Despite the shocking changes happening on Strictly Come Dancing, it is still set to return this autumn with a fresh cohort of celebrity dancers.
BBC’s flagship reality show is undergoing its biggest overhaul in two decades, with co-hosts Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly stepping down and handing over the mantle to the not-yet-revealed new presenters.
Not only that, but the professional dancers have also been uprooted, with Luba Mushtuk, Gorka Marquez, Karen Hauer, Michelle Tsiakkas and Nadiya Bychkova all leaving the ballroom floor in an unexpected and ‘brutal’ cull.
As fans wait with bated breath to see what this new era of the show will look like, speculation is already beginning over which stars will make up this year’s cast.
First up, we have This Morning star Josie Gibson, who has graced mornings on ITV for over six years and is a regular presenter.
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After reportedly almost joining the series three years ago before opting for ITV’s I’m A Celebrity (where she came fourth), it seems the BBC have finally landed the 41-year-old media personality.
‘Josie has been on the BBC’s radar for a while and they’ve not given up their pursuit.
‘They’re hoping this year is the year, and talks are progressing well.
‘Bosses are convinced her down-to-earth charm will be the boost this year’s new-look show needs. Warm and engaging, she’s just what they require right now and will be a sure-fire hit with fans,’ a source told The Sun.
If she does join up, she’ll be following in the footsteps of fellow This Morning star Alison Hammond, who appeared on the series in 2014 with pro partner Aljaž Škorjanec.
What’s more, much like Alison found fame on Big Brother, so did Josie, who won the reality show in 2010.
She is the first celebrity rumoured to be a hop, skip and a jump away from the dance floor this year, though she certainly won’t be the last.
What do we know about the new Strictly hosts?
Alongside chatter over who will be part of the celebrity cohort, there is also rife speculation about who will be stepping into Tess and Claudia’s shoes.
Stars like Alan Carr and Amanda Holden have already ruled themselves out, but others like The One Show’s Alex Jones are still frontrunners.
Currently, X Factor icon Rylan Clark is leading the charge alongside former Strictly contestant Angela Scanlon.
At the end of last month, an insider told the Daily Mail: ‘Rylan has a long-standing association with the show, and Angela has been a contestant.
‘But the main thing is they’d be a totally new pairing – no baggage, no former shows, uniquely Strictly.’
They continued: ‘On top of that, they want to be sure that an all-female presenting line-up isn’t replaced by an old-fashioned male-female duo where the man takes on a dominant role.
‘Rylan isn’t like that at all. Plus, he absolutely loves the show and the viewers already love him.’
Time will tell whether they’ll land the gig, and who exactly they’ll be chatting to on the dance floor.
Strictly Come Dancing returns to BBC One this autumn.
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