Category: Strictly News

The BBC have today announced the full professional lineup who will be featuring during the 2018 series. As well as 15 returning pros they will be joined by 3 new pros taking the lineup to a whopping 18. It is not clear at this time if every pro will receive a celebrity or if some will take part in pro routines only.

Returning pros are AJ Pritchard, Aljaž Škorjanec, Amy Dowden, Anton Du Beke, Dianne Buswell, Giovanni Pernice, Gorka Marquez, Janette Manrara, Karen Clifton, Katya Jones, Kevin Clifton, Nadiya Bychkova, Neil Jones, Oti Mabuse and Pasha Kovalev.

They will be joined new pros Johannes Radebe, Luba Mushtuk and Graziano Di Prima

(Picture: BBC)

Johannes Radebe, 31, from South Africa is two-time Professional South African Latin Champion and three time South African Amateur Latin Champion. He is a dancer with the Afro Arimba Dance Company and has also been a professional dancer on Strictly Come Dancing South Africa for two seasons, both times reaching the final. Speaking to the BBC he had this to say: “Joining Strictly Come Dancing is one of the greatest achievements of my dancing career. It is such an honour to be chosen to be a part of an incredible cast and be part of one of the biggest shows that is celebrated worldwide. I cannot wait to get started and experience the magic with the UK!”

Russian-born Luba Mushtuk is four-time winner of the Italian Dance Championship and Italian Open Latin Show Dance champion. She was ranked 2nd in the European 10 Dance Championships and was a finalist in the Latin European Championship. 28 year old Luba has worked extensively with Broadway and West End show Burn The Floor, was part of the Strictly Come Dancing Live tour and has performed on both Giovanni Pernice’s and Kevin and Karen Clifton’s tours. Luba joined Strictly Come Dancing in 2016 as an assistant choreographer contributing to a number of group routines. She told the BBC: “Words cannot express how thrilled I am to do what I love most on the greatest show on earth! I am super excited and so thankful for this priceless opportunity. I can’t wait to get started as a professional dancer on Strictly… bring on the sparkle!”

Sicilian-born Graziano Di Prima, an Italian Latin Champion, has represented Belgium at the World Championships and made the top 24 at the Latin World Championships (under 21). For the past three years 24 year old Graziano has toured the world with the dance company Burn The Floor. When speaking to the BBC he had this to say: “This is my dream come true! I still can’t believe I will be one of the professional dancers on Strictly Come Dancing. I can’t wait to give all of myself on the dance floor!”

Former pros Brendan Cole and Chloe Hewitt will not be participating in this series.

What do you think of the new pros? You can let me know in the comments or over on Facebook/Twitter as always using the links above

Yes of course this was an April Fool’s Joke. The Queen isn’t actually doing Strictly. That would be ridiculous! It’s actually Charles and Camilla……….

The Strictly Spoiler has been keeping its ear to the ground during the off season and that has paid dividends as I have learnt the details of the first celebrity to be signed up for the 2018 series. So who has the BBC managed to sign up I hear you ask? Well I can exclusively reveal to you that the first person to be donning their glittery costumes in a bid to win the glitterball is none other than………

Queen Elizabeth II

Speaking exclusively to The Strictly Spoiler, ma’am had this to say: “One has been a fan of Strictly Come Dancing for many years and one frequently watches the show with Prince Philip and the corgis. One has been practicing One’s Ballroom in preparation for the show however One has a lot of work to do on One’s Latin. One is very much looking forward to One’s Cha Cha Cha”

Anton Du Beke who is heavily rumoured to be partnering with Her Majesty this series had this to say: “I am absolutely delighted to be partnering with Her Majesty The Queen this series. Not only do I expect this to be a wonderful partnership but we are also guaranteed positive comments and lots of 10s from the judges and viewer votes as anyone doing anything contrary to this will be technically committing treason and can be legally executed as an enemy of the state. This may be my best chance of finally winning the bloody thing!”

Judge Craig Revel Horwood is expected to take up permanent residence in the Tower Of London shortly after week one of the new series and is unlikely to be seen for the remainder of the series. He will be replaced by Donny Osmond from week 2 onwards.

What do you think of the first addition to the class of 2018? You can let me know in the comments or over on Facebook/Twitter as usual.

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