Strictly Come Dancing confirm reality stars Tasha Ghouri and Pete Wicks as the latest celebrities for 20th series By Joanna Crawley For Mailonline Published: 03:16 EDT, 7 August 2024 | Updated: 03:31 EDT, 7 August 2024 e-mail 2 View comments The sixth and seventh celebrities confirmed for Strictly Come Dancing's 2024 series are Love Island beauty Tasha Ghouri and TOWIE star Pete Wicks . Tasha became the first Love Island star to appear on the show with a cochlear implant, which is an electronic device she had fitted aged five. The model is passionate about raising awareness for the deaf community.
She appeared on ITV 's Love Island in 2022, and since then has amassed a following of over 2.2 million across her social media network. Tasha has worked with Number 10 Downing Street , The Department of Education and MED-AL to champion issues close to her heart.
She is a published author with her debut novel 'Hits Different' and has her own podcast, 'Superpowers with Tasha'. The sixth celebrity confirmed for Strictly Come Dancing's 2024 series is Love Island beauty Tasha Ghouri Tasha became the first Love Island star to appear on the show with a cochlear implant, which is an electronic device she had fitted aged five Announcing the news on the KISS FM Breakfast Show on Wednesday Tasha gushed: 'Pinch me, I can't believe I'm going to be on Strictly Come Dancing!' 'I’ve been watching the show since I was little – it's a firm Ghouri family favourite - so this is a total dream come true. I know it's going to be an unforgettable experience and I hope to represent and make everyone proud out on that dancefloor.
' Strictly face being embroiled in a new fix row following the signing of Tasha though, who is a trained dancer. MailOnline revealed the former Love Island star, 25, has competed in a number of major dance events and featured in music videos, sparking concern she will have an unfair advantage over her celebrity co-stars. Last year's series was tainted by accusations that actor Layton Williams, an experienced West End performer, had the upper hand over his opponents due to his extensive dance background.
And Tasha's participation on the BBC One show could be equally controversial, given she's been dancing since the age of five and taken part in competitions. A show insider said: 'Tasha's signing has certainly raised a few eyebrows. She's a dancer by trade as well as a reality star and model, so it feels like she's too qualified to appear on the show.
'Tasha is certainly no novice and will always be so far ahead of her co-stars before training has kicked in. Pete Wicks has landed a spot on the Strictly line-up amid shocking reports his close friend Zara MCDermott performed on the show with a 'fractured' leg following an injury in training 'There is a feeling her being on Strictly is a touch unfair on everybody else competing, especially those totally new to dance.' Tasha became the first Love Island star to appear on the show with a cochlear implant, which she had fitted aged five.
The star's parents learned she was deaf when she was 12 months and growing up Tasha underwent years of speech therapy. She says the disability has become her 'superpower' and before going on Love Island vowed to become an inspiration to the deaf community, like her idol, former Strictly champion Rose Ayling-Ellis. Tasha told MailOnline in June 2022: 'I love Strictly and being a dancer, Rose is such an amazing role model it was so powerful what she did.
She represented me, as well as the deaf community and I just thought it was awesome. It was a beautiful message.' Strictly are unveiling the lineup for their 20th series all week, but on Tuesday night it appeared the full celeb cast had been leaked.
Already Chris McCausland, JB Gill, Toyah Wilcox, Punam Krishnan and Wynne Evans have been confirmed alongside Tasha. Blind comedian Chris McCausland w as the first celeb contestant of the 2024 series, to be uveiled, appearing on This Morning on Monday to announce the news. The signing is a first for the dance competition which previously featured deaf EastEnders actress Rose Ayling-Ellis who won the glitterball trophy alongside Giovanni Pearce in 2021.
Comedian and CBeebies actor Chris, 46, lost his sight aged 22 due to a hereditary condition, Retinitis Pigmentosa. Later on This Morning JLS star JB Gill was the second celeb confirmed . The singer first found fame on the fifth series of The X Factor where he finished as runner-up with the other members of JLS.
The group released for albums before they went their separate ways in 2013, with each member thought to be worth £6million at the time. JB follows in the footsteps of his bandmate Aston Merrygold who was eliminated in 10th place during the 2017 series. The star also has history with Strictly, winning the Christmas Special of the BBC One dancing show back in 2012, performing the Jive with Ola Jordan.
Punam Krishnan is an NHS GP and is one of the resident doctors on the BBC's Morning Live. Blind comedian Chris McCausland w as the first celeb contestant of the 2024 series, to be uveiled, appearing on This Morning on Monday to announce the news Based in Scotland, she regularly covers health topics for TV shows and newspapers and has also written a children's book. # Wynne Evans is best known for his operatic skills.
Throughout his 25-year career he has had two number one classical music albums, has been a principal at most of the major opera houses around the world and has given over 200 performances at the Royal Albert Hall in London. Wynne told Vernon Kay on BBC Radio 2: 'I couldn't believe it because its like cloak and daggers. You're given a code name and you audition and meet the celebs and it is my favourite thing.
' 'The waltz, the classic ballroom I'm looking forward to. I did a lot of opera and I think that would suit me.' Later on This Morning JLS star JB Gill was the second celeb confirmed Punam Krishnan is an NHS GP and is one of the resident doctors on the BBC's Morning Live Toyah Willcox has amassed thirteen top 40 singles, recorded twenty-five albums, written two books, appeared in over forty stage plays, acted in over twenty feature films and presented many television programmes.
She fronted the eponymous band Toyah before branching out as a solo artist in the mid-1980s. In 2018 Paul McCartney awarded Toyah a Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts Companionship for Outstanding Achievement in music, drama, performance and media. Toyah appeared in the Radio 2 studio with Vernon and admitted she has been bursting to let the news slip, especially after performing at Glastonbury in June, saying the show will top off what has been an incredible year for her.
Wynne is best known for his operatic skills. Throughout his 25-year career he has had two number one classical music albums Toyah has amassed thirteen top 40 singles, recorded twenty-five albums, written two books and appeared in over forty stage plays Along the confirmed names, EastEnders star Jamie Borthwick who plays Jay Brown on EastEnders, has reportedly joined the lineup after scoring the highest possible mark in the Christmas show last year. DIY SOS star Nick Knowles, 61, is reportedly putting on his dancing shows and appearing in the hit series this year.
After months of talks with bosses, sources claim he is 'willing to give anything a crack'. A source told The Sun: 'Nick has always loved Strictly and he is so excited. Share or comment on this article: Strictly Come Dancing confirm reality stars Tasha Ghouri and Pete Wicks as the latest celebrities for 20th series e-mail Add comment.
