Strictly officially confirm Gladiators star has signed up for show
STRICTLY Come Dancing’s latest signing has been officially confirmed as Gladiators star Montell Douglas.
The announcement was made on the BBC show’s Instagram account on Friday afternoon – making her the 12th revealed celebrity.
Montell joined the BBC reboot of Gladiators as she took on the alter ego of Fire to show off her power and strength.
She shared her excitement today and said: “Strictly ARE YOU READY, Fire is here to light up the Ballroom.
“Wow I am so honoured to have been asked to do the show. It is such an amazing thing to be a part of and I can’t wait to get started.
“Hopefully a few of my Gladiator moves will come in handy with the Tango or Paso Doble!”
The 37-year-old previously competed in the Olympic Games, making sporting history to become the first female UK athlete to compete at both the summer and winter Olympics.
She is a former Team GB sprinter and Olympic bobsledder, and held the British woman’s record for the fastest 100m sprint at 11.05 seconds, smashing the previous record which was unbeaten for 27 years.
In 2010, Montell won Commonwealth Gold in the 4 x 100m relay in Delhi as well as holding a European Under-23 Silver Medal in 100m.
It comes after soap star Jamie Brothwick, 30, who starred in the BBC show’s Christmas special and swimmer Tom Dean MBE, 24, were announced as competitors on Radio 1 yesterday.
Competitive freestyle swimmer Tom had accidentally revealed he was joining the scandal-hit show after The Sun‘s exclusive story.
He’ll join Jamie Borthwick, who plays Jay Brown on EastEnders, who scored the highest possible mark of 40 in the Christmas show.
And it looks like he could take home the Glitterball Trophy for a second time.
Tom said on Radio 1: “Me and Jamie were just chatting about it and how much dance experience we’ve both got.
“I’m excited. It doesn’t quite feel real. We’ve got some training coming so that’ll help to make it sink more in.”
Meanwhile Jamie, 30, who has starred in the BBC soap for 18 years, was paired with pro Nancy Xu on his former stint.
But it is not known yet who his partner will be in the autumn.
Tom bagged two golds at the delayed 2020 Tokyo Olympics in the 200 metres freestyle and the 4 x 200 metres medley relay.
The relay team went on to defend their title at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Tom made it to the final of the 200m individual medley in Paris, finishing fifth.
Earlier today, X Factor winner and Coronation Street hunk Shayne Ward joined actress Sarah Hadland on ITV‘s Lorraine for their own big reveal.
Shayne, 39. told host Christine Lampard: “My kids are at home watching this, we’ve watched it for so many years, I feel massive admiration for people who take part because it’s not easy.
“I’ve always loved watching the progress to the next stage. But for me honestly I always felt like I was nervous to do it, like I couldn’t do it, like I wasn’t good enough.
“But now after many years I feel in my gut this is the right time, I’m excited for it, I’m hungry!”
Miranda actress Sarah, 53, who is best known as Stevie Sutton in the beloved BBC sitcom, admitted she hadn’t told her mum the news yet.
She told Christine: “I’m doing it finally, every year she says, ‘do you think you’ll do it this year? And now I can say yes I will. Massive morning for my mum.”
Christine said to the pair: “We know Strictly has been in the press for the wrong reasons, how does it feel to be in the new series?”
And Just six women have joined the upcoming line-up.
The Sun on Sunday revealed Strictly bosses had signed up blind comedian Chris McCausland last month.
He will be joined by EastEnders Jamie Borthwick, DIY SOS star Nick Knowles, ex Towie’s Pete Wicks, Olympic GB swimmer Tom Dean.
Footie favourite Paul Merson, singer and movie star Toyah Wilcox, Team GB‘s hockey player Sam Quek, X Factor and Corrie legend Shayne Ward and JLS star GB Gill are taking to the dancefloor.
Welsh opera singer Wynne Evans is also in the line-up, along with TV doctor Punam Krishan, Gladiators star Montell Douglas and actress Sarah Hadland.
It was just weeks ago that BBC bosses confirmed the show would be returning after abuse allegations and Graziano Di Prima‘s axe.
The show has been plunged into crisis after a string of female celebrities came forward to complain about their treatment in rehearsals.
Graziano was axed from the show after shocking footage of his alleged behaviour towards Zara McDermott was revealed.
Just months before, Giovanni Pernice, 33, left the show under investigation by the BBC following allegations of misconduct made by Amanda Abbington, which he denies.
Judges Shirley Ballas, Anton Du Beke, Craig Revel Horwood and Motsi Mabuse are returning, with Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly at the helm.
It comes after Tasha was forced to defend her dance experience after announcing she’s joining the competition.
The star – who used to date ex-pro dancer Giovanni Pernice – competed in a number of major dance events before finding fame on Love Island.
Meanwhile, Sarah’s pal, Doctor Who‘s Alex Kingston, previously said it would be ‘unfair’ to compete against Sarah on Strictly.
Alex shared in 2019: “Sarah Hadland and I talked about how much we’d like to do Strictly Come Dancing.
“Then I discovered that she’s actually a trained ballet dancer.
“Hang on a minute! That’s not fair!’ So, I can’t do it on a season when she is on it.”
