Countryfile presenter Helen Skelton has been confirmed as a Strictly Come Dancing 2022 finalist.
The 39-year-old’s involvement was announced on Saturday morning by Claudia Winkleman, who hosts the celebrity dance show with Tess Daly, during her BBC Radio 2 show.
Skelton, who previously appeared in the 2012 Strictly Christmas Special, joins the line-up for the 20th series of the BBC show, due to air in September.
The broadcaster joins contestants including EastEnders star James By, singer Fleur East, Ted Lasso star Ellie Taylor, Bros singer Matt Goss, Kiss radio host Tyler West, former England footballer Tony Adams and Britain’s Got Talent finalist Molly Rainford.
On her debut on the ballroom floor, Skelton said: “I’m really excited to embark on a fun adventure. My family and friends have always loved the show and can’t wait for me to start.”
Speaking to Winkleman on Saturday morning, Skelton revealed she only recently agreed to do the show.
“Who can go to work and look a little like Beyoncé and have fun?” she added. “So I just thought it was crazy not to, of course I had to. It will be a lot of fun.”
Skelton began his television career in children’s television, presenting Newsround and Blue Peter for the BBC.
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During her five years at Blue Peter, she took on challenges including completing the Namibia Ultramarathon, cycling to the South Pole and kayaking more than 2,018 miles down the Amazon River.
Since leaving the programme, she has appeared in shows including the BBC’s Countryfile, ITV’s Lorraine and Channel 5’s This Week on the Farm.
It also hosts Women’s Super League football matches and Channel 4’s Rugby Super League coverage.
On air, Skelton previously filled in for Dermot O’Leary on BBC Radio 2 and was recently announced as the new host of BBC Radio 5 Live’s Sunday morning show, taking over from Love Island’s Laura Whitmore.
Also joining the line-up are: Paralympic swimming gold medalist Ellie Simmonds; comedian and actor Jayde Adams; Coronation Street actors Will Mellor and Kim Marsh; Loose Women star Kay Adams; Radio 2’s Richie Anderson; and cameraman and wildlife presenter Hamza Yasin.
EastEnders actor Rose Ayling-Ellis and her professional dance partner Giovanni Pernice took home the glitter ball trophy at the end of last year’s series.
Although Covid restrictions were in place for two series of the show, a full studio audience will return for the 20th series.
Its launch is scheduled to be recorded on September 7.
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