BBC Strictly fans ‘underwhelmed’ by line-up as football icon, Doctor Who star and Love Island legend join
Strictly Come Dancing fans have expressed their shock after three new celebrities were confirmed for this year’s line-up.
On Monday morning, Gladiators star Harry Leslie Aikines-Aryeetey, also known as “Nitro” was announced as the first star to be competing.
Later, three further famous faces were revealed on The One Show, with Love Island star Dani Dyer, former footballer Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and Alex Kingston announced, prompting mixed responses from fans.
The last three names were confirmed on BBC magazine programme, The One Show.
As they took to X, it was soon evident there was a divide down the middle with fans, with many admitting they weren’t pleased with the four stars announced so far, while others were delighted.
“Extremely underwhelmed with the lineup so far. I used to get excited about the announcements. Not any more. #strictly #TheOneShow,” one confessed.
Replying to the announcement, another asked: “Who?!” with another adding: “No idea on this one #strictly.”
“Apparently some sports star I’ve never heard of has been announced for @bbcstrictly #StrictlyComeDancing #Strictly,” a different social media user wrote.
However, others applauded the line-up, with one sharing: “Good lineup so far, hoping it continues like this.”
“#Strictly Brilliant lineup so far,” another echoed, while one more commented: “Sorry but I was not expecting Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink to be doing Strictly this year, that’s so cool!! #Strictly.”
On her Strictly sign-up, Dani Dyer, Love Island star and daughter of EastEnders legend Danny Dyer, stated: “Getting the opportunity to be on Strictly is the second most amazing thing I’ve done this year!”
The 29-year-old continued: “I feel very very blessed and cannot wait to get my dancing shoes on.”
The TV personality, broadcaster, author and mother of three has fronted documentaries such as Is This Anxiety? and has teamed up with her father Danny for podcast Live and Let Dyers and travelogue series Absolutely Dyer: Danny and Dani Do Italy.
She has made guest appearances in EastEnders and Celebrity Gogglebox. Dyer won Love Island in 2018 and has since amassed more than three million social media followers.
She is also a published author with her debut book What Would Dani Do? reaching the Sunday Times Bestsellers list. Dani married West Ham footballer Jarrod Bowen in May this year.
Doctor Who and ER star Kingston, 62, has a wide range of television work under her belt.
This includes a BAFTA-nominated performance as Moll Flanders, plus roles in Douglas Is Cancelled, Treason, Gilmore Girls, Boudica, Lost in Austen, Dodger, A Discovery of Witches, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, and Arrow.
Her extensive theatre roles range from playing Lady Macbeth, to Nurse Ratchet in One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest, Prospero for the Royal Shakespeare Company, and many many more.
A Dutch international, Hasselbaink played for clubs including Leeds United, Atlético Madrid and Chelsea, earning a reputation for his power, pace, and precision.
Since retiring, Jimmy has become a familiar face in football punditry for major UK sports networks, managed clubs like Burton Albion and Northampton Town and served as an assistant coach for the England national team.
On joining Strictly,, he said: “Swapping the pitch for the ballroom is certainly not something I’ve done before but I’m looking forward to tackling a fun challenge!
“Bring on a new type of footwork, with hopefully no own goals.”