Strictly Come Dancing will be back on our screens next month, and we couldn't be more excited! Presenters Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly hinted on Sunday that the 2016 line-up would be released very soon, and the first confirmed contestant was finally announced on Monday.
Former MP Ed Balls is the first famous face to be confirmed for the brand new series.
The announcement was made on The Chris Evans Breakfast Show on BBC Radio 2, where Ed confirmed the news he would be participating in the new series himself live in the studio.
© Photo: Getty Images"I'd like to say I'm just really excited about learning to dance on TV, but the truth is I'm also scared to death. Making a speech in Parliament seems a piece of cake compared to this, but hopefully I can stick around for a couple of weeks, and have a lot of fun in the process. Strictly is a firm favourite in our living room, and it feels like a dream to be going on myself, especially for Len's last series. I'm just hoping it doesn't turn into a nightmare too quickly!" said Ed.
The 49-year-old former Politician and writer is best known as the UK Shadow Chancellor from 2011-2015 and also served in the Cabinet as Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families from 2007-2010.
Strictly Come Dancing 2016: The rumoured line-up so far
After leaving Parliament, Ed became a visiting professor of King's College London, a Senior Fellow at Harvard University, and was appointed Chairman of his hometown football club Norwich City plus earlier this year, he appeared on The Great Sport Relief Bake Off.
More celebrity contestants for the new series of Strictly Come Dancing, which begins in September, will be announced in due course.
