Strictly 2020 cast: Jacqui Smith completes new series line-up

Dance competition is returning amid coronavirus pandemic

Former home secretary Jacqui Smith is the final star to join Bill Bailey, Nicola Adams and Jamie Laing on Strictly Come Dancing 2020.

The dance competition series will return this autumn with a slightly shorter nine-week run due to the coronavirus pandemic, with the celebrities being put through their paces announced this week.

Details regarding filming of Strictly’s 18th season are currently under wraps, but it has been announced that judge Bruno Tonioli will not hold a regular spot on the judging panel due to travel restrictions.

It’s a year of firsts for Strictly, with boxer Adams becoming the first celebrity to compete on the show in a same-sex pairing, following years of campaigning from fans.

Made in Chelsea star Laing will also return for a second shot at the crown after being forced to pull out of the competition last year due to a leg injury.

Jamie Laing will be giving ‘Strictly’ another go (Getty Images)

Here’s the full cast of Strictly 2020:

Caroline Quentin

Stage and screen actor Caroline Quentin is the first name to be heading to the Strictly dance floor this year. Best known for her work on Men Behaving Badly, Jonathan Creek and Blue Murder, as well as presenting documentaries, the 60-year-old has described herself as being “thrilled and terrified in equal measure” to take part.

Jason Bell

In his long career as an American football player, Jason Bell represented NFL teams including the Dallas Cowboys, the Houston Texans and the New York Giants, and was awarded the Ed Block Courage Award in 2002. He now presents the BBC’s NFL coverage with fellow former player Osi Umenyiora.

Max George

A Manchester-born singer and actor, Max George is best known for his years spent performing with boyband The Wanted. Together, the band scored two number one singles before going on hiatus in 2014, with George moving to the US to appear on the sixth season of musical comedy series Glee. He’s hoping to follow in the dainty footsteps of bandmate Jay McGuinness, who won the show in 2015 with partner Aliona Vilani.

Ranvir Singh

Good Morning Britain’s political editor Ranvir Singh is the next name on the Strictly 2020 line-up. She’s best known for her work as a journalist, broadcaster and newsreader with ITV news, as well as presenting on BBC 5 Live. She has compared joining Strictly to “embarking on a rollercoaster”, albeit one where she’ll hopefully “feel exhilarated rather than sick”.

Clara Amfo

A presenter known for hosting everything from coverage of Glastonbury to the Brit Awards red carpet and Radio 1’s Live Lounge, Clara Amfo will be bringing her musical expertise to the Strictly dance floor. Having made headlines in June for a powerful and emotional discussion about the impact George Floyd’s death had on her mental health, Amfo is excited to end this “real challenge” of a year with “escapism through dancing”.

Nicola Adams

Two-time Olympic gold medalist Nicola Adams may have retired from boxing in 2019, but she’s continuing to set records as one half of Strictly’s first same-sex pairing. Speaking about competing with a female partner, Adams thanked the BBC for “supporting me and making me the first ever all female-pairing,” adding: “It’s amazing to be a part of the movement for change, diversity and breaking boundaries in the entertainment industry.”

Bill Bailey

Award-winning comedian Bill Bailey is best known for his musical brand of stand-up, having previously performed with the BBC Concert Orchestra as well as being a regular on the panel-show circuit. The Black Books star said that he was competing in honour of his late mother Madrin, telling Zoe Ball: “I hope she’ll be watching.”

JJ Chalmers

JJ Chalmers first rose to fame as a member of the trike cycling team at the 2014 Invictus Games, having suffered life-altering injuries while serving with the Royal Marines in Afghanistan. Since then, he has gone on to present at both the Games and the 2016 Paralympics, as well as appearing on The One Show and BBC Breakfast.

Jamie Laing

It’s (hopefully) second-time lucky for Jamie Laing, who was due to compete on Strictly in 2019 until a foot injury forced him to withdraw before the first week. His former partner Oti Mabuse went on to win the season with Laing’s last-minute replacement Kelvin Fletcher, but it’s not currently known whether the reality TV star and podcaster will compete with the reigning champion again.

Maisie Smith

At just 19, EastEnders actor Maisie Smith is the youngest star competing for the glitterball trophy this year. Making her screen debut in The Other Boleyn Girl when she was just seven years old, Smith quickly landed the role of Tiffany Butcher on the long-running BBC soap, winning her numerous awards. She released two singles in 2016 and 2017 under an independent record label.

HRVY

Real name Harvey Cantwell, 21-year-old HRVY is a popstar and TV presenter. Having previously hosted CBBC show Friday Download, he found fame as a musician after uploading videos of him singing to Facebook. HRVY signed to a record label in 2017, with his debut album being released later this year.

Jacqui Smith

The former home secretary Jacqui Smith, 57 says she will ”throw myself into the challenge” of Strictly. Smith stepped down as home secretary in 2009 after it emerged that adult films watched by her husband had been charged to the taxpayer. She later took a backbench position but lost her seat in the 2010 election. Announcing she will join Strictly this autumn, the ex-Labour MP said: “I was speechless with excitement at being asked to join Strictly – and that’s very rare for me. Fifty years ago, I got a bronze medal for Scottish Highland Dancing and it feels about time to return to it.”