© Photo: Getty ImagesIt may only be June, but the buzz for Strictly Come Dancing 2021 is already starting.
Following the news that Janette Manrara would be leaving her position as a professional dancer and taking over Zoe Ball's presenting stint on It Takes Two, not to mention Anton du Beke's promotion to permanent judge, it appears that BBC bosses are busy getting things ready for this year's show.
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Around this time of year, the professional dancers and choreographers gear themselves up to head back into the studio for a summer of training and prep in time for a September start. It's also around the summertime that whispers of the line-up start circulating – and we are so excited to hear who may be heading to the ballroom for the nineteenth series.
So who is joining? From a Hollywood real estate star to a former footballer, we've rounded up the rumoured celebrities...
Christine Quinn
The queen of reality TV drama herself, Christine Quinn, is one of the hottest names reported to be signed up for Strictly. The star of Netflix's show Selling Sunset set the rumour mill into overdrive recently when she revealed she is heading to the UK in September for a "big surprise" – coincidence much?
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"I'm so excited to announce I will be coming to the UK in September for a big surprise!" she tweeted last week. "I can't wait to share more soon, but I look forward to finally meeting you guys!"
WATCH: Janette Manrara announces she's joining It Takes Two
© Photo: Getty ImagesUgo Monye
England rugby star Ugo Monye has also been reportedly signed up to take part in this year's competition.
Reports began circulating on Tuesday, with outlets suggesting the sportsman was the "first official" celeb to be signed up for the show – how exciting!
Keep clicking for more photos...!
Elizabeth Hurley
Bookies are naming actress and model Elizabeth Hurley as another celeb set to take part this year.
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The Austin Powers star makes no secret of being a fan of the show, and has been seen in the audience a few of times watching the contestants do their thing on the ballroom floor.
© Photo: Getty ImagesVicky McClure
We'd LOVE to see Line of Duty's very own DI Kate Fleming take part in the show. Although Vicky McClure is yet to confirm or deny whether she's gearing up to learn everything from the Tango to the Rhumba, Vicky is on the list of celebrities tipped to take part, according to Betway.
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The star has been given odds 11/10, while her LOD co-star, Martin Compston, who plays Kate Fleming's partner-in-crime, Steve Arnott, is given odds of 9/2 on joining. Anyone else think an AC-12-Strictly mash-up would make great TV?!
© Photo: Getty ImagesGary Lineker
Okay, so Gary Lineker is on the rumoured list EVERY year but we'll keep dreaming until it happens!
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The football pundit is, once again, on the bookies list of celebrities joining this year - but he ruled out a stint on Strictly in 2018 during Sport Relief when he quipped: "Erm, I've got a Saturday job." There's always time for sequins, Gary!
© Photo: Getty ImagesBen Shephard
The Good Morning Britain presenter set the Strictly rumours in motion when he revealed that he has a background in dance – so could Ben Shephard be following in his colleagues footsteps?
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The star has even said while presenting on ITV that he'd "love" to do the show just like fellow GMB stars Susanna Reid and Ranvir Singh. Are you listening BBC bosses?
© Photo: Getty ImagesTamzin Outhwaite
Tamzin recently wowed TV audiences when she appeared on the brand new show, The Masked Dancer – so she clearly has what it takes to go on Strictly!
The actress revealed she's been asked to take part before but admitted she wasn't sure. "I don't know. I think the attraction for [The Masked Dancer] was being covered up.
"Of course you only exposed yourself for one of the shows out of the seven or whatever it is. So I don't know. At the moment I'm not sure about it, but I had a ball doing it!"
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© Photo: Getty ImagesHolly Willoughby
Holly Willoughby is a regular face on screens in the morning, but could she be tempted to head for Saturday night's at Elstree? Giovanni Pernice certainly hopes so.
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The professional dancer told The Sun he would "love" to dance with the This Morning star. Holly has also made no secret of the fact that she is a massive fan of the show – we're keeping our fingers crossed.
James McAvoy
James McAvoy has discussed the prospect of taking part in the BBC ballroom before, so the idea of the A-list actor joining Strictly is not beyond the realms of the possibility.
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However, there's one thing stopping him. The Shameless star admitted to the Times that he "can't" do the show. "I've been asked to do Strictly too, but I can't. I can't reconcile myself with the costumes."
© Photo: Getty ImagesTommy Jessop
Fresh off the back of series six, this Line of Duty star Tommy Jessop has dropped a major clue that he could be set to join the 2021 line-up.
The actor, who played Terry Boyle in the police corruption show, wrote on Twitter this week: "I'll just say, dancing today! (Just on Zoom in my room) Yay! In the words of #BruceForysth #KeepDancing!" If that's not a hint, we don't know what is!
© Photo: InstagramJosephine Jobert
She might be busy filming on the gorgeous island of Guadeloupe for Death in Paradise series 11, but Josephine Jobert has her sights set on Elstree. The actress and her co-star Tahj Miles recently shared on a Q& on Instagram that they'd love to take part.
After Tahj said, "Yes, why not!" Josephine added: "Yeah me too, we should do it together, we'd win it together!"
© Photo: Getty ImagesLouise Minchin
Strictly has welcomed plenty of BBC newsreaders and breakfast presenters in the past such as Susanna Reid, Naga Munchetty and, of course, former champion Chris Hollins – so Louise Minchin being among the rumoured names is perhaps unsurprising.
Not to mention that the broadcaster recently announced her departure from Breakfast after 20 years – could she be clearing her schedule to take to the dancefloor?
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© Photo: Getty ImagesRalf Little
Could Ralf Little be ready to rumba very soon? The actor admitted he'd be up for it if the opportunity arose. Speaking to HELLO! for an exclusive interview in March, the Death in Paradise star revealed he'd like to take part to "learn a new skill".
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"I think that it's very easy to be dismissive of things," he explained. "I think, people who participate in Strictly and do well in Strictly, they're learning a real skill, an art form, and there's something really rewarding about that. I've been asked to do all of the [reality shows] every year. Would I consider doing it? Never say never!"
© Photo: Getty ImagesNicola Adams
Strictly fans will know that Olympic boxer Nicola Adams took part in the show last year but had to drop out with professional partner, Katya Jones, due to a positive coronavirus test. However, the gold medallist admitted on Lorraine recently that she'd "love" to take part once again.
On a possible return, she told Lorraine Kelly: "I'm not sure. I mean, I'd love to, just because of the way that I went out." However, the BBC explained last year that Nicola would now have an advantage thanks to her weeks of training in 2020, so perhaps this one isn't on the cards after all...
© Photo: Getty ImagesEddie the Eagle
Ski jumper Eddie the Eagle has expressed his desire at joining the ballroom competition if it were "the right time". The sportsman, who was the subject of the film Eddie the Eagle starring Taron Egerton, told Radio Times he'd even been asked before.
"They asked me a few years ago. The film had just been out a year or two and I'd been very, very busy for the last five years off the back of the film," he said, adding: "Two months before they're due to start filming, my diary is completely full and I can't cancel everything to be able to do the show. So as much as I would love to do Strictly, they've just got to time it right and make sure that my diary is free."
© Photo: Getty ImagesRio Ferdinand
You might be surprised to learn that ex-footballer and sports pundit Rio Ferdinand went to ballet school as a child – does this mean Strictly is on the horizon? The sportsman is apparently asked to do the show "almost annually" according to fellow sports commentator, Gabby Logan.
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Speaking to Tess Daly on her podcast, Mid-Point, Gabby revealed that she even tried to convince the former Manchester United star to join. "You need to get your producers onto him. I almost had him," she told Tess. "He said, 'Did you really enjoy it?' I said, 'How often do they ask you?' He said, 'Every year'. He'd be incredible, and he's a dancer!"
© Photo: InstagramTom Malone Jr
Another celebrity that has a few moves up his sleeve is Tom Malone Jr – who is perhaps best known for his time on Channel 4's Gogglebox along with his brother and parents. Away from the reality show, Tom works as a dance teacher and choreographer and often shows off his routines on social media.
The dancer has even previously performed on Strictly as part of an opening routine a few years back and revealed he would "love" to join as a contestant. "If the opportunity came up to go on Strictly as a contestant, I've never done Ballroom in my life, so it'd be interesting to see how as someone who breaks, I'm used to dancing upside down, how those two worlds could come together."
© Photo: Getty ImagesAngellica Bell
Angellica is a recognisable face on our TV screens so it's perhaps unsurprising she's been rumoured to take part in Strictly a number of times – but the presenter is yet to sign up.
She ruled out joining the show in 2020, but did admit that she'd love to dance with pro Johannes Radebe so she could learn to dance in heels – could 2021 be her year?
© Photo: Getty ImagesMaya Jama
Maya Jama is one of the most popular TV stars right now. The Celebrity Juice host may not have confirmed whether she will take to the ballroom, but she has admitted in the past she wouldn't turn down the opportunity to learn the Cha Cha Cha. "I don't know, I always say I don't know. I'd never say never to all of these things," she told Radio Times.
© Photo: Getty ImagesDan Walker
Like his Breakfast co-star Louise Minchin, Dan Walker has also cleared his diary recently after announcing he was leaving BBC Sport's Football Focus after 14 years.
According to the Sun, bosses are keen to sign Dan up for the show now he's no longer part of the sport team. Could he be putting on those dancing shoes? We think he'd be great!
© Photo: Getty ImagesTina Barrett
Former S Club 7 star Tina Barrett was known as the trained dancer in the group, so we think she'd be one to watch if she joined Strictly.
It seems the singer has expressed her desire to take part in the BBC competition before, telling the BBC: "I love Strictly and I'd like to do it. I haven't been asked to, so if anyone at Strictly is reading, please let me go on. It would be amazing. I am a bit of a Glitterball girl."
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