Strictly Come Dancing completes the 2020 line-up with 21-year-old singer and YouTube star HRVY

YouTube star HRVY has been confirmed as a contestant on the upcoming series of Strictly Come Dancing, rounding out of the cast for this year’s competition. 

The 21-year-old is a singer and CBBC presenter, with an album set to be released this November, and is 12th star to be unveiled as a participant on the BBC ballroom show.

HRVY, real name Harvey Leigh Cantwell, said in a statement announcing the news:  ‘Being on Strictly is going to be such an amazing experience and I’m so thankful to be taking part this year.’

He added: ‘I think my mum is more excited that she’ll be able to see me every Saturday night now.’

HRVY follows in the footsteps of former internet star contestants Joe Sugg and Saffron Barker – the latter of whom is close friends with him. 

The pair have also been linked romantically, with HRVY serenading Saffron on her YouTube channel. They have also been on tour together.

The pair have claimed, however, that they are just friends.

HRVY has a following on YouTube of 2.76 million, and 4.6 million Instagram followers. His YouTube videos have been viewed over 500 million times.

While HRVY is still unconfirmed, Made In Chelsea star Jamie Laing and EastEnders actress Maisie Smith were the latest celebs confirmed to be taking part in the 2020 series of Strictly Come Dancing on Thursday.

Jamie was forced to pull out of the 2019 series before the first dance after injuring his foot, while Maisie is best known for her role as Tiffany Butcher in EastEnders.

The two celebrities were unveiled live on ITV’s This Morning, while Thursday also saw comedian Bill Bailey and Invictus Games star JJ Chalmers announced.

Maisie, 19, can’t wait to get started, telling the BBC: ‘Get me in those sequins, I can’t wait to dive into the Strictly fancy dress box this winter! This is a dream come true.’

Maisie made her acting debut playing a young Elizabeth in feature film The Other Boleyn Girl alongside Scarlett Johansson and Eddie Redmayne. 

That same year, Maisie stormed into Albert Square as Tiffany, daughter of Bianca and now member of the long established Butcher family.

Maisie has won numerous awards for her portrayal of Tiffany including ‘Best Dramatic Performance from a Young Actress’ at the British Soap Awards and ‘Best Young Actor’ at the Inside Soap Awards.

As well as acting, Maisie has released two singles in 2016 and 2017 under an independent record label.  She hit headlines over the summer, when she was spotted smoking a ‘strong-smelling’ cigarette at the wheel of her car.

A furious source told The Sun of her Strictly signing before it was announced on Thursday: ‘It is unthinkable that Strictly would sign her after the few weeks she has had. The show is the pinnacle of the BBC and gives rising stars and established ones a huge step to more fame.

‘So it’s very weird to give someone whose future was very unclear just weeks ago such an opportunity. Perhaps they see it as a way of nailing down a rising star rather than her leaving and taking with her a young audience.’

She is reportedly still being investigated by BBC bosses – who were also left aggravated by her for allegedly signing a big money TikTok deal, despite being told not to by soap chiefs.

Maisie, who plays Tiffany Butcher in the soap, has apparently violated the terms of her EastEnders contract by inking a deal to promote musicians on the app.

Maisie has experience on the Strictly dance floor, having won the 2019 Children In Need special of the show last year with partner Kevin Clifton. She told This Morning thought that the win ‘was an absolute fluke. I’ve a bit of dancing experience but I have no technical ability at all. I feel like I was very lucky with that, but who knows? I could be the dark horse.’

Made In Chelsea’s Jamie Laing was signed on for Strictly 2019, even being partnered up and appearing in the opening episode of the series.

He was forced, however, to withdraw from the competition after suffering a foot injury in rehearsals, leaving him unable to dance.

Soap actor Kelvin Fletcher was drafted in as his replacement – ending up winning the series with partner Oti Mabuse.

Jamie said at the time: ‘I just wanted to give a quick update because it’s been released now. Because of my injury, I won’t be competing on Strictly this year, which is incredibly devastating and really upsetting. But these things happen in life, and when they happen, you have to push forward and be positive.’

When Kelvin and Oti won, he playfully tweeted: ‘Congratulations to @kelvin_fletcher and @OtiMabuse you guys rocked it!! Thank god for my broken foot #Strictlyfinal.’ 

Speaking on Thursday Jamie said he was delighted to be given a second chance, telling This Morning’s Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield: ‘I’m back, I’m over the moon I actually get to come back and dance again. It’s going to be unbelievably amazing. I’m super excited for it.’

Zoe Ball’s Radio 2 Breakfast Show announced Bill’s participation, with the comedian calling in and telling the It Takes Two host: ‘I haven’t been to stage school to learn to dance, I haven’t lived for the dance as some may have done, I’m not Lord of the Dance, more a sort of caretaker of the dance, so it’s going to be quite a challenge.’

Meanwhile over on ITV’s Lorraine, ex marine JJ admitted: ‘It’s all just become very real. I’m always looking for a challenge and to push myself outside my comfort zone,’ and said he hoped his friend Prince Harry would be watching.

Comedian Bill, 55, has been rumoured for some time, with a source telling The Sun: ‘It’s a hard time for live performers so it seemed a good chance for Bill to commit to the show.’ 

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

Speaking to Zoe on Thursday morning he joked his famous long locks will be ‘flying free like a spaniel out of a car window.’ As for his dance background, the funnyman admitted it was ‘a little patchy.’ 

‘Off stage, comics love an adrenaline rush, new challenges. And this year when things are so surreal we’re looking to do that and learn a new skill,’ he explained, adding that his favourite dance is the hokey cokey. 

Bill added in a statement to the BBC: ‘In these strange times we’re living through, it feels right to do something different and take on a new challenge.

So I am delighted to be a part of this year’s unique Strictly Come Dancing. My late mum Madrin would have loved it – I hope she’ll be watching.’

Bill is a comedian, musician, author, documentary-maker and keen outdoors enthusiast best known for his live comedy and for the tv shows Black Books, Never Mind the Buzzcocks and QI  and his work as a touring comedian.

His live shows always feature ingenious and original musical elements drawing on Bill’s skills as a classically trained musician and multi-instrumentalist.

JJ Chalmers, 33, was a Royal Marine who served in Helmand, Afghanistan with 42 Commando and, in May 2011, lost two fingers and his right elbow in an IED blast.

By September 2014, he took part as a non-amputee cyclist for Britain at the Invictus Games and won bronze in the 1-mile time trial and the 4 × 100m mixed relay race.

He scooped gold as captain of the trike team for the Men’s IRecB1 Recumbent Circuit Race, as part of a British trio who crossed the finishing line together.

He has since carved a media career, presenting the likes of the Paralympic Games, the Commonwealth Games and the London Marathon, as well as punditry on The One Show.

‘My whole life is defined by facing challenges. Whether it’s becoming a Royal Marine Commando, recovering from my injuries sustained in Afghanistan to competing in The Invictus Games,’ he told the BBC.

‘Now as a TV Presenter I’m lucky enough to witness some of the greatest sporting contests in the world. Strictly is a whole different ball game in respect to the challenges I will face but I’m up for an adventure and at least my mum will know where I am!’ 

Speaking to Lorraine on Thursday, he said he knows his close friend Prince Harry will be supporting him. ‘I know from a mutual friend, Dave Henson, he was watching him when he won his bronze medal. I think he’s going to have a great laugh,’ JJ said.

‘He is really a cornerstone in creating this opportunity because he created the Invictus Games. He should take massive pride that one of his lads has gone on to this level in their chosen field. I’ll give this my all and I hope he’s watching.’

Speaking about how his injuries may affect his dancing, JJ explained: ‘Ultimately that’s going to be down to whoever I get partnered with, they’re going to have the work cut out. Just looking at myself on the telly, I can tell I have terribly posture and that’s because of my injuries. I don’t want special treatment but of course we have to level the playing field so that it is fair.’

‘I’ve been in touch with my surgeon and physios and we’ll have a team that’ll hold us together, I’m on this show not because I got blown up or I’m an Invictus Games medallist, I’m going to give it my absolute everything.’ 

’10 years ago, I was standing in a dustbox in Afghanistan. This was never a consideration or a dream. It’s completely insane.’ 

With seven of the Strictly line-up already unveiled this week, the remaining list of contestants has also supposedly been leaked. 

On Tuesday and Wednesday, DJ Clara Amfo, boxer Nicola Adams, NFL player Jason Bell, actress Caroline Quentin, news anchor Ranvir Singh and pop star Max George were announced as the first set of stars vying for the 2020 glitterball trophy.

And on Wednesday night, The Sun leaked the names of the supposed other contestants.

Ex-Home Secretary Jacqui Smith was among the names along with Jamie and Maisie. 

Jacqui, 57, made headlines when she was investigated by the Parliamentary Commissioner For Standards for her alleged involvement in the MP’s expenses scandal of 2009.

She was accused of inappropriately designating her sister’s home in London as her main residence, allowing her to claim over £116,000 on her family’s Redditch home since becoming an MP.

She responded to this by claiming she had merely followed advice from parliamentary authorities.

She was said to have claimed flat-screen TVs and scatter cushions in her expenses, insisting that it was the ‘nature of her job’ to furnish two homes.

One expense revealed that pornographic films had been bought and viewed in the family home, later revealed to have been ordered by Jacqui’s husband, Richard Timney, whom she separated from in 2019.

She then made headlines in May 2009 when she named 16 ‘undesirable individuals’, including convicted murderers and advocates of violence, who were to be banned from entering the UK – resulting in her being sued by American talk radio host Michael Savage, who was on the list.

She resigned as Home Secretary in June 2009 and lost her seat as MP for Redditch in 2010. 

Caroline Quentin, Max George and Jason Bell were unveiled as the first three celebrities to take part in this year’s series. 

The big reveal took place on Tuesday’s instalment of The One Show – following months of uncertainty amid the COVID-19 crisis as to whether Strictly 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. 

 Rounding off this year’s confirmed stars is Olympic boxer Nicola Adams – who will make history as part of the first same-sex pairing – and Good Morning Britain presenter Ranvir Singh. Radio 1 DJ Clara Amfo was also confirmed on Wednesday.

Nicola said in a statement: ‘It’s amazing to be a part of the movement for change, diversity and breaking boundaries in the entertainment industry.’ 

Nicola, 37, added: ‘I’m really excited to be joining this year’s incredible line-up for Strictly Come Dancing. I’m a huge fan of the show and am thrilled to be part of something that holds such a special place in so many people’s hearts.’

‘People might know me from work in the ring, but I’ll be every bit as passionate and dedicated on the dance-floor too.’

‘I also wanted to thank the BBC for supporting me and making me the first ever all female-pairing; and it’s amazing to be a part of the movement for change, diversity and breaking boundaries in the entertainment industry.’ 

Speaking live from her home on BBC Breakfast, Nicola said of her groundbreaking all-female pairing: ‘It’s really important, it’s a big step for the show as well. It’s nice to see we’ve been able to move on and I just can’t wait to get some dancing done really.’

Revealing she approached Strictly with the idea for a same-sex pairing, Nicola explained: ‘I asked the show about it. They wanted to know if I wanted to be on the show and I said ‘yeah I’ll do it but I want to dance with another female dance partner.”

‘It’s definitely a time for change and time to move on and be more diverse. This is a brilliant step in the right direction. It will be nice for the LGBT community to be able to see that there are same sex couples on the show as well.’ 

Nicola became the first female amateur boxer to win an Olympic gold medal at London 2012 and became double Olympic champion following her second gold medal win in Rio 2016 as well as being the first boxer in history to retain an Olympic title. 

Having also become World Amateur Champion in May 2016 she secured a grand slam of titles, and is the only female boxer in the history of the sport to have won every major title available to her; Olympic, World, European and Commonwealth.

In recognition of her services to boxing and unprecedented achievement, Nicola was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2013 New Year’s Honours list. She was made an OBE in the 2016 New Year’s Honours list.  

Radio 1 presenter Clara Amfo, 36, was confirmed to be taking part via an announcement on Greg James’ Breakfast Show, also on Wednesday morning, while GMB confirmed Ranvir Singh was hitting the floor live on the ITV morning 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!’ 

Clara announced her involvement by telling Breakfast Show host Greg James: ‘You know how when we do the Live Lounge, people always say I can’t sit still? You know how at the Christmas party I’m usually the first one on the dance floor and the last one off?’

‘And you know, I love a short skirt to upset my mum so guess what I’m doing Strictly Come Dancing!’ 

The star added to 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.’RounTalking 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.’