Strictly Come Dancing 2021 line-up: rumoured contestants

It’s never too early for a guessing game…

By Joe Julians

Published: Sunday, 25 July 2021 at 12:00 am

Strictly Come Dancing 2021 may not arrive until the autumn, but that hasn’t stopped an array of exciting celebrity contestants are being rumoured for this year’s line-up.

As well as some Death in Paradise cast members and Gordon Ramsay’s daughter, cooking star Tilly Ramsay, Selling Sunset‘s Christine Quinn has sparked rumours she’ll be appearing on the dance floor later this year,  after the real estate agent turned reality star revealed on social media that she was travelling to the UK for a “big surprise”.

It’s also been claimed Nicola Adams could make a return to the show this year after she was forced to pull out when her dance partner Katya Jones returned a positive coronavirus test.

There’s no doubt the BBC will be flicking through their contact books as they try to find their dream line-up, following Bill Bailey’s victory in 2020, and with Adams already on their radar, we certainly wouldn’t rule it out.

Here’s all the potential celebs who we could see in the Strictly Come Dancing 2021 line-up, some of whom told us themselves they’d love to join the show and have even been approached.

It won’t be long now!

Tilly Ramsay

Gordon Ramsay’s daughter, cooking star Tilly Ramsay has reportedly signed on the show. The 19-year-old was rumoured to have been signed up for the 2020 series, but could no longer take part after breaking her arm. A source told The Sun that Strictly bosses are keen to get Tilly for the series in a bid to attract a younger audience.

The presenter, chef and social media influencer is best known for hosting CBBC’s cooking show Matilda and the Ramsay Bunch, and previously made an appearance on MasterChef Junior.

Josephine Jobert

"Florence
Death in Paradise actress Josephine Jobert wants to sign up for Strictly Come Dancing
BBC

Death in Paradise star Josephine Jobert has her eye on the Glitterball. During a Q&A section on Instagram with her co-star Tahj Miles, the actress admitted she’d like to take part in the BBC One Dancing show.

“Would you like to do it?” she asked Tahj, after a fan questioned them about Strictly. To which the DIP newbie responded: “Yeah, why not?”

“Yeah me too. We should do it together and win it together!” Jobert then said, as Miles added: “You would probably win it!”

Could Jobert be our next Strictly Come Dancing champion?

Tahj Miles

"Tahj
Death in Paradise star Tahj Miles wants to sign up for Strictly Come Dancing
BBC

Although he doesn’t rate his dancing highly, Death in Paradise’s Tahj Miles would like to appear on the BBC One dancing show.

The actor – who plays newcomer Marlon Pryce – revealed this during a Q&A with his co-star Josephine Jobert, saying: “I can’t really dance. I mean I can. I can follow instructions but it really wouldn’t look the best.”

It’s a good thing there’s lots of Strictly Come Dancing professionals who’ll be able to show Miles the ropes!

Christine Quinn

"Christine
Netflix

The Selling Sunset star has been linked with Strictly after she posted on social media that she was heading to the UK for a “big surprise”.

“I’m so excited to announce I will be coming to the UK in September for a big surprise!” she tweeted. “I can’t wait to share more soon, but I look forward to finally meeting you guys!”

Naturally, as soon as she tweeted, many fans assumed that she must be talking about the BBC dance show – and the rumours were only fuelled further when she liked one of the replies suggesting that a ballroom appearance could be a possibility. Now, while that isn’t confirmation by any means, it certainly seems that there could be a chance…

Nicola Adams

"Nicola
Ray Burmiston

Adams is no stranger to Strictly, of course – she made it to week three of last year’s series as part of the show’s first-ever same-sex couple with Katya Jones. However the Olympic Gold Medal winning boxer was forced to pull out after Jones tested positive for coronavirus, and there have been some murmurings that she could be in line for a return.

Speaking to Lorraine Kelly on 9th June 2021, Adams said of her exit: “I’m a fighter and I’d like to go out on my shield. I’d rather go out on a dance-off than by COVID.” And she said that she would “love to” return, although she admitted that she didn’t know if that would be allowed. And indeed the BBC revealed last year that she would have “an unfair advantage in the future” due to her weeks of training, so we probably shouldn’t hold our breath on this one.

Louise Minchin

"Louise
Louise Minchin
BBC

It looks like presenter Louise Minchin could be amongst the Strictly Come Dancing 2021 line-up following her exit from BBC Breakfast. Minchin has been a regular face on the BBC Breakfast sofa for the past 20 years, but after she decided to step down from the show, many are interested in what she might be doing next. She’s expected to complete her presenting duties by the end of summer, which would be just in time for Strictly’s start, which is around September.

Dan Walker also asked his co-worker about the rumours, to which she responded: “You know the answer to that, I’m on a lifetime ban!?”

Tamzin Outhwaite

"Tamzin
Tamzin Outhwaite
BBC

Another Masked Dancer who isn’t against putting on a sequin number for Strictly is actress Tamzin Outhwaite.

When we asked the actress about the BBC One dance show, following her unmasking – in which she was revealed to be the TMD’s Scarecrow – she said: “I don’t know. I think the attraction for me 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!”

That’s not a definite no, so could we be seeing Tamzin on the dance floor for a second time this year? Only time will tell!

Eddie the Eagle 

"Eddie
Eddie the Eagle
Getty Images

Ski Jumper Eddie the Eagle has his eye on the Glitterball now he’s completed The Masked Dancer.

In an interview with RadioTimes.com, Eddie the Eagle revealed he’d like to do Strictly Come Dancing next, although it’d “have to be the right time”.

Eagle, who appeared on the ITV show as Rubber Chicken, said: ““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, travelling all over the world, doing talks, speaking at conferences and that kind of thing.

“Sometimes the TV stations come to me too late or they come too close to when filming starts, by which time my diary is already full. If they booked me in a year in advance, then it’s fine because my diary is usually empty but 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.”

Holly Willoughby

"Holly
Holly Willoughby
Getty

This Morning presenter Holly Willoughby is a huge fan of Strictly, which makes her the perfect candidate to try her luck out on the ballroom – and it seems she could already have her partner lined up. Pro Giovanni Pernice recently said (via The Sun) how he would “love to dance with Holly” on Strictly, adding: “We would have so much fun and she would do amazing.”

Rio Ferdinand

"Rio
Getty

Presenter and former United player Rio Ferdinand has reportedly been approached to take part in this year’s Strictly Come Dancing.

Gabby Logan – a fellow sports commentator and previous Strictly contestant – said on her podcast Mid-Point that Ferdinand (who attended ballet school as a child) is approached by BBC execs almost annually.

“I was trying to persuade Rio Ferdinand. You need to get your producers onto him. I almost had him,” Logan told guest Tess Daly. “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!”

Could 2021 be the year that Ferdinand swaps football boots for dancing shoes?

Tina Barrett

"Tina
Tina Barrett
Getty Images

S Club 7 star Tina Barrett would love to be considered for Strictly, so much so, she’s openly asked to take part in the new series.

Speaking to The Sun, she said: “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.”

Strictly bosses, take note!

Lucy Fallon

"lucy

Could Lucy follow in the footsteps of many a fellow Coronation Street star? She was heavily rumoured to be taking part in the show in 2019 and while that did not come to pass, we certainly would not rule her out of turning up on the show in 2021.

Lucien Laviscount

"Lucien

We think that actor Lucien could be tempted to take the Strictly ballroom in 2021 so we would not be surprised if he were announced. He has had numerous roles over the years and has appeared in the likes of Waterloo Road, Grange Hill and Supernatural. His latest role was in the now-concluded Katy Keane.

Ben Shephard

"ben

This is an interesting one. Ben has a background in dancing and has said previously that he would love to be involved in the show, having likely learned lots about it from his Good Morning Britain colleagues Susanna Reid and Ranvir Singh.

Angellica Bell

"angelica

TV presenter, Angellica, is a well-known face on UK television and she has spoken about appearing on Strictly before – while indicating that she is a relatively good dancer. She did not end up taking part in 2020, but maybe 2021 will be her year to take to the ballroom?

Dan Osborne

"dan

Dan has appeared in reality TV before, on Celebrity Big Brother, and he is best known for his role on The Only Way is Essex. He is married to I’m a Celebrity winner, Jaqueline Jossa, so he could want to replicate her success on that by getting his hands on the Glitterball trophy.

Matt Willis

"matt

The Busted and McBusted star has spoken before about appearing on the show and all signs point to him being up for it. But could he get a pass to compete in 2021?

Baga Chipz

"baga
BBC

We never tire of hearing the name Baga Chipz and the drag queen who was first seen in the debut series of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK dropped some major hints that she would compete in the 2020 series. Obviously, that did not happen but could she have her eyes on a spot on the 2021 line-up? We hope so.

Jake Quickenden

"jake

Jake has said previously that he would love to take part in Strictly but has avoided it due to taking part in many other reality shows over the years – name a major one and he’s done it. It was two years ago, however, that he said that so could enough time have passed now for him to be part of the 2021 line-up?

Joe Tracini

"joe

The son of comedy legend, Joe Pasquale, is an actor who has appeared on the likes of Hollyoaks as well as being a presenter. He has also been vocal on the subject of mental health during lockdown and has spoken a lot to try and help people. He is definitely a strong candidate to give dancing on the BBC a go.

Maya Jama

"maya

Maya is a star and she always lights up the screen when she is on it so we would love to see what she could do in the ballroom. The presenter has a ton of work behind her and she has not ruled out appearing on the show one day.

During an interview with RadioTimes.com, the presenter admitted she wouldn’t turn down the opportunity to appear on the BBC One dance show.

“I don’t know, I always say I don’t know. I’d never say never to all of these things,” she explained.

She also commented on the show’s diversity this year, after Nicola Adams became part of the first same-sex pairing.

“I do think it’s good. I think about time, like I said before, the screen should reflect what goes on in real life and real life is diverse and there are people who look different and come from different places and have different stories,” she said.

“For a long time TV didn’t reflect that and I think, I’m happy to see they’re starting to do a bit more now.”

Could 2021 be the year Maya takes on Strictly? Fingers crossed!

Strictly Come Dancing will return to BBC later this year. If you’re looking for more to watch, check out our TV Guide or visit our Entertainment hub for all the latest news.