The glitterball is getting a festive makeover as the Strictly Come Dancing Christmas special confirms its latest celebrity contestants, including a beloved EastEnders actor and a powerhouse from the Gladiators reboot.
From Albert Square to the Ballroom
Nicholas Bailey, the 54-year-old actor famed for playing Dr. Anthony Trueman on the BBC soap EastEnders, has officially signed up for the yuletide edition of the hit dance competition. This marks a significant departure for the star, who is stepping out from behind his iconic character for the first time.
Bailey first appeared in Walford in the early 2000s and made a major comeback to the soap earlier this year, where his character's chemistry with Kat Slater, played by Jessie Wallace, was a fan favourite. A source told The Sun: "Nicholas has one of TV’s most recognisable faces but has never really stepped outside the character of Doctor Trueman. This will be the first time he’s really strode out as Nicholas so this will be lots of fun for fans."
A Gladiator and a Pop Icon Take to the Floor
Joining him on the dancefloor will be rugby star Jodie Ounsley, who audiences will recognise as Fury from the recent revival of Gladiators. Expressing her excitement, Ounsley said: "I’m absolutely buzzing to be doing the Strictly Christmas special. Being the first female rugby player means a lot to me too. I honestly can’t wait to get stuck in, I’m used to smashing into people so this is definitely going to be a challenge!"
They are not the only big names confirmed for the special. The lineup also includes Melanie Blatt of the legendary nineties girl group All Saints, who confirmed her participation with a playful video on her Instagram stories, and former I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out Of Here! winner Scarlett Moffatt.
A Dream Come True for a Young Family
Moffatt, who is engaged to Scott Dobinson and is a mother to two-year-old Jude, shared her emotional reaction to the news during an appearance on It Takes Two. She revealed that being on the show is a dream come true, especially for her son.
"I just keep crying all the time, I'm just so excited. This is a dream," she said. "It's the top of my bucket list... the fact that my little boy Jude gets to watch his mam...I'm just so excited!"
Moffatt also confirmed she has been paired with professional dancer Vito Coppola, describing their partnership as being "even better than I could have imagined." She joked about the physical toll, adding, "I've also discovered muscles that I didn't know I had! Things wobble that I didn't think would wobble."
The Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special is set to bring festive cheer to viewers when it airs on BBC One and BBC iPlayer this Christmas.
