Beloved BBC daytime TV favourite is latest star to ‘join Strictly line-up’

Presenter Martin Roberts is reportedly headed for the Strictly dancefloor (Picture: BBC)

Homes Under The Hammer host Martin Roberts has reportedly become the latest star to join this year’s Strictly Come Dancing.

Martin, 60, has presented the popular BBC property show since 2003, and he also makes regular appearances on BBC Breakfast and The One Show.

In addition to his presenting work, the star has appeared on Celebrity Masterchef, in which he was the first eliminated, and ITV’s I’m A Celebrity… Get Me out of Here, where he was the sixth to leave in 2016.

But could he fare any better on Strictly?

Reports have emerged that producers are set on bringing Martin on as a contestant in the 2024 series of the dancing competition.

A source said: ‘Martin is just waiting to sign his contract. It’ll be a dream come true for him – and a delight for viewers.’

Martin has been part of the Homes Under the Hammer team since 2003 (Picture: BBC)

Speaking to The Daily Star, who first reported the story, Martin said: ‘I’m like a Ninja Mutant Hero Turtle – I just eat pizzas. Domino’s Mighty Meat. I’m the stomach of Domino’s, not the face of it.

‘I should worry about what I eat because I had a health scare. I need to look after myself better.

‘And certainly if I get this TV show later in the year. I’ll have to get super fit,’ he added.

The star is recovering from a recent health scare (Picture: Shutterstock)

Last month, the presenter spoke about the mental impact of a recent health scare.

In April 2022, he was diagnosed with pericardial effusion – a condition that sees excess fluid build up around the heart – leading to his being rushed to the hospital for emergency surgery.

If he hadn’t had the operation, Martin could have had only ‘hours to live.’

Is Strictly in the TV favourite’s future? (Picture: REX/Shutterstock)

While he has recovered in the year since, the ordeal has taken its toll on his mental state.

‘I can’t underestimate the mental after-effects of what happened to me. The physical stuff you get over, but it’s the overriding thought it could all have ended,’ he told the Daily Mirror.

‘Everything you tried to do, and your family, you realise it could all be gone. I was told I needed to slow down and I’ve gone the other way,’ he added.

Shini Muthukrishnan is another name rumoured to be appearing on Strictly this year (Picture: BBC)

Martin’s inclusion comes amid reports that two CBBC presenters are also battling it out for a place on the Strictly line-up.

Blue Peter presenter Shini Muthukrishnan, 22, is reportedly up against CCBC host Evie Pickerill, 32. And, according to sources, Shini is currently in the lead.

‘There can really only be one from the world of CBBC so there is now a full-on battle, a war,’ a source told The Mail on Sunday.

Shini is up against Evie Pickerill in the battle of the CCBC presenters (Picture: Shutterstock)

The tabloid’s source continued: ‘A place on ‘Strictly’ for those on children’s TV is seen as the golden goose. It’s a way of getting them out of that genre of TV and turning themselves into household names.

‘Many of their agents have approached ‘Strictly’s casting boss but have been usurped by Shini,’ they finished.

These names join a rumoured line-up that includes potential candidates YouTuber GK Barry, Traitors star Mollie Pearce, comedian Chris McCausland, Ted Lasso star Hannah Waddingham and disgraced presenter Phillip Schofield.

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