Singer Toyah Willcox and Go Compare advert star Wynne Evans have been confirmed for 2024’s Strictly Come Dancing . The stars’ involvement in this year’s series was confirmed on Vernon Kay’s Radio 2 show on Tuesday. Willcox has been performing across stage and screen for over 50 years.
She 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. The British star said of joining the BBC series: “Wow Strictly Come Dancing, can you believe it! “This is going to be a wild and wonderful ride, and I'm here for every sparkly second. I’m used to performing for big crowds but this is completely fresh for me, how I will do, it’s a mystery.
.. I just want to get cracking and learn some dance routines now!” Elsewhere, 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.
The opera singer currently has a daily radio show on BBC Radio Wales and has previously had radio shows on BBC Radio 3 and Classic FM. He said: “I am honestly still pinching myself, a portly balding opera singer, me, taking part in Strictly Come Dancing?! I’m not entirely sure how I’ll get along, if all else fails I’ll just have to learn the art of distraction. “What I do know is I will give it my all and aim to make Wales proud.
I’m definitely going to try and combine my love of Opera into one of my routines. Plus, after winning Celebrity MasterChef last year, maybe the route to the judges’ hearts will be through their stomachs!” On Monday, This Morning surprised viewers as they revealed that JB Gill and blind comedian Chris McCausland, who lost his sight at age 22 due to the hereditary condition Retinitis Pigmentosa, will also take part in this year’s series. Gill, who appeared on the show’s Christmas special in 2012, also follows in the footsteps of his bandmate Aston Merrygold , who starred on the 2017 series when he was partnered with Janette Manrara .
The JLS singer said of joining the 2024 line-up: “I danced in the Strictly Christmas special over a decade ago and LOVED it, so when I got the call to join Strictly this year, it was an immediate yes from me. “ I’m raring to go to and looking forward to showing off some new skills to the JLS boys. “From muddy wellies on the fields of my farm to sequins and Glitterballs - I’m here to embrace it all!” Speaking to hosts Josie Gibson and Craig Doyle, McCausland joked he has “never watched” Strictly and added: “This is literally the worst-kept secret there has ever been in British television.
“I think it’s been out there – it’s been exhausting keeping a secret everyone seems to know.” Asked how he feels about taking part, he said: “Apprehensive, massively apprehensive. “I don’t know what I’m getting myself into.
I’ve never watched it, obviously. It’s just some music. I don’t dance, I have never danced.
I grew up with headbanging and mosh pits.” McCausland lost his sight due to retinitis pigmentosa, a hereditary eye disease, which causes gradual degeneration of the retina. He said: “If anybody out there is thinking ‘How the hell is he going to do that?’ then rest assured that I am thinking exactly the same thing.
“I don’t dance, I haven’t danced, I can’t dance, I can’t see the dancing I will have to do. What can possibly go wrong? Ok, don’t answer that.”.
