Strictly Come Dancing fans have been left “disappointed” by this year’s line-up as DIY SOS star Nick Knowles, former Footballer Paul Merson and Olympic Hockey champion Sam Quek were revealed as the remaining three celebrities.
The BBC series has already been embroiled in a “fix” row after Love Island star and professional dancer Tasha Ghouri was announced to be joining the show, as well as many claiming the talent had “dried up”.
Long-term fans have been left waiting all weekend for the final three contestants to be unveiled but were left with a sour taste in their mouths tonight when The One Show had the last three contestants as guests.
Knowles was the first to be unveiled, and after nearly rolling over on his ankle as he danced his way out, he explained his reason for joining the show and said: “Last year we did a DIY SOS: Big Build with Strictly up in the North, and then during the Euros I was like maybe I will, maybe I won’t.
“And last year I was in Argentina and danced an Argentine Tango in Buenos Aries with Sam Bailey and I thought ‘I really like this’ and this autumn, I have actually got space to do it. We are doing more DIY SOS but not until late Autumn so I have the chance to do it.”
Speaking about the dance background in his family, the DIY SOS legend added: “My eldest sister was a ballroom dancer and my middle sister has a school of about 500 pupils in ballet, and my younger sister was a professional dancer around the world.
The full Strictly Come Dancing line-up has been slammed
BBC
“My brother is an amazing musician, and writer of music, he is very talented. I am literally the least talented person in the family and they think it is hilarious, they genuinely, like support is one thing but they think it is hilarious.
“I am going to really go for it, the thing is, if I do something then I absolutely go for it, and I throw myself at it 100 per cent.”
Former footballer Merson was second to be revealed and told Alex Jones and Lauren Laverne: “I don’t really worry about it yet until it starts, I am one of them people, I can’t be worrying about something that is a month away, but I am sure when it starts I will be nervous there is no doubt about that.
“I have danced three times in my life and they were all at my weddings. I will have a go, 100 per cent, all my career I give it ago when we played football we played to win so yeah, I will give it a go, it won’t be through lack of trying.”
The line up was slammed within the first few hours
BBC
Olympic hockey player Quek was last to be revealed and excitedly said: “I am just so relieved that it is out there now. I told my husband, my mum and dad and something this big, this exciting you want to tell everyone.
“I can’t not be competitive, with hockey I knew I had the ability, what I was looking forward to and what I needed to do but with Strictly, I can dance on a dancefloor with the girls on a night out but that’s as far as my dance experience goes, but I am 100 per cent going to be committed.
“I am going to throw myself into it, the glam, the moves, and yeah hopefully try to do quite well.”
However, not all Strictly fans were left blown away by the announcement, as one X user slammed: “The @bbcstrictly lineup really was the worst kept secret this year. There was not a single surprise in the lineup that had not been revealed weeks earlier.”
The 20th-anniversary series will kick off in a few weeks
BBC
“Ahhhh Strictly should take a rest,” another simply stated before someone else said: “Why are #theoneshow trying to pretend that we don’t already know who all the #Strictly contestants are?.”
Another chimed in: “Could this possibly be the worst Strictly line up we have seen? Disappointed considering it’s the 20th anniversary…”
“Hmm, I have a couple of things to say about this year’s #StrictlyComeDancing lineup. 1. Where’s the diversity firstly? And 2. Who’s going to be doing same-sex partnerships? As far as I’m aware everyone on the lineup is straight,” a fifth noted before another penned: “The producers and casting team need to be sacked. #strictlycomedancing.
Not all fans were left unimpressed with the celebrities taking part this year, as one praised: “Legend Legend Legend that’s all buzzing,” leaving another to express: “Yes, another great addition to the show!”
The three new celebrities will be joining Ghouri, Gladiators star Montell Douglas, Olympic swimmer Tom Dean, EastEnders actor Jamie Borthwick, Miranda star Sarah Hadland, singer Shane Ward, The Only Way is Essex star Pete Wicks, TV doctor Punam Krishan, singer Toyah Wilcox, singer Wynne Evans, JLS star JB Gill and comedian Chris McCausland.
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