Who Will Take Part In Strictly Come Dancing 2024? Princess Anne And Louis Theroux In Contention
It may seem a long way off with the summer sun yet to rock up, but the next four to five months will likely fly by and it will soon be Strictly Come Dancing time again.
While we now spend the rest of the day attempting to get the theme tune out of our heads, it's worth having a think about which celebrities might take part.
There's plenty of speculation on UK betting sites, and one Royal Family member has only just stopped short of issuing a come-and-get-me plea to BBC bosses.
Princess Anne is apparently up for swapping her regal finery for some sequins and, one can only assume, a bit of fake tan.
This is according to Strictly pro dancer Nadiya Bychkova, who claimed she spoke to the Princess Royal and revealed she "wants to go on the show".
Nadiya told The Sun newspaper: "I met her at a ballet event. She is a 'Strictly' fan and she wants to go on the show - she told me. She did say that."
Anne is 6/1 to take part and should Strictly sign an actual princess up to the show it would be some statement of intent. But who else could take part?
Will's Strictly Comeback?
Singer Will Young recently admitted he was "in the middle of a protracted breakdown" and experiencing PTSD when he took part in Strictly in 2016, which resulted in him withdrawing from the programme for "personal reasons".
However, Will has dropped a huge hint he would be up for returning to the show for another crack at the dancefloor, and told the How To Fail with Elizabeth Day podcast he would love to dance with a male partner if he took part this year.
The Jealousy hitmaker is the Evens favourite on new betting sites to be part of this year's celebrity line-up, while new This Morning host Cat Deeley is 6/4 second favourite.
Strictly judge Anton Du Beke recently said on the brunchtime show he would love it if Cat took part.
Other stars who have been linked with the programme include Ted Lasso's Hannah Waddingham (5/2), and former England footballer Jill Scott (3/1) would no doubt have some fancy footwork to show off.
Louis Theroux In The Conversation
Another star whose name may be considered by Strictly bosses is Louis Theroux.
The documentary-maker is used to being the one starting off the conversations, but he is just 2/1 on specials betting sites to be in this year's Strictly line-up - and he has previously joked about taking part.
In 2021, Louis admitted he loves throwing some shapes in his kitchen, and suggested he would like to be asked to appear on the Latin and ballroom show one day.
Speaking on The Jonathan Ross Show, he said: "I like to think I’m a good dancer.
"I know I’ve had too many drinks when I’m in the kitchen dancing while listening to something on the smart speaker - often hip-hop - and I start doing the funky robot and then I start doing MC Hammer spins. And that’s where it happens and I start thinking I should really go on Strictly."
Last year, Wham! star Andrew Ridgeley also threw his Strictly hat in the ring, so could he appear on this year's series?
During an appearance on BBC Radio 2, he said: "I’d never say no [to Strictly]. I would love to be able to dance properly."
Andrew is a 5/1 chance to appear on this year's series, ahead of the likes of TV presenters Rylan Clark (7/1), and Phillip Schofield (12/1) in the market.
Zara Tops Royal Shortlist
While Princess Anne is clearly up for taking part in this year's Strictly, at 6/1 she isn't the most likely of the Royal Family members to swap palaces for the Strictly studios of a weekend.
Step forward Anne's daughter, Zara Tindall.
Zara has been linked with the show numerous times, and her husband, former England rugby international Mike Tindall, even had a taste of the reality TV life in 2022 when he took part in I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out Of Here!, so it wouldn't be a huge surprise to see the British equestrian take part.
She is 2/1 favourite on betting apps to be the most likely Royal Family member in this year's Strictly series, despite her mother being keen to take part, while Mike is a 5/1 chance.
But Mike has previously admitted he wouldn't be up for it - because of the so-called Strictly Curse, after a series of high-profile break-ups among pro dancers and contestants.
Speaking to Hello! magazine in 2023, he said: "I'd probably say no to Strictly."
He joked: "It's a divorce (sic) wrecker isn't it?, you don’t want that - it’s not in my remit."
What's more, Sarah Ferguson (4/1), the Duchess of York, has also been linked with Strictly and its US associate, Dancing With The Stars, and her daughters Princess Beatrice (8/1) and Princess Eugenie (10/1) have no doubt been on Strictly bosses' wish lists for years.
Eugenie even had a slight Strictly connection in her bridal party, as one of her bridesmaids, Maud Windsor, is the daughter of Lord Frederick Windsor and Sophie Winkleman, who is a half-sister to Strictly co-host Claudia Winkleman.
Queen Camilla is also known to be a huge fan of the show, but at 50/1 it is very much unlikely she swaps watching for taking part, while Prince Harry is 100/1. Enough said on that one.
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