The BBC announced that actress Melanie Walters has been confirmed as the 15th and final celebrity contestant for the upcoming season of Strictly Come Dancing. Walters is known for her role as Gwen West in the comedy series Gavin & Stacey, a character she has portrayed since 2007. Her career spans multiple television programs including Coronation Street, Doc Martin, and Hollyoaks, along with stage performances in productions such as Blood Brothers and Twelfth Night.
Walters expressed enthusiasm about joining the competition, stating that she is replacing her pantomime work with the opportunity to learn ballroom dancing. The announcement completes the full roster of contestants for the competition, which is expected to begin in September. Other confirmed participants include professional soccer content creator John Nellis, skeleton racer Tabby Stoecker (who won gold at the Winter Olympic Games), Emmerdale actor Lawrence Robb, dog trainer Graeme Hall, and former Manchester City winger Shaun Wright-Phillips.
Additional celebrities in the line-up include actress Antonia, known for her role in the Game of Thrones prequel series House of the Dragon, and Jaime Winstone, who earned recognition for portraying Barbara Windsor in a BBC biopic. Also competing are Dame Sarah Storey, a Paralympian with 19 gold medals, Big Brother host AJ Best, Love Island winner Kai Mercer, Australian singer Delta Goodrem, celebrity hairstylist Chris Appleton, EastEnders actress Lacey Turner, and media personality Dani Dyer.
The show will feature new presenters this year, with Josh Widdicombe, Emma Willis, and Johannes Radebe taking over hosting duties. The judging panel remains unchanged with Shirley Ballas, Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, and Anton Du Beke returning. Several professional dancers will not participate in the upcoming season, including Gorka Marquez, Nadiya Bychkova, Luba Mushtuk, Karen Hauer, and Michelle Tsiakkas, while others including Amy Dowden, Dianne Buswell, and Katya Jones are confirmed to return.
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