Find out how the Class of 2022 are feeling as they take to the floor and officially become part of the fab-u-lous Strictly family...
Strictly season is officially upon us and with the Class of 2022 now fully Strictlified it's time to head back to the ballroom as the 20th series of Strictly Come Dancing kicks off from 7pm on Friday 23 September on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
The celebrities waltzing onto our screens 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 and we caught up with them to find out how they're feeling as they take to the floor and officially become part of the fab-u-lous Strictly family...
What made you want to take part in this years’ show?
Well, it’s Strictly isn’t it? It's the show of all shows, I've watched it for years and years with my family, so I've always wanted to do it. So when they asked me this year I had to say yes! After retiring last year I’ve got more time on my hands, so I can enjoy it. You learn a new skill with the dancing plus the whole shebang with costumes, makeup, hair, the fake tan and the sequins!
What do you think your biggest challenge will be?
The biggest challenge is probably the dancing! I did ballet when I was a kid but that’s it, other than dancing with my friends on the dance floor and shimmying in hotel rooms with my teammates! Also with my disability, dwarfism, it will be a new challenge for me as I am learning something new and unknown, I’m used to being in water and now I’m on dry land!
It’s exciting and nerve racking as well, you see the incredible pro dancers, and they just make it look so easy but who knows if I can actually dance and make those moves?
How do you feel about being Strictly-fied?
Oh, I am so excited! I'm used to so many years of being in the water, not caring really what I looked like, with wet hair, chlorine smelling skin, a tracksuit and no makeup! Whereas now to actually enter this world, it's a whole new level with the hair, the makeup, everything! Bring it on!
Do you have any memorable or standout moments from previous series?
I loved Danny Mac, I really wanted him to win, he was phenomenal. Last year with Rose and Giovanni, that moment of silence was just so significant and powerful, just wow, a real standout moment.
Do you have any previous dance experience?
Only as a kid when I did ballet and dancing at school but I stopped about when I was five or six!
How are you prepping for the show?
Trying to relax as much as I can and just have some me time before it’s go go go. I’ve been doing exercise, going to the gym, swimming and just trying to relax and enjoy the calm before the storm.
Have you had any advice from anyone who's done the show before?
I’ve spoken to JJ Chalmers and Ugo Monye, they were both so nice. Everyone has said to just enjoy every second and soak everything in because it'll fly by!
Did you know any of your fellow 2022 contestants?
I’ve met Jayde Adams before, and she’s really funny. I bought tickets to go and see her later this year but we got an email saying she's had to reschedule it, and then I saw the news that she had been announced to do the show too, so that’s why! Richie Anderson is so lovely and we've been messaging each other already and chatting away. I am really looking forward to getting to know them all as well as the pros!
Who do you think your biggest competition will be?
You never know who can dance so I'd probably say all of them!
Do you have your eye on the Glitterball?
Yes I'm competitive, but I just want to enjoy it all and soak it all in. My aim is just to get through the first week, I just don't want to be the first one to go home!
Do you have a signature dance me if you do at parties?
My other half always says I do a shoulder roll, so that must be it!
What made you want to take part in the show this year?
I've always wanted to do it. I've never been asked before, I'd love to say I was one of the people who has turned it down , but I haven’t, I just said yes straightaway. My mum is delighted!
What do you think will be the biggest challenge?
All of it will be a challenge. I won't find the wearing beautiful clothes and having lovely hair and makeup done a challenge, that'll be an absolute pleasure. But everything else is very out of my comfort zone!
How do you feel about being Strictly-fied?
I'm really looking forward to that side of it, I want all of it!
Are there any memorable or standout moments for you, from previous series?
Karim’s Jive to Hairspray was amazing, it was such a great joy to watch. I also really liked Debbie McGee's Argentine Tango, that was brilliant.
Do you have any previous dance experience?
I retired from tap and ballet dancing aged seven, so aside from doing some sort of macarena mini disco on European holidays with my child, no!
How are you preparing for the show?
Mostly sort of just panicking and staring at a wall wondering what on earth I've done! I've also been watching old episodes, which has been useful to try and get my mind in the right mindset. But I feel like doing Strictly is a bit like having a child. You can imagine what it might be like but you won't actually know how wild it is until it starts. So basically, this is just me crowning at the moment!
Have you had any advice from anyone who has done the show before?
AJ Odudu sent me a picture of all the things I need to look after my feet, like blister plasters and sprays and all of that, and she said I need to ice my feet every night.
Who do you think will be your biggest competition?
Everyone! Well, everyone and no one really because it’s more of a competition with myself, I want to work hard and not let myself down. I can’t control what anyone else does, so I just have to work hard on myself and try and enjoy it. I would love to make it to Musicals Week, because I love musicals, but I didn’t realise how far away that is!
Do you have your eye on the Glitterball?
No! I just want to have a really good time and enjoy it.
Do you have a signature dance move you always do at parties?
It used to be a roly poly! Back in the days when people still smoked in nightclubs, I would get up off the floor with all these cigarette butts in my hair! But it went down a storm.
What made you want to take part in the show this year?
Firstly, it's the best show ever. Secondly, for me it’s a personal reason - my dad passed away in 2020 and this was his favourite show. He even used to get annoyed that he had to miss out on Strictly when I was on The X Factor because they were on at the same time. When I was deciding whether or not to do it I spoke to my sister and she reminded me of dad watching it all the time and then that was that the deciding factor straightaway, so that’s my motivation for doing it.
What do you think will be your biggest challenge?
Learning technical dancing, because I'm comfortable on a night out with friends, and I'm comfortable when I've got a microphone in my hand and I'm singing and I can sort of freestyle and do what I want. But having to follow a strict routine and being picked up on things like my posture, my arms or whether my neck was in the right place is going to be really difficult for me. It's almost like I need to erase everything else I've learned and start again, so that's going to be tough.
How would you feel about being ‘Strictly-fied’?
That's the thing I'm most excited about, getting the hair and make-up done and wearing the costumes. The outfits, are just so incredible, so being able to dance in a tasselled sequinned dress! I'm embracing all of that. I’ll be wishing that I can keep every outfit from the show.
Are there any standout or memorable moments from previous series for you?
Firstly, Rose from last year. It took my breath away when they did their routine with the silent moment and I'll never forget watching it. I watched it over and over again. I wasn't surprised at all when it won the BAFTA, it was incredible.
I loved watching Alesha Dixon, Rachel Stevens and Abbey Clancy as well. And Bill Bailey! When he did his routine to Rapper’s Delight with Oti, with the newspapers, it was so cool and different. It was everything.
Do you have any previous dance experience?
Apart from dancing in the club, and when I'm singing on stage, no. I’ve had no technical training, I didn't go to stage school, so I’m just going to be thrown into the deep end when it comes to that. It's going to be really different for me.
How are you prepping for the show?
I'm doing a lot of cardio so that I have stamina, because I can't learn the Cha Cha Cha at home! There's no point in me trying to master a Waltz in my living room, I wouldn’t even know where to start! So the only thing I can do is work on my physical fitness and because I know that it's going to be hardcore.
Have you had any advice from anyone that's done the show before?
Yes, Gemma Atkinson told me to put Deep Heat on my soles and to bring good snacks to rehearsals. People have just said to me to just embrace it, because it's going to be the best experience of your life, and that I am going to make friends for life, so I'm looking forward to that.
Do you know any of your 2022 fellow contestants?
Yes, last year Helen Skelton and I started learning golf together! Tyler West, works in the same building as me on the radio, so we're going to do an East meets West situation. That'd be fun!
Who do you think your biggest competition is?
Having watched the show for years, you can't predict who's going to do well, so I just think I'm going to focus on myself. I'm so hard on myself anyway, I know that I'll be watching back everything I've done picking it apart and trying to compete with my last performance. That may be a cheesy answer, but genuinely I can't suss anyone, because everyone's going to be different, everyone's got their own story, everyone's got their own reason, and it's lots of different personalities.
Do you have your eyes on the glitterball?
I don't really want to come into it focusing on that, for me I just want to try and have the best experience possible and get a taste of every part of it. I want to be able to get to experience the themed weeks, I want to be able to do couples choice, that would be amazing. And of course to get to Blackpool, that's the pinnacle of the Strictly experience, isn't it? The glitterball would just be the cherry on the top of the cake really, that would be awesome!
Do you have a signature dance move that you do at parties?
There's always a hair whip and some form of hip thrusting, that's what usually happens! But I don't know if I can incorporate any of that into the ballroom dancing!
What made you want to take part in the show this year?
I really wanted to take part because anywhere you go in the UK, everybody knows about it and loves it. Also because I am severely dyslexic, I really want to take this opportunity to show kids who are dyslexic that it’s not a hindrance it’s a gift.
And finally, I love dancing, and I'm going to get the chance to be paired with a professional dancer and to learn some amazing routines. It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity, of course I had to say yes!
What do you think your biggest challenge will be?
My biggest challenge will be my weight and my fitness, I'm a big dude and I think I'm strong but imagine me like a rhino where I can have a short burst of energy and then I'm knackered afterwards. So I don't want to be a rhino, I want to be a dolphin that's constantly moving through water that can go for hours and hours. I want to be the fittest that I've ever been in my life. I'm an ex rugby player. What we do in rugby is completely different to what you do on the dance floor, but I reckon a lot of it will transfer.
How do you feel about being Strictly-fied?
I'm looking forward to being strictly-fied because in my normal day to day life, I am in a camouflage jacket or a muted colour, in wellies or walking boots halfway up a mountain in a remote place that doesn't have phone signal. So to go from that to glitz, glamour, Latin, Ballroom and confetti, bring it on! I'm going to relish the moment and it's stepping out of my comfort zone, but why not? I've got the opportunity so I am grasping it with both hands.
Are there any memorable standout moments from previous series that kind of come to mind that you really enjoyed?
I really loved Bill Bailey, he was great. He is a person I look up to in the sense of his comedy, his music and his style of stand up, but then also I know that he loves nature and birds, he's a cool cat.
Do you have any previous dance experience?
I like dancing in the shower, just the same as singing in the shower, I think I sound amazing and I think my dance moves look cool, in my own personal time. But professionally, no, absolutely not. I don't know if I've got two left feet or two right feet, but we will soon find out.
How are you preparing for the show?
I'm doing a lot of squats and sit-ups and I'm watching what I'm eating now. I'm walking daily to try and get the fitness back up again because, as a wildlife cameraman, we can happily sit still for 18 hours and not do anything!
Have you had any advice from anyone who has done the show before?
Reverend Richard Coles who I’ve had on my show, was wonderful. He said he wasn't in it for long, but that the time that he had was amazing. I asked him what tips he could give me, and he said to just enjoy it, and relish every single moment, that it is going to go by so quick and it's going to be a whirlwind of an adventure. I'm going to try and impress him and hopefully pick up the glitterball by the end of it.
So, do you have your eyes on the Glitterball?
Absolutely! I grew up in a family of competitive people, me and my brother were always competing about stuff. Even in my work life, as a wildlife cameraman, I want to be the first to get that shot. So Strictly to me is a competition, but a nice healthy one.
And do you have a signature dance move that you do at parties?
I absolutely love the two step, you can't go wrong, and the Carlton is a fun one as everyone joins in with it. I live up in the Highlands where we do the Gay Gordons dance at ceilidhs.
What made you want to take part in the series this year?
I just wanted to do something fun! It was a good chance for my family to see me smiling and it's a fun adventure. Anybody who's had anything to do with Strictly will say, the make-up people are the best, the costume people are the best, the set designers are the best, the dancers are the best. So why wouldn't you want to do something where everyone is literally at the top of their game and loving what they do?
What do you think will be the biggest challenge?
I'm not that touchy feely, so I think the physical closeness I’ll need to have with my partner will take a bit of getting used to!
How do you feel about being Strictly-fied?
I am here for it! I have three children under seven, a very energetic dog and have lived in a house renovation for the best part of three years, so Strictly-fy me up please!
Do you have any previous dance experience?
When I was a kid I tap-danced, but that's it! Slow, calm, considered and measured dancing is not me.
How are you preparing for the show?
It takes me back my Blue Peter days, it was an all-consuming show where every minute of the day you were doing something for it. You'd get into the office having been away for three weeks and someone had been round to your house to pack your bags go on your next trip. So I feel like this will be all consuming as-well but I’ve lived that life before and I naively think I might be ready for it.
Have you had any advice from anyone that's done the show before?
Dan Walker and Ore Oduba have both said “call me anytime”. They both absolutely loved the show and Ore still talks about what a transformative experience it was in his life, he makes me laugh, all these years on and he is still talking about it! Dan said it was the most fun he had ever had.
Do you know any of your fellow 2022 contestants?
Yes, I know Fleur and love her, we have golf lessons together, if it's possible she's even nicer than she comes across on TV. She's just got the most lovely energy and she's so fun. I've worked with Ellie Taylor a couple of times and Ellie Simmonds I know through work a little bit. Obviously I've got my Countryfile companion in Hamza but we've never worked together, so that’s going be fun!
Who do you think your biggest competition will be?
Oh myself without a shadow of a doubt. Everyone thinks that I am so competitive, but I am only really competitive with myself. If I'm going to do it, I want to do it well!
So do you have your eye on the Glitterball?
I just want to take it one week at a time. I know everyone always says “I want to get to Blackpool” but all my family are in the North West so I do want to get to Blackpool and that would be a win for me.
Do you have a signature dance move that you do at parties?
It was the splits for a long time, and then I tore my hamstring and I've never been able to do it since!
What made you want to take part in Strictly this year?
I wanted to use this opportunity to show my kids that with a bit of hard work and perseverance you can achieve anything. So I guess that's a sort of a glorified parenting technique, I'm using Strictly to parent my children. Since I've mentioned that daddy's going to be a dancer, there's been a lot more interest now watching daddy dance around the kitchen whilst making dinner.
My other reason is that my in-laws are huge fans, they’ll be wanting tickets and maybe even the spray tan.
What do you think the biggest challenge will be?
The biggest challenge for me, is going to be the unknown. I don't know if I can dance, I might be amazing but it’s very unlikely that that is the case. It's more likely that, because I'm long, either my hands will be doing the right thing or my feet will be, but I don't know if both will do the same at the same time. I am also worried for any parts of the dance where I am left to my own devices, that’s what I am most scared of!
How do you feel about being Strictly-fied?
I’m looking forward to it because it’s like a package deal. It’s embracing what Strictly is. I'm an actor, I'm going to play a role and commit to it.
Are there any memorable or standout moments for you, from previous series?
My best friend, Davood Ghadami was on the show years ago, and I came to watch and he was great. I remember him doing the Paso Doble and that did look good. At the time I wound him up about it, but I was really proud of him. Also Jake Wood, when he did the snake hips to Mambo No. 5, that was a million miles from Max Branning. I’m aware I’ve kept this very EastEnders focused, but I can’t not mention our reigning champion Rose from last series, when the music dropped I think she brought the nation to tears. It was beautiful and she is such an incredible human being.
Do you have any previous dance experience?
No I haven’t, I have been lucky enough to take part in Children in Need with EastEnders where we did a little choreographed dance, but I ended up in A&E as my meniscus snapped and I was rushed off to knee surgery. That was about four years ago now!
How are you preparing for the show?
I am trying to increase my fitness. I'm not unfit but I’m certainly not a fit person. Since the announcement, the new years resolution has kicked in! I was already walking on the treadmill now I’ve just turned that into a run and am doing a bit more in the gym to increase my stamina, so that I’ve got something in my arsenal.
Have you have any advice for anyone who's on the show before?
When I was announced I had lots of people calling me, Brian Conley, Tameka Empson and obviously Davood. The advice to be honest, was pretty much the same and it was just enjoy yourself and embrace it. It's completely different to anything else. I think Brian’s words were “you're never going to have an experience like it, so just don't miss a beat, just go with it”, and I'm really going to hold on to that.
Do you have your eye on the Glitterball?
At the moment, not really. I'm just in it to have as much fun as possible. I’d love to get to Blackpool, then you can say you really gave it a good go. There is also the added pressure that the last three people from EastEnders have been in the final!
Do you have a signature dance move you always do at parties?
What made you want to take part in the show this year?
I’ve always known it was going to happen. I made the decision in 2004 when Brendan and Natasha won that I would be on Strictly, and I’ve made steps to make sure I am on it since then. When it came to me being asked, there was no other decision available. I had to reschedule a tour which I know upset a few people but they will understand what this means to me if they are true fans.
What do you think will be the biggest challenge?
The Argentine Tango. I'm a massive fan of the Argentine Tango but I know it's going to be my Achilles heel. It is absolutely my favourite bit of the show, when they dance it the celebrities become proper dancers as well. There's so much showbusiness and performance in the routine as well as technique, it’s really just the best one.
How would you feel about being Strictly-fied?
I wear a lot of this stuff anyway, I did put on black turtleneck for a little while to get everyone to think I was clever but it's me going back to the way I was, and I'm thrilled about it.
So are there any memorable moments that stand out to you from previous series?
NOTHING beats when Mark Ramprakash did his Argentine Tango to GoldenEye with Karen Hardy in 2006. NOTHING.
Do you have any dance experience?
Yes. 13 years of freestyle disco dancing from the age of five.
How are you prepping for the show?
I’ve just upped my training, I'm going on 10 mile hikes, swimming, sauna, steam room. Doing lots of cardio at the gym and I’ve been weight training as well.
Have you had any advice from anyone that's done the show before?
I was told by Scott Mills that it will be the best time of my life.
And who did you think your biggest competition will be?
Oh, good question, I mean you can never guess his stuff because someone might be so good at technique but there might a dance that they’re just not good at. It doesn’t matter if you’ve got dance training, ballroom and Latin dances are really difficult., It’s always the audience that's the deciding factor really.
Do you have your eyes on the Glitterball?
Absolutely, I’ve never entered a competition in my life without thinking I can win it.
Do you have a signature dance move that you will always do at parties?
My sister and I used to do synchronised dance routines when we used to go out together.
What made you want to take part in strictly this year?
Well, this is the last year of my 50s. It would be easy to say no and you go through all of these doubts in your head. And then you think that Strictly is a phenomenon, and it's beloved by everyone. It's an incredible experience. Despite the fact that I can't dance, I've always had a little thing in the back of my head when I see people dancing, and I envy it to a certain extent. When you're offered something like this, you either think to yourself, why would I do that? Or you think to yourself, why wouldn't I do that? And I fell on the side of why wouldn't I do that, and here I am.
What do you think your biggest challenge will be?
I just need to loosen up a bit. I mean, it's the irony of a loose woman., I've always been quite a reserved person. I've told myself I'm a rubbish dancer for 40 years and that sinks in and so you have that perception of yourself. I suppose it's the dances that really require me to, to go way outside my comfort zone. I mean, everything's going to be outside my comfort zone, but some of it is going to be like going to the North Pole in a pair of flip flops! So I guess the Paso Doble and all that kind of shaky, sultry stuff is what’s going to test me to the limits.
How do you feel about being Strictly-fied?
I think that it's all a bit of fun and to a certain extent, it's disguised camouflage! You know, there's no point in coming this far and then trying to do half measures. I am trying to persuade them to give me a sequined balaclava to disguise my terrible sexy face. I should really speak to wardrobe about that…
Are there any memorable or standout moments for you from previous series?
A lot of my Loose Women colleagues have taken part in the show before so I have obviously had a particular interest in them. Judi last year was brilliant, her energy was amazing, and she would come and dance in the morning meetings at Loose Women. Of course on the Scottish point of view, Judy Murray, I thought she did absolutely brilliantly, she was just so endearing in the whole thing and I think people really warmed to that. Also, Anne Widdecombe and Russel Grant, I go to bed every night and I watch one of each!
Do you have any previous dance experience?
None whatsoever, unless you count Scottish country dancing at school? Although I don't think that's exactly what we're doing here! I actually got thrown out of ballet class when I was five, the dance teacher told my mum that I might be better at doing something else as I have kipper feet… whatever they are.
How are you preparing for the show?
I am watching YouTube videos of Anne Widdecombe every night. I also downloaded a hugely expensive app from a professional dancer based in America to try to teach myself some steps. Very annoyed because I thought I was signing up for a free month’s trial. A friend of mine is a choreographer so he is showing me some of the basic steps and also making me disco dance around the room ‘like no-one is watching’. He says I have to getting used to feeling foolish!
Have you had any advice from anyone who has done the show before?
I have had lots of great advice from my Loose Women colleagues, Ruth Langsford advised me to have a ‘lady bag’ at rehearsals because ‘it can get a bit sweaty’. Judi Love, Sunetra Sarker, Katie Piper, Gloria Hunniford and Frankie Bridge have also been great but the one thing they all agree on is that the key thing to do is to just enjoy every moment!
Do you know any of your fellow 2022 contestants?
I don’t know anyone well, although I have crossed paths with Kym, Will and Matt over the years. I met up with my TV daughter Jayde at the Edinburgh Festival and we had a good chat. I am excited to get to know everyone properly.
Who do you think is your biggest competition?
I think my biggest competition is myself. I am not that good at letting go and strutting my stuff. It’s not my natural instinct so it’s going to be a pitch battle between Kaye and my new alter ego Fifi La Touché!
Do you have your eye on the Glitterball?
The only eye I have on the glitterball is to make sure I don’t trip over it and smash it by mistake. I’d keep it out my way to be on the safe side just in case.
Do you have a signature dance move you always do at parties?
I used to be rather fond of Oops Upside Your Head in my teenage years. I haven’t really moved on from that.
What made you want to take part in this year show?
Well, it's always been a little question for me over the last four or five years, it's been on the cards and then not happened and I felt like this year was a good year for me. There's lots personal reasons why but in terms of work, I'm probably the busiest I've ever been, and now I've taken this on at the same time, which is crazy!
My husband is in the army and he's still based in this country at the moment, but there's a chance that next year he'll go away, so if I waited and did it next year, he might not be here to watch. Also my dad's not very well and he would love to see me do the show and be able to come in and watch, so in order to make that happen it had to be this year.
What do you think will be your biggest challenge?
Everything! It's not going to be easy for me for sure, even the live show element of it will be a challenge, because despite the fact that I do live TV every Monday, I still get nervous. Gethin thinks it's hilarious but it's something about being Kym on TV rather than playing a character, but I guess I'll be able to act in in my dancing so I should be alright!
How would you feel about being Strictly-fied?
Oh, I can't wait. I'm very excited. I've been told about spray tans, I’m not sure what Waterloo Road will think of me being sprayed every single week but they’ll just have to cope with it. I'm really looking forward to it and I think that's one of the things about Strictly, apart from obviously the dancing and how wonderful that is, the glamour and the glitz of it all is always going to be something that people love and I'll definitely enjoy that side of it
Are there any memorable moments from previous series that stand out for you?
Obviously last year was a big year with Johannes and John, they were incredible and I think they made real history, they were fabulous! Some of the dance routines they did were just incredible with their strength and how they were just so connected on everything. I think they were probably my stand out couple from the last series.
Do you have any dance previous dance experience?
I did a bit when I was young but that was your typical ballet and tap stuff as a kid. I also went to a stage school for a year but I only did the basics really. Then during my time with Hear’Say, I found the dance element really hard, we did a tour and doing all the dance routines for that was tricky! The choreographer used to laugh at me because I would always say ‘I can’t do it’.
I was in Saturday Night Fever for six months in the West End, but I had a part that required little dancing, and that was kind of on purpose. So not loads of experience, a little bit, but not enough to count myself as a dancer.
How are you prepping for the show?
I was plagued with quite a lot of injuries last year, I'm someone who generally likes to go to the gym and this is probably the worst shape I've been in, in the last five years.
So my exercise regime has not been as good as it would normally be but I ran the Manchester 10k in May, so that was the beginning of my journey and then since I agreed to do this, I’ve been trying to get back in the gym. My husband's great, he's really helpful and helps me train quite a lot!
Do have you had any advice from anyone that's done the show before?
Bits and bobs, people generally just saying how much they love it and to just enjoy it. When it was announced Catherine Tyldesley, and Gethin Jones said “Oh my God, you're going to love it”.
Do you know any of your fellow 2022 contestants?
I know Will Mellor, he's a cheeky chap, I bet he's got moves that we don't know about! He's going to be a Kelvin or something like that. Everyone loves Will, he’s ace.
I worked with Luke Goss on a movie so I've met Matt on a couple of occasions, and am looking forward to seeing him again. It will be good fun!
Do you have your eyes on the Glitterball?
Well, it would be lovely but I’ve got to be realistic about these things and think, is it a likelihood? Possibly not. It depends really, ask me that in a few weeks’ time and if I'm if I'm still here! It would be amazing and it would be fantastic thing to win, but being realistic, probably not.
Do you have a signature dance move at parties?
No, not really but my dad loves the Running Man!
What made you want to take part in the show this year?
I'm coming back to the UK and coming into a place where I will be highly judged and critiqued. But I'm excited to learn and to be in the thick of it. Strictly is going to get me out of my comfort zone and I really want to just enjoy the process.
What do you think will be the biggest challenge?
Myself. I'm always the boss, in my show there is 50 plus people working together, and I oversee everything from the lighting to the dancers. But for Strictly I will be the pupil, and for me, it's quite nerve wracking. But it's super exciting to just learn a skill from an incredibly talented partner that knows exactly what they're doing.
How do you feel about being Strictly-fied?
I'm a magpie so I like anything that glitters anyway, and what’s not to love about fake tan!
Do you have any previous dance experience?
I did the Christmas special in 2013 which was incredible. Beyond that I have been on stage for two thirds of my life, I love to dance and make music. Music is like my first language, I understand rhythm and accents, so hopefully that gives me an advantage.
Have you had any advice from anyone who has done the show before?
I have, but honestly I am thinking it’s going to be an individual experience for each celebrity.
Do you know any of your fellow 2022 contestants?
Kaye Adams has interviewed me many times, I’ve crossed paths with Kym and Molly, and, of course, Tony, everyone loves Tony Adams.
Who do you think is your biggest competition?
Everyone, I honestly mean that. I think everyone is in this to win it. I would like to be a supportive person to everyone in the cast, and just compete with myself and push myself as hard as I can. It’s about the journey and not just the destination, not to sound cliché.
Do you have your eye on the Glitterball?
Of course, why would I do this wonderful show if I wasn’t going to try and get to the Glitterball? I also need something to really clash with the décor in my house.
Do you have a signature dance move you always do at parties?
I just love to move. I love dancing in general but usually a tequila would help although I don’t know if that’s Strictly policy!
Why did you want to take part in Strictly this year?
I wanted to take part in Strictly because I love everything the show stands for, all the glitz and the glamour. I love performing and I've never attempted to do Latin or ballroom dancing before so it’s adding a new string to my bow.
What do you think will be your biggest challenge?
I think my biggest challenge will be not getting caught up on little moves because I can be a perfectionist. So trying not to stress too much about one specific thing and worry about the overall product. I've heard from others that simplicity is key.
How do you feel about being Strictly-fied?
I'm buzzing about being Strictly-fied, I can't wait! I'm in my element when I’m messing around with makeup and hair so I can't wait to be in a massive glittery costume! I'm really letting everyone go to town.
Are there any memorable standout moments for you from previous series?
I really loved when Tilly Ramsay did Matilda last year, I thought that was so fitting and really fun and it just looked like she had the best time, I love when they use a prop as well! And when my friend HRVY did the jive and there was a microphone the whole time just swinging back and forth, it was just brilliant. Those were definitely standouts. And of course obviously Rose’s couples choice dance last year, I thought that was absolutely breath-taking.
Do you have any previous dance experience?
I wouldn't say I'm the worst dancer in the world but I also wouldn't say I’m the best. At school I was always chosen to be a singer and never even considered for the dancing and I’ve never tried ballroom or Latin, so that’s all very new to me.
Have you had any advice from anyone that's done the show before?
I actually met Rhys Stephenson the other day and he said I would have the best time. He was the one who said simplicity is key, and that in the beginning, I shouldn’t worry about doing the most intricate or hardest moves because you're better off doing something simple and doing it really well, rather than trying to do something really hard and not quite hitting the mark, so that was helpful.
Who do you think your biggest competition will be?
Well, I am the youngest and I feel like there's a bit of pressure for me to have good stamina because of that, but I don't know if that's the case. To be honest, I'm not going to worry about the competition right now. I need to worry about what I’m doing.
So do you have your eyes on the Glitterball?
Oh, for sure! You can't come into Strictly and not have your eyes on the prize a little bit! I'm definitely going to be giving it my all, It’s not going to be all just fun and games, I do want to give it a good go and hopefully get there. Besides I've got to beat previous friends that have been on!
Do you have a signature dance move at parties?
Probably the running man, or the wave!
What made you want to take part in the show this year?
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.
What do you think will be the biggest challenge?
My biggest challenge on the show will be learning how to dance. I know that sounds ridiculous. I always thought I was quite a good dancer, I’m always up on the podium in nightclubs. But I asked my other half Dean, and he said I looked like one of those blow up men you get outside the petrol station, with their arms flailing around. He said I have the hip action of a folded up ironing board. So that will be my biggest challenge, but I am going to give it some welly.
How do you feel about being Strictly-fied?
Oh, my Goodness me. So, low cut tops, sequins, spandex, I mean that's what I wear on a Tuesday to do the big shop. So for me, it’ll be dressing down! My motto is, there can always be more! I just want to be covered in oil and pushed in a bath of glitter.
Are there any memorable or standout moments for you, from previous series?
Well, I have to mention my good friend Zoe Ball. Her Waltz in week one was so beautiful, elegant and floaty. I also have to mention John and Johannes’ leaps. On a serious note, watching John and Johannes last year gave me the confidence to be in an all-male partnership this year. I'm so glad I'm doing it. I just felt so much inspiration. I wish I could have seen that on TV growing up, when I was growing up as a teenager and constantly trying to discover what I was and what I wasn't.
Do you have any previous dance experience?
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.
How are you preparing for the show?
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!
Have you had any advice from anyone who has done the show before?
Zoe Ball said it’s going to be the best thing I ever do, and I’m going to make friends for life. Everyone I have spoken to has just said it’s the best show, and that I’m going to love everyone who is part of the show, which is important to me. Jeremy Vine passed me at the water cooler at Radio 2 and wished me good luck. I’ve also spoken to Carol Kirkwood, Dan Walker, and everyone has been so positive, it’s been great.
Do you know any of your fellow 2022 contestants?
I know Ellie Simmonds, I met her at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games a couple of weeks ago and when she was announced, I DM’ed her. She's a national sweetheart and I am glad she's here as we've got the same accent, so I'm looking forward to hanging out with her.
I was once on a game show, Rolling in It, with Will Mellor, he beat me though…and was very funny.
When everyone was announced I followed everyone immediately and slid into their DM’s, so I am sure I’ll be the one setting up the WhatsApp group and still writing in it in five years to come!
Do you have your eye on the Glitterball?
Well, between you and me, I've got a lovely space in my downstairs bathroom, just above the toilet seat on the on the window ledge and it would look very nice there, so I've left it empty just in case. However, if it doesn't go to plan, I can put a nice indoor plant there. So either or really, but I would prefer the Glitterball.
Do you have a signature dance move you always do at parties?
Yes I have a few, I can shimmy, body pop and I can cartwheel too!
What made you want to take part in the show this year?
I've been asked to come on a few times, I'm retired now and I thought the time was right. I have had a few health issues over the past few years, and I was working too hard. Recently I’ve decided to put my feet up and watch my kids grow up, I’m now free of addiction and I can do anything I want. So I have decided to learn a new skill, dancing! It looks like a fun show so I am looking forward to it.
What do you think will be the biggest challenge?
I had a knee replacement three years ago, and I dislocated my toe a few years ago. So I think some of the some of the physical stuff is going to be a bit tricky. Hopefully I can I can stay the course, but I think physically if could be difficult!
How do you feel about being Strictly-fied?
I played football for over three decades and I broke my nose five times in the first year of my career, it’s a very physical game. Then in 1998, I played with a player that did his hair before we went out The game had completely changed. That player was David Beckham. I said, “you’re going to be running around!” and he said, “still got to look good mate.” So look, if that’s what it takes, I am quite happy, I don’t really care what other people think about me, so I am up for a bit of a laugh!
Do you have any previous dance experience?
I've got none at all. I’d freestyle a bit at Ilford Palais in about 1981, but apart from that, I've got no previous experience of dancing.
Have you had any advice from anyone who has done the show before?
Well my old mate David Seaman didn't do this show, he did another one. But he said don't do it, ha! I've still done it though! He phoned me up afterwards and said “congratulations, you’re going to be brilliant and you're going to have a fantastic time.”
I'm amazed at the response from my friends and family to be honest with you. They all love it, I didn't realise how popular it is!
Who do you think is your biggest competition?
Even in my playing days at Arsenal, we never watched the opponents really, we concentrated on our own game and doing our best and the rest is history. We've always been like that, I think once you start getting obsessed with other people, you lose sight of your own game. It's really simple for me to just do my best and move on.
Do you have your eye on the Glitterball?
Of course, I've never been in any competition that I’ve not wanted to win it. I played backgammon with the wife, I’ve never beaten her and so I don't play with her anymore! After she won three games in a row, I said we’re not playing that anymore!
Do you have a signature dance move you always do at parties?
Does freestyle count? I sing Wild Thing and give a little bit of a spin, I don’t think it has a name. It’s a bit better than something Ricky Gervais in the Office would do.
What made you want to take part in the show this year?
My nan, my mum, my auntie, like every single person in my family watches it religiously. It was the one thing that brought us all together. So the fact that I'm going to be on the Strictly Come Dancing dance floor is crazy and it really means a lot to me.
What do you think will be the biggest challenge?
The biggest challenge for me will be not laughing. I can’t keep a serious face. I am also a bit of a perfectionist and like to give everything my all, so I need to make sure I don’t overwork myself.
How do you feel about being Strictly-fied?
I'm so game, 100%! Get all the glitter over me and get me in all the outfits.
Are there any memorable or standout moments for you, from previous series?
I loved the dance where Louis Smith lifted Flavia above his head with one arm, that made me want to do that! Now I am here, I am just thinking let’s just do the basics and keep it simple!
Do you have any previous dance experience?
No, I dabbled in street dance at an after school club. I always got put in the back and I thought it was because I was the tallest, but I then realised it was because I actually wasn’t very good! Safe to say, I didn’t last long.
How are you preparing for the show?
In terms of prep, I don't think anything can truly prepare you for what’s about to go down on that dancefloor. So I've been trying to do my stretches, I can now touch my toes, so that’s one thing!
Have you had any advice from anyone who has done the show before?
Melvin Odoom told me everything not to do! He told me to just enjoy the experience and Rhys Stephenson said the exact same thing -just embrace all of it!
Do you know any of your fellow 2022 contestants?
So I know Fleur, obviously East meets West! She is amazing. And Molly and I have a lot of crossovers in our family weirdly.
Who do you think is your biggest competition?
Everybody is going to be a dark horse and come through, I think Kaye is going to be doing backflips and Fleur is going to be doing knee slides, Matt is going to smoulder and I'll just be lost. It's exciting because as much as it's a competition and people can get competitive, It's about the fun and enjoyment aspects of it as well and I feel like it's a really good line-up this year.
Do you have your eye on the Glitterball?
Oh, yeah 100% I would love to lift the Glitterball. I would be my mum’s favourite son for the rest of her life. Going from being a 14 year old that never used to talk to anyone or come out of his bedroom on a council estate in South London, to lifting the Glitterball, would be an amazing achievement and a dream come true. But either way, just stepping out on the dancefloor week one, I will feel like I have already won.
Do you have a signature dance move you always do at parties?
I do the Indiana Jones and I also do the ‘got the chip on the shoulder’. Aside from that it’s just vibes and energy. Some people call it interpretive dance, I just call it Tyler freestyling!
What made you want to take part in this year's show?
I’ve been asked to do things over the years and I've never wanted to do them, I was always a bit wary of doing things that might affect my career in a negative way. My mindset changed a couple of years ago after I lost my dad. Once I had gone through the grief I just realised you have to grab life and start saying ‘yes’ to things. When I got the phone call about Strictly something inside me said ‘ just say yes, do it’. Because I'd rather look back and say ‘I did that’ rather than ‘why didn't I do that?’, I want to do something that’s a challenge. It's scary and it’s out of my comfort zone, but those are the things that you remember, and that's why I decided to do it. Also it's my mum's favourite show and she's had a really tough couple of years, so it will give her something to look forward to and to smile about.
What do you think will be the biggest challenge?
The biggest challenge for me is myself! I'm doing this because I think it'll be good for me mentally, give me a structure and be good for my fitness. I do stress a lot and worry about things that haven't happened.
I've got bad knees from football and I’ve been trying to work on them to build my muscles around them so they don't pop out, so I’ll be worrying about them, or worrying that I'm going to get injured.
I don't take myself too seriously, but if I'm doing something, I'm in it to win it. I want to do my best and give it my all and represent my family.
How do you feel about being Strictly-fied?
I’m a bit worried about being Strictly-fied, I must admit! Because I am just me, I'm a working class kid, although I do enjoy dressing up a little bit and having a bit of fun.
I'm worried about spray tans because everyone keeps telling me I've got to have spray tan and I've never had one and I really don’t want one! But I've heard that once you're in the swing of it, you love it. So I'm taking every day as it comes and trying not to look too into the future.
Are there any memorable or standout moments for you from previous series?
Last year with Rose and Gio’s silent moment during their dance, I think that just transcended Strictly as more than a dance show, as we were able to just step into her world for a minute and it was magical. She was a well-deserved winner.
Do you have any previous dance experience?
I met my wife on stage at a musical called Oh What a Night about 23 years ago and that was the first time I had to learn routines and lifts. It was very out of my comfort zone but I got through it. I haven't done anything like this which is one of the reasons that I'm doing it, it's a challenge!
How are you preparing for the show?
The problem is I don't bend, I’m like a neanderthal man. I used to box and I do weights but that's not ideal for a dancer. I'm not going to go into this thinking I'm already ready, because I'm not. So I've been just ticking over in the gym, trying to keep my fitness up to a certain extent, but not ruining my life because I do like a beer.
Do you know any of your fellow 2022 contestants?
I know Kym Marsh, and she's lovely. She messaged me when it was announced that we were doing it. We'll have a bit of fun and she will go far because she's good and she's got talent!
Who do you think your biggest competition will be?
I honestly don't know. I'm not looking at anybody else because I don't know what they're going to bring. This show is more than the dancing, it’s the entertainment factor, It's the choice of the music and your journey, and all that.
I am praying I can physically get through it because I would hate to go out because of an injury. If I get voted out because I'm not good enough, then fair enough but not from being injured.
So do you have your eyes on the Glitterball?
I don't see the point in going into anything unless you want to give it your best, I honestly don't! I want to do the best I can possibly do and I want to win if I can, physically it might not be possible, but the whole point is, I put myself in 100% whatever I do.
Do you have a signature dance move that you do a parties?
I'll tell you one thing the hips don't lie! Oh ay I I've got some magic hips on me, I'm a bit of a hip dancer! I was on Celebrity Juice with Shirley Ballas and she told me I could move my hips! If in doubt, get the hips out!