Strictly Come Dancing 2023: Entertainer Les Dennis completes line-up

Actor and entertainer Les Dennis is the 15th and final celebrity contestant to be announced for this year's Strictly Come Dancing.

He said he was "thrilled" to join the show, as his 70th birthday approaches.

He will join Annabel Croft, Nigel Harman, Bobby Brazier, Jody Cundy, Zara McDermott, Ellie Leach, Nikita Kanda, Adam Thomas and Eddie Kadi on the show.

Angela Rippon, Layton Williams, Angela Scanlon, Amanda Abbington and Krishnan Guru-Murthy will also appear.

Dennis, whose career spans more than 50 years, was host of ITV's Family Fortunes for 16 years.

He has also had roles in ITV's Coronation Street, Extras and Death in Paradise; and has appeared on stage with the Royal Shakespeare Company, the English National Opera, and in such plays and musicals as Hairspray, Legally Blonde The Musical and 42nd Street.

"In my career I've always gone for challenges outside my comfort zone and this is the ultimate one!" he said. "Can't wait."

This year's series will arrive on screens in the autumn and will be judged by Shirley Ballas, Anton Du Beke, Craig Revel Horwood and Motsi Mabuse.

Here are the other contestants who have been announced for this year's Strictly Come Dancing so far:

Former tennis player and broadcaster Annabel Croft said she was looking forward to "swapping tennis balls for glitter balls" and was "looking forward to finding some joyfulness in the process".

Croft became the youngest British player to compete at Wimbledon for 95 years when she was just 15 years old.

She continues to play a role in the coverage of the tournament and other tennis events, as a presenter, commentator and pundit for the BBC, Sky, Amazon Prime, ITV and Discovery.

Croft has also presented entertainment shows such as Treasure Hunt and Inceptor.

Ex-EastEnders star Nigel Harman, known for playing Dennis Rickman on the soap, said he was "amazed, excited, and terrified" to be joining the line-up.

"As an armchair fan of the show, I have watched in awe as people have twirled and gyrated across the screen," he said. "And now it's my turn... gulp!"

Screen and stage actor and director Harman won awards, including most popular newcomer at the National Television Awards, for his role as the roguish Rickman. He has also appeared on TV in Downton Abbey and in the film Blood Diamond, as well as on London's West End in Guys and Dolls and Shrek the Musical - for which he won an Olivier award.

Harman recently joined the cast of the BBC hospital drama Casualty, as clinical lead Max Cristie.

Current EastEnders actor and model Bobby Brazier, son of the late Big Brother star Jade Goody, plays Freddie Slater in the BBC soap.

He said he was "excited" to join the Strictly line-up. "I can't wait to start training like a professional dancer and adding a few moves to my locker," he added.

Away from Walford, Brazier has modelled for the major fashion house Dolce & Gabbana at Milan Fashion Week.

Jody Cundy has represented Great Britain at seven Paralympics, winning eight gold medals in swimming and cycling events.

"[Strictly is] so far away from what I'm used to, but I'm looking forward to the challenge and pushing myself way out of my comfort zone, especially as I'm always last onto the dance floor," he said. "Can't wait to get stuck in, bring on the glitter and sequins!"

Cundy has also competed in multiple World Championships, winning 23 world titles, the most recent of which added at the recent World Cycling Championships in Glasgow.

In 2021, he became the first man in Paralympics GB history to win medals at seven different games, and was last year made a CBE for services to cycling.

Ellie Leach is best known for her 12 years playing Faye Windass on ITV soap Coronation Street.

She has been nominated for multiple British Soap Awards and Inside Soap Awards for her role in hard-hitting storylines, which have included being pregnant at 13 and later reconnecting with the child she gave up.

"It still doesn't feel real that I'm going to be doing Strictly!" she said.

"It's always been a dream of mine so I guess dreams really do come true!" added the actress, who left the soap earlier this year.

Nikita Kanda hosts the BBC Asian Network radio station's breakfast show, and also reports regularly on TV on the BBC's The One Show.

"I don't think it will properly sink in until I step on to the dancefloor," she said. "I can't wait to get glammed up and get out there. Throw the glitter on me!"

In her day job, the presenter - recently nominated for presenter of the year at the Asian Media Awards - has interviewed stars including Killing Eve's Sandra Oh, Bridgerton's Simone Ashley and Charithra Chandran and Marvel actress Awkwafina.

Her TV work has seen her look into the rise of cashless businesses and government support for female sport.

Thomas is best known for playing Adam Barton in ITV soap Emmerdale, winning the TV Choice award for best soap newcomer in 2010.

"I can't dance to save my life but I'm buzzing to learn and have a good laugh with my pro. Get me on that dance floor... I can't wait!" he said.

After appearing the 2016 edition of ITV's I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here, Thomas went on to co-host the spin-off-I'm a Celebrity: Extra Camp, and recently reprised his role as Donte Charles in BBC One drama Waterloo Road.

In 2020, the soap star teamed up with his brothers and fellow Mancs on the Mic podcasters Ryan and Scott, for six-part ITV travel series Absolutely India: Mancs in Mumbai, where they traced their family heritage alongside their father.

Rip-Off Britain presenter Rippon, 78, will be the series' oldest contestant, after Johnny Ball took part in 2012 aged 74.

Rippon said: "Why didn't they ask me 10 years ago? Having been a fan of Strictly since day one, and as a former presenter of Come Dancing, this will be quite an adventure for me."

She was the first female journalist to permanently present the BBC national television news, and was also one of the presenters of the BBC's original Come Dancing series.

She hosted the Eurovision Song Contest in 1977, presented ITV breakfast show TV-am and famously appeared in a dancing sketch with comedy duo Morecambe and Wise.

Guru-Murthy is the lead anchor for Channel 4 News. He joined the programme in 1998 and is its second-longest-serving presenter after Jon Snow.

"I'm surprised, delighted and slightly confused to find myself taking part in Strictly on the basis of 'you only live once!" he said.

The broadcaster has also fronted Channel 4's Paralympics coverage and was one of the original presenters of the BBC News channel, then called BBC News 24, in 1997.

Last year, Guru-Murthy was briefly suspended after he was heard using an expletive to describe a Conservative minister, something for which he apologised "unreservedly".

Abbington is known for starring in TV series including Sherlock and Mr Selfridge, as well as stage plays such as The Son.

The actress said: "I'm thrilled to have been asked to do Strictly. I'm actually really shy and self-conscious so this will be a great opportunity for me to overcome those things! Plus I get to learn to dance, which I am incredibly excited about."

However, some fans have claimed they will boycott the show after Abbington stirred controversy earlier this year with comments about drag performances, questioning whether young children should watch or partake in sexually-charged drag shows.

In a recent Instagram video, Abbington explained she "loved drag" and was not transphobic, adding: "Personally speaking, I don't think 12-year-olds should be performing in drag shows in overtly sexual ways because they're 12 and they need a childhood."

Williams has performed in London's West End in Billy Elliot, Thriller Live and Everyone's Talking About Jamie. He has also appeared in TV series Bad Education and I Hate Suzie.

The actor said: "So excited to learn new skills from the best. Bring on the sequins… ALL the sequins!"

Williams most recently provided the voiceover for the BBC Three gay dating show I Kissed A Boy.

The actor said he would be happy as long as he is paired with a male professional dancer so he can be lifted up during the performances.

Irish TV star Angela Scanlon hosts the BBC Two series Your Home Made Perfect as well as a Saturday night chat show on RTÉ.

"I'm terrified, I'm excited and I have so many questions. Will they make me tan? How itchy are sequins?! Do they do flesh coloured sports bras? Well - there's only one way to find out, right?!" she said.

Scanlon has appeared on TV shows including The One Show and Robot Wars, and presented a Sunday morning programme on BBC Radio 2.

She previously worked as a print journalist, writing for magazines including Grazia, Tatler and the Sunday Times Style supplement.

Kadi is a stand-up comic who became the first black British comedian to headline London's 02 Arena.

He announced his participation on BBC Radio 1Xtra's Official UK Afrobeats Chart Show on Sunday, which he presents.

"I'm so unbelievably proud and honoured that Strictly and the BBC have asked me to join the 2023 team," Kadi said.

"I promise you, I'm going to give it everything I've got. This is going to be a vibe."

Zara McDermott worked as a government policy advisor before joining ITV reality show Love Island in 2018, and since leaving the villa has presented a series of documentaries.

"I grew up watching Strictly every year with my nan and she was the biggest fan," she said. "We would dance around the house and I have such fond memories of that time in my life.

"I even remember the first ever series, and being mesmerised by all the beautiful dresses! I can't wait to throw myself into this experience and start training. It's going to be incredible."

Since leaving Love Island, McDermott has presented BBC documentaries including Revenge Porn, Uncovering Rape Culture, Disordered Eating, and Gaia: A Death on Dancing Ledge.

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