Tyla

To make sure you never miss out on your favourite NEW stories, we're happy to send you some reminders

Click 'OK' then 'Allow' to enable notifications

Not now
OK
Advert
Advert
Advert

'RuPaul's Drag Race' Star Michelle Visage Confirmed For This Year's 'Strictly Come Dancing'

Lisa McLoughlin

Published 
| Last updated 

'RuPaul's Drag Race' Star Michelle Visage Confirmed For This Year's 'Strictly Come Dancing'

Featured Image Credit: PA

RuPaul's Drag Race regular Michelle Visage has been confirmed for this year's season of Strictly Come Dancing.

The American star, who recently tread the boards on the West End in Everybody's Talking About Jamie, has become the ninth celebrity contestant announced for the upcoming instalment on today's Lorraine.

She joins World Table Tennis Paralympic champion Will Bayley and reality star Jamie Laing, who were also announced as part of the line-up today, on the dancefloor.

Advert

Michelle was initially catapulted into the spotlight in the early nineties as one third of R&B girl group Seduction, who have several hits including 'Two To Make It Right', before making the transition into broadcasting.

The Celebrity Big Brother star is most well-known for being a judge on the American reality competition television series RuPaul's Drag Race since season three and on all seasons of the spin-off show RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars.

And the Ireland's Got Talent judge is set to appear alongside Ru on RuPaul's Drag Race UK, which will air on BBC Three this October.

Speaking about the news, she said: "Getting to do Strictly in my favourite place on Earth is an actual DREAM! I'm so excited to show that being 50 doesn't mean life stops.

Advert

"Things may not work like they did when I was 20, but 50 also means 'FABULOUS!'

Adding: "There are plenty of women like me out there who still 'got it' and we still 'plan to use it!' so slap on the sequins, point me to the dance floor and watch me Paso my Doble!"

The pair join Viscountess Weymouth, Karim Zeroual, Mike Bushell, Catherine Tyldesley, David James, Chris Ramsey, Emma Barton and Saffron Barker hoping to cha-cha-cha their way up the leaderboard.

Advert

The recently announced contestants take on the BBC ballroom as they try to emulate Stacey Dooley and her professional dance partner Kevin Clifton's 2018 success.

Strictly 2018 winners Stacey Dooley and Kevin Clifton. Credit: BBC/Strictly
Strictly 2018 winners Stacey Dooley and Kevin Clifton. Credit: BBC/Strictly

The three hopefuls were revealed on BBC's The One Show today (Wednesday, 31st July) to delighted fans, although we won't find out who's partnered with who until the end of August, beginning of September.

The new recruits will no doubt be vying for that all-important '10' from judges Craig Revel Horwood, Shirley Ballas, Bruno Tonioli and Motsi Mabuse, who takes over judging duties from Darcey Bussell.

Advert

And if the new mentor sounds familiar, it's because she also happens to be the sister of fellow Strictly professional Oti.

Speaking of her new role, Motsi, who was a judge on Let's Dance in Germany, shared on Instagram earlier this month: "I am absolutely thrilled and overjoyed to be joining the @bbcstrictly judging panel.

"I have so much respect and admiration for the other three judges and hope to add my own bit of sparkle to the show. I can't wait to get started!"

Advert

It's not only the judges that are getting a shake-up this year but also the Strictly dancing roster as Nancy Xu joins the BBC show.

Latin specialist Nancy was a finalist on So You Think You Can Dance in China, as well as being a dancer on West End and Broadway show Burn the Floor.

The pro will be joining AJ Pritchard, Aljaž Škorjanec, Dianne Buswell, Giovanni Pernice and Gorka Marquez, to name a few, on the dancefloor.

Loading…

Strictly Come Dancing returns to BBC One in the autumn so get your twinkle toes at the ready.

Topics: BBC, TV News, TV Entertainment, Strictly Come Dancing

Lisa McLoughlin
More like this
Advert
Advert
Advert

Chosen for YouChosen for You

Entertainment

Viewers will get second series of 'gripping' crime drama they can binge-watch in one day

15 minutes ago

Most Read StoriesMost Read

NHS advice on pulling out ingrown hairs after father is given 4% chance of survival

a day ago