Neil Jones will reportedly partner up with one of the celebs on this year’s show after joining ‘Strictly’ as a choreographer and group dancer two years ago.
The show’s voiceover artist Alan Dedicoat confirmed the news, telling The Sun: “Neil Jones is doing it this year.
“He’s always been on the show but not coupled with someone, so it’ll be interesting to see how he does.”
A ‘Strictly’ spokesperson declined to comment when contacted by HuffPost UK.
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Neil with his wife - and fellow 'Strictly' pro - Katya Jones.
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Neil is married to fellow pro and Russian Latin champion Katya Jones, who won the glitter ball trophy with actor Joe McFadden last year in her second year on the show.
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Brendan Cole
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Brendan revealed he had been axed by the BBC in January during an emotional interview on ITV’s ‘Lorraine’, admitting bosses decided not to renew his contract.
“It’s quite, actually, hard to talk about,” he said.
“They’ve made an editorial decision to not have me back on the show. I’m a little bit in shock. I’m quite emotional, a bit raw about it.”
Brendan was rumoured to have fallen out backstage with new head judge Shirley Ballas following an on-air clash during last year’s series.
She said: “I don’t have any recollection on a personal level of bridges ever being broken or rebuilt between me and Brendan.
“He is an amazing dancer, an amazing person, whose career I have followed for many, many years and I’m extremely proud of what he’s achieved both at work and at home.”
She added: “One of the things people learn with me is I don’t need to pull someone else down to build myself up and I will live and die by that rule.”
Gemma Collins
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Joey isn’t the only ‘TOWIE’ star to be linked to the new series. Gemma Collins’ approach to getting on the show was to threaten not to sue the BBC after she fell through the floor at last year’s Radio 1 Teen Awards if she was given a spot on ‘Strictly’.
But judge Craig Revel Horwood isn’t convinced, insisting the GC isn’t the right “calibre” for ‘Strictly’. But Gemma remained unrepentant, telling OK! Magazine: "I'll burst onto that dance floor and show them what a samba is! He won't know what's hit him."
Piers Morgan
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The ‘Good Morning Britain’ presenter could be following in his colleague Susanna Reid’s footsteps after he tweeted a snap of him dancing with former contender and Labour MP Ed Balls. He captioned the shot: "BREAKING: My #Strictly training has begun."
His nemesis Lord Sugar upped the stakes when he offered to donate £25,000 to charity if Piers does take part, and an additional £25,000 if he gets past week five.
Dan Walker
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Piers further fuelled rumours that he’d be taking to the ‘Strictly’ dance floor after his BBC Breakfast rival Dan Walker was linked to the new series. Piers said: “I would seriously consider [Strictly] if it meant giving Walker a lesson in how to dance in front of nine million people.”
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Michelle Keegan
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‘Strictly’ did wonders for Michelle’s husband Mark Wright’s profile when he made the 2014 final. The former ‘Corrie’ star and ‘Our Girl’ actress has been rumoured to be at the top of ‘Strictly’ bosses’ wish-list for the last few years, so will we finally see her take to the dance floor in 2018?
Les Dennis
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The former ‘Coronation Street’ actor has hinted on more than one occasion that he’d love to appear on ‘Strictly’. During an appearance on ‘Sunday Brunch’ he said: “When I was doing Coronation Street I was approached but we weren't allowed to do it, we had a policy. I wouldn't mind doing it, I always like a challenge."
He reiterated his interest during an appearance on ‘This Morning’ earlier this year, saying: "I would love to do it. Yes please. Ice skating, well maybe…that's more scary. But who knows.”
Nadiya Hussain
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The ‘Bake Off’ champ is a big fan of 'Strictly' and after being invited to watch one of the live shows last year, BBC bosses reportedly made no secret of how much they’d love Nadiya to appear on the new series.
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Holly Willoughby
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The ‘This Morning’ presenter is a self-confessed ‘Strictly’ superfan, admitting that she’d “love” to learn some new moves on the 'Strictly' dancefloor. She admitted: "I'm obsessed with Strictly, so I'd love to learn to dance."
Cheryl
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We can’t help but think this is a serious case of wishful thinking, mainly on behalf of head judge Shirley Ballas who has stated she would love to see Chezza strutting her stuff. "I think Cheryl Cole would be amazing,” she said. So do we Shirl, but we reckon there’s more chance of Girls Aloud getting back together.