Strictly Come Dancing 2020: GMB’s Ranvir Singh and DJ Clara Amfo are unveiled as contestants

Good Morning Britain presenter Ranvir Singh and Radio 1 star Clara Amfo have been confirmed as the fourth and fifth celebrities set to star on the 2020 series of Strictly Come Dancing.

 ITV star Ranvir, 43, was unveiled as the latest contestant live on GMB on Wednesday morning, with her co-stars Richard Arnold and Susanna Reid, who have previously starred on the BBC show, giving her tips. 

Radio 1 presenter Clara Amfo, 36, was confirmed to be taking part shortly afterwards via an announcement on Greg James’ Breakfast Show.  

Caroline Quentin, Max George and Jason Bell were confirmed as the first three contestants on Tuesday night’s The One Show.

Ranvir is a journalist and presenter, best known as the Political Editor for ITV’s Good Morning Britain, anchor for ITV’s Tonight and newsreader on ITN. 

Piers Morgan couldn’t resist teasing Ranvir live on GMB, pointing out that their co-star Charlotte Hawkins ‘gave it the big one and we know what happened there.’

Charlotte starred on the 2017 series of Strictly but was the third celeb to be eliminated. Susanna meanwhile reached the final in 2013 and Richard was eliminated in week 7 during the 2012 run. 

‘You’re representing the show, you fail we all fail,’ Piers quipped. 

‘I’m going to need to pick your brains,’ Ranvir admitted to Susanna and Richard, pointing out she will continue her early starts at GMB during the show. ‘I’m worried about energy levels,’ she admitted.

‘I’ve been working throughout the whole pandemic, so I feel like I should have all the answers.’

When asked if she had had to isolate amid reports celebrities will have to with their pro partners before the show, Ranvir said it wasn’t possible for her. 

‘I can’t isolate, I’ve got my mum in the house, the kids. They know my situation and they’ve accepted it.’  

Piers was keen to ask her how she felt about the infamous Strictly curse, prompting Ranvir to declare ‘well I’m single!’ 

Radio and TV presnter Clara Amfo was the fifth celebrity contestant confirmed.

The star told the BBC: ‘As we know this year has been a real challenge and escapism through dancing is something I know we all enjoy, so to be taught by a pro and live a fantasy is something that I can’t wait to fully embrace, see you on the dancefloor!’

Clara is a broadcaster best known for her 10am – 1pm show on BBC Radio 1, home of the Live Lounge.

She teased her involvement in the show in an interview with Cosmopolitan this week, telling the magazine: ‘Look, Strictly is an amazing show.’

‘It’s so sweet-spirited; nobody ever watches it with a bad intention and that’s what I’ve always loved about it… I went to watch it [live] last season! The magic of it is so overwhelming.’

Talking about her future, she said: ‘I know that this is exactly where I’m supposed to be. My work, where I am now, I feel ready for it. I’m aware of who I want to fight for and what I want to lend my voice to. I feel supercharged, I feel ready.’

As the Strictly celebs are unveiled, a new report has emerged claiming that Nicola Adams, 37, is set to be in the show’s first same-sex pairing.

The Olympic boxer’s rumoured inclusion is ‘well overdue’ according to insiders. 

A source told The Mirror: ‘It’s such an exciting step for us to be taking, and many feel it is well overdue.

‘It’s been talked about for so long, to see it finally happen feels truly ground-breaking and quite emotional.’

When approached by MailOnline, a spokesperson for Strictly Come Dancing said: ‘The rest of the line up will be announced in due course.’

The report about Nicola comes two months after TV insiders teased there could be a male coupling as well as a female one. 

According to The Sun, a source said: ‘This is another intriguing twist in the journey. Everyone assumed producers would simply pair gay pro Johannes Radebe with a male celebrity but they felt that was too obvious.’ 

In July, Westlife’s Mark Feehily, 43, rumoured to have been lined up to be part of Strictly Come Dancing’s first same-sex couple with Johannes.

Last year, Johannes danced with Graziano Di Prima last year in a professionals dance on the show as Emeli Sande belted out her latest single.

According to the BBC the dance led to the most complaints they received at the time, as 189 viewers protested to the routine. 

However, the channel embraced its LGBTQ+ audience, as they said in a statement: ‘Strictly Come Dancing is an inclusive show and is proud to have been able to facilitate the dance between Johannes and Graziano during the Professionals’ dance.

‘They are dancers first and foremost, and their sex had no bearing on their routine.’  

The first big Strictly reveal took place on Tuesday’s instalment of The One Show – following months of uncertainty amid the COVID-19 crisis as to whether the show will air at all this year.

Things were as cloak-and-dagger as always as the first contestants were announced, with Caroline. 60, and Jason, 42, beamed in via Skype, while Max, 31, was sent into the studio in person, sneaking in by producers through the basement to ensure secrecy.

Jonathan Creek actress Caroline explained that she used to do ballet as a girl, as well as tap and modern dance, but is worried her knees will let her down.

‘I’ve been keeping it very quiet and it’s really difficult as I like a chat, as you well know, and it’s been so hard to be quiet about it. I’m a bit scared, but quite excited,’ the Men Behaving Badly actress told The One Show hosts Alex Jones and Amol Rajan. 

She added: ‘I do remember some of what I learned [dancing] but my knees are 50 years older than the last time I attempted any of it, and it’s my knees and my undergarments that are troubling me most as a notion.

‘I hope my knees don’t let me down and I hope the foundation garments live up to expectations when I start leaping about!’

Caroline is perhaps best known for her role on sitcoms Men Behaving Badly – on which she played the long-suffering girlfriend of Martin Clunes – and Kiss Me Kate – starring as the titular character opposite the likes of Amanda Holden. 

American football player Jason – who shares daughter Anaíya with Girls Aloud star Nadine Coyle, having been a couple for 11 years – said: ‘I am thrilled. I’m a huge fan of the show, I’ve been watching it since I came to this country, so it’s time for me to do something cool to impress my daughter, now that she can watch me perform!’

He added: ‘I’ve always, as an athlete, liked to lock into the present moment you know, be in the zone, and I think this show will give me the opportunity to do the same thing I did when I was playing – perform at a high level and learn from the best.’

Jason met Nadine – who proved popular on last year’s I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! – in 2008 and they were engaged between 2010 and 2011.

They split briefly, but reconciled for several more years, welcoming their daughter in 2014. They then split for good in 2019. 

‘Although Nadine and Jason were never married, they lived as a close family unit and remain good friends as they co-parent their young daughter. They still care for one another, but are no longer in a romantic relationship,’ a source told The Sun at the time. 

Max made his entrance via a basement lift, bedecked in red streamers, and told Alex that he’d already informed his former The Wanted star Jay McGuiness, who has also taken part on the BBC dance show.

‘I spoke to Jay earlier, he left me a couple of voice notes,’ Max explained, as Alex asked how he thinks he’ll measure up to Jay.

‘Oh no chance, there’s no comparison, but he might be able to mentor me maybe through Zoom, he may be able to help me out. He did say he can imagine me like a little schoolboy, nervous,’ he replied.

Max rose to fame in 2009 with the group – completed by Siva Kaneswaran, Tom Parker and Nathan Sykes – known best for hit song All Time Low.

Jay, 30, took part in the BBC dance show in 2015, taking home the Glitterball Trophy with professional dancer Aliona Vilani. 

Fans will be delighted to hear the Strictly news – after worries the series would be axed this year thanks to the pandemic.

The intimate nature of the series means social distancing is impossible – but the pros have started rehearsals, with their celebrity counterparts slowly being unveiled over the coming days.

Other stars rumoured to be taking part are Denise Van Outen and Bill Bailey.

A source told The Sun, of comedian Bill, 55, that: ‘It’s a hard time for live performers so it seemed a good chance for Bill to commit to the show.’ 

According to the publication, Caroline has wanted to be part of Strictly for years but always had other work commitments.

Whereas in 2018 Bill revealed that he has been asked to do the dancing series several times but was put off by the ‘judgemental’ nature of the show.

The professional dancers are pre-recording their big numbers — and they are quarantining in a hotel in Elstree, Herts, before the official launch of the show at the end of this month.

The celebrity contestants will be asked to ‘bubble’ with their dance partners for the duration of the series, which is set to be shorter – nine weeks instead of the normal 13 – and quieter, with no live audience to clap and boo.

Judge Bruno Tonioli will be dialling in from Los Angeles for the first five weeks, unable to travel back and forth from his duties at Dancing With The Stars due to the pandemic’s travel rules.

The BBC’s head of entertainment, Kate Phillips, said: ‘Strictly is a slightly shorter run but, apart from that, I don’t think it will be a lesser show at all. If anything, I think this series will be rather special.’ 

THE £275,000 HOOFERS’ QUARANTINE

Strictly dancers including reigning champ Oti Mabuse have been seen arriving at The Manor in Elstree, Hertfordshire, a historic hotel which stands on the site of an old Tudor house dating back to 1540.

The hotel is set in ten acres of gardens and was a private country club in the Thirties. 

The front door was previously part of the dungeons in Lewes Castle, and some of the wood in the entrance hall is said to come from ships involved in the battle of the Spanish Armada.

Previous guests include actors Tom Cruise, Peter Sellers and John Cleese.

There are 49 rooms, and the hotel has been block booked — a notice on its website says: ‘The hotel will be closed for an exclusive booking from Monday, August 24 until Sunday, September, 20, 2020. We are sorry for any inconvenience this may cause.’

The dancers — Aljaž Škorjanec, Amy Dowden, Anton Du Beke, Dianne Buswell, Giovanni Pernice, Gorka Márquez, Graziano Di Prima, Janette Manrara, Johannes Radebe, Karen Hauer, Katya Jones, Luba Mushtuk, Nadiya Bychkova, Nancy Xu, Neil Jones and Oti Mabuse — will quarantine here for two weeks before pre-recording all their group dance routines for the entire nine-week series.

A source said: ‘The dancers are isolating so that they will count as one house- hold. They are rehearsing in a huge marquee space where the hotel often holds weddings.

‘After 14 days, they will be able to go to Elstree studios and film the group dances.’

A physiotherapist and a couple of choreographers are also staying at the Manor, but not the hair and make-up team or the rest of the production crew.

Bed and breakfast plus dinner costs from £200 a night, meaning that it may be costing the Beeb £9,800 a day, or £275,000 over the required period.

Sources indicate that once the dancers have finished and gone home, the hotel will be used to do recorded segments, promotional shoots with celebrities and for costume fittings, too.

MOTSI’S BIG COMMUTE

Last year, new judge Motsi Mabuse decided to commute to London each week from her home in Germany, where she lives with husband Evgenij Voznyuk. 

She said at the time: ‘I have to travel because I have a little baby and I really don’t want to stress her, so it’s better to stress me.’

She will continue to commute but plans to move to London if there is a realistic prospect of Germany going into lockdown.

MASKS, SCREENS . . . OR NEITHER?

The German version of Strictly — Let’s Dance — was filmed when the pandemic was raging this spring. Motsi is also a judge on that show. 

There was no audience and the judges sat behind a desk with Perspex screens between them.

The professional dancers and celebrities danced in hold without face masks, as is the plan for the British series.

However, a BBC source says it is possible that a screen could be used for the judges — Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse and Shirley Ballas — but that the set is still being designed.

No one on camera will wear a mask: not the judges, presenters, celebrities or dancers.

Presenters Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman will keep a distance from each other and the competitors.

This week, Daly, 51, shared a photograph on Instagram of her and co-star Winkleman recording a ‘Best of Strictly’ special show — seated some way from each other. 

She wrote: ‘Dreamy being reunited with @claudiawinkle today for some (socially distanced) filming for our ‘Best Of’ Strictly shows — on TV in September.’

STILL DANCING CHEEK TO CHEEK

Because the dancers and celebs are ‘bubbling’ together, they will still partner as normal — without the need for masks — sequinned or otherwise.

Judge Bruno said: ‘The hold is a huge part of the routine. No one will wear masks because everyone will be tested regularly.’

BBC boss Kate Phillips said: ‘I’d say Strictly is probably the hardest show to do in the current circumstances — a live weekly show that relies on body contact.

‘Having said that, I think studios have really risen to the challenge and there’s that old line, necessity is the mother of invention.

‘I would say that across all the entertainment shows, we’re seeing constant good ideas and surprising ways of working to overcome the challenges.’

SO WILL IT BE MAKE-UP IN PPE?

Kate Phillips said the corporation is having to ‘look at how hair, make-up and costume will work backstage’.

Sources say dancers and contestants will have access to professional make-up artists, led by Ant McPartlin’s ex-wife, Lisa Armstrong. 

The make-up artists will, though, have to wear PPE. Bruno says he is ready to do his own make-up, though he won’t be in London initially.

LET THE MUSIC PLAY, DAVE

It wouldn’t be Strictly without director of music Dave Arch and his band playing live for the performances, as they have done since 2006. The band features up to 15 musicians, including three trumpets, two trombones and three woodwind/saxophones, as well as four vocalists.

There are strict social distancing regulations for indoor musical performances.

Sources say Arch will be ‘pretty much in the same place’ as normal in the studio, as will the band, but that his singers will probably have to stand further apart from each other, or be separated by screens.

BARE-BONES CREW AND NO ENTOURAGE

There will be a smaller crew than usual, and less elaborate staging and sets. It’s said the aim is to have 75 per cent fewer people on set than usual. 

Celebrities — including pop singers who record a performance for the Sunday results show — will be told they cannot bring an entourage.

Some singers may pre-record their performances several weeks in advance, as setting up the stage for them will take longer with fewer crew. 

A source said: ‘There will be no agents hanging around, no friends or family members. It will be basic crew and talent on set.’ 

As for the live audience, the BBC has said it is ‘impossible’ to have an audience, but this week Kate Phillips said she is hoping to have a small audience in the studio. 

A final decision will be taken nearer the time.

WHY LESS WILL MEAN MORE

There will be fewer episodes of the show than usual. 

Last year, Strictly started airing on September 21, but this year it won’t come to the screens until October 24. 

The final will be on December 19 after an overall nine-week run, rather than the usual 13.

As a result there will be fewer celebrity contestants, and the two landmarks of Halloween and Blackpool will come earlier in the run. 

There was talk that Blackpool, which is filmed at the legendary Tower Ballroom, may be scrapped due to the pandemic, but at the moment — local lockdowns permitting — the plan is to go ahead as normal.

The shorter run is partly in order to minimise risks and quarantining, and partly to allow for as much as possible to be pre-recorded in order to keep the Elstree studio working.