Strictly Come Dancing judge Shirley Ballas teases this year's lineup
Strictly Come Dancing's head judge Shirley Ballas has teased that there's going to be a particularly strong lineup for 2024, as the BBC One show celebrates its 20th anniversary.
Shirley recently appeared on Katie Piper's Breakfast Show on ITV, and was asked when viewers will find out which famous faces will be taking to the dance floor later this year.
She teased that the lineup will be revealed "rather soon" and is expecting the announcements to start coming in July – adding that she thinks people will be very happy with this year's cast.
"It's going to be absolutely off the chart," said Shirley. "Just when you think the show can't get any better, it does."
"We've got a great professional lineup, of course," she added. "Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman are back."
One professional dancer who won't be returning for Strictly's 2024 series is Giovanni Pernice, which was confirmed when his name was not on the cast list officially released by the BBC.
The announcement followed a period of multiple reports about an internal investigation at the broadcaster, and allegations against the dancer which he strongly denies.
"I am cooperating fully with the ongoing BBC investigation, which will determine the truth," Giovanni said in a statement issued last week, adding: "I am looking forward to the conclusion of the investigation and ultimately clearing my name and establishing the truth."
When it comes to rumours about which celebrities could be competing in Strictly's 2024 series, Jeff Brazier has already ruled himself out of taking part.
The TV presenter explained that he wouldn't want to overshadow his son Bobby, who made the final last year.
Chris McCausland has also been asked about speculation that he could become Strictly's first-ever blind contestant.
When asked on The One Show if he thought he'd make a good ballroom dancer, the comedian said: "I'm a child of the '90s grunge scene, I grew up with rock and metal and head-banging and mosh pits and crowd surfing. That is the extent of my experience."
Meanwhile, BBC News anchor Clive Myrie has also been asked about rumours linking him to Strictly, saying: "I don't know. Who knows, maybe one day."
Clive also shared a clip of him from his BBC Two show Clive Myrie's Caribbean Adventure on social media recently showing him dancing, asking: "What do you say, @bbcstrictly? Are my moves up to par?"
Strictly Come Dancing will return later this year on BBC One, while spin-off Strictly: It Takes Two airs on weeknights on BBC Two. Both shows are available to stream on BBC iPlayer.
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