anniversary, the professional dancers will be putting on a special group routine like they have never done before
Judges Shirley Ballas, Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse and Anton Du Beke have all been confirmed to return.
Meanwhile, four new pro dancers have joined the line-up, which means that 20 professionals in total are ready to bring their skills to the BBC show’s dancefloor later this year – the show’s biggest dancer line-up in history.
The four new world class dancers completing this year’s professional troupe are European cup winner Vito Coppola, Chinese National Champion Carlos Gu, former Under 21 British National Champion Lauren Oakley and Latin dance champion Michelle Tsiakkas.
A statement said: ‘Registration is now open to be part of the exciting Launch Show, which is recording in advance of this year’s live shows on Wednesday, September 7’
They join the professional dancers already revealed for the upcoming series: Dianne Buswell, Nadiya Bychkova, Graziano Di Prima, Amy Dowden, Karen Hauer, Katya Jones, Neil Jones, Nikita Kuzmin, Cameron Lombard, Gorka Marquez, Luba Mushtuk, Giovanni Pernice, Jowita Przystal, Johannes Radebe, Kai Widdrington and Nancy Xu.
Show favourites Alijaz Skorjanec and Oti Mabuse both quit Strictly Come Dancing earlier this year.
Not every pro dancer will be paired with a celebrity with four traditionally performing only in the pro routines.
New faces: Strictly Come Dancing will have its biggest professional dancer line-up in history when it returns this autumn for its 20th series with four new pros joining the show
STRICTLY COME DANCING 2022: WHO ARE THE CONTESTANTS?
KYM MARSH
Age: 46
Profession: Coronation Street star and presenter
Kym says: ‘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.’
RICHIE ANDERSON
Age: 34
Profession: Radio presenter
Richie says: ‘This is a dream come true! I cannot wait to get in those sparkles and sequins and shimmy across the most famous dance floor in the world!’
WILL MELLOR
Age: 46
Profession: Actor
Will says: ‘I know it will be a huge challenge but that’s what life is all about. This is also my Mum’s favourite show and she’s had a really tough few years so I’m doing this is for her as well. Bring it on!’
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