Strictly Come Dancing announces three new names including Doctor Who icon

Three more stars who have officially signed for Strictly Come Dancing have been unveiled by the BBC, those being ER and Doctor Who actress Alex Kingston, former football ace Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and reality TV star Dani Dyer.

Kingston, 62, showed her nerves by declaring simply: “Aaaaarrrggghhh!” The actress has been working for more than four decades, gaining international fame as Dr Elizabeth Corday in the global hit TV drama ER for eight years. She is known to millions of Doctor Who fans as the iconic River Song, aka The Doctor’s Wife, a role she has played opposite three Doctors on screen.

Other television work includes a BAFTA-nominated performance as Moll Flanders, plus more recent roles in Douglas Is Cancelled, Treason, Boudica, Lost in Austen, A Discovery of Witches and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. On stage, her roles have ranged from Nurse Ratchet in One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest to Lady Macbeth and Prospero for the Royal Shakespeare Company. It comes hours after the first name on the line-up was announced on Monday morning.

READ MORE: The One Show’s Alex Jones confesses parents ‘critique’ show after every episodeREAD MORE: BBC Strictly announces first celebrity for 2025 lineup as Gladiators star confirmed

Alex Kingston was revealed as a Strictly contestant on tonight’s edition of The One Show

Dani, 29, is hoping to capitalise on her Love Island triumph as she takes to the dance floor. After she was revealed on The One Show tonight, the newlywed said: “Getting the opportunity to be on Strictly is the second most amazing thing I’ve done this year! I feel very, very blessed and cannot wait to get my dancing shoes on.” Born in London’s Canning Town, Dani has fronted several documentaries and has teamed up with her EastEnders star father Danny for podcast Live and Let Dyers and travelogue series Absolutely Dyer: Danny and Dani Do Italy.

Having made guest appearances in EastEnders and Celebrity Gogglebox, Dani won Love Island in 2018 and has since amassed over three million social media followers. Dani got married to West Ham footballer Jarrod Bowen in May this year, much to her father’s delight.

Dani Dyer said she is looking forward to joining the show after her recent wedding

Dutch Chelsea star Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink is a former premiership player turned football manager, best known for his prolific goal-scoring career. On joining Strictly he said: “Swapping the pitch for the ballroom is certainly not something I’ve done before but I’m looking forward to tackling a fun challenge! Bring on a new type of footwork, with hopefully no own goals.”

Jimmy has played for many clubs besides Chelsea, includng Leeds United and Atlético Madrid, earning a reputation for power, pace, and precision. Since retiring, Jimmy has become a regular soccer pundit on UK television and has managed clubs including Burton Albion and Northampton Town. He also served as an assistant coach for the England national team alongside Gareth Southgate.

Jimmy says he’s hoping not to score any own goals as he takes to the ballroom(Image: BBC)

It comes after Harry Aikines-Aryeetey, AKA Gladiator Nitro, was the first star to be announced for the 2025 series of Strictly. Fans already know he has some moves because he appeared in the Christmas special last year, partnered with Nancy Xu. He said the experience was so good he wanted a second go at it.

“I’m so excited and I’m ready to give it all I’ve got,”he declared. “I’ll be bringing tons of energy to light up the dance floor. Let’s hope I’m as quick picking up the routines as I am on the track.”

Harry, 36, is a former Team GB sprinter who became the first athlete to win gold medals at both 100 and 200 metres at the World Youth Championships. He also won gold in the 4x100m relay at the European Championships and at the Commonwealth Games. He has competed in two Olympic games and is a three-time European Champion and two-time Commonwealth Champion.