Strictly Come Dancing: Adam Thomas and Nikita Kanda confirmed
Strictly Come Dancing: Emmerdale star Adam Thomas and TV and radio presenter Nikita Kanda are confirmed for BBC show
Adam Thomas and Nikita Kanda are is the eighth and ninth celebrity contestants confirmed for the brand new series of Strictly Come Dancing.
Adam is best known for playing Adam Barton in ITV soap Emmerdale as well as his recent return to BBC series Waterloo Road.
Nikita the current host of the BBC Asian Network’s Breakfast show.
After the news of Adam’s signing was revealed on The Hits Radio Breakfast Show with Fleur East, James & Matt on Tuesday morning, he gushed: ‘I am so excited to be joining the cast of this years’ Strictly Come Dancing. I’ve been such a big fan of the show for years, I can’t believe I’m actually doing it!’
‘I can’t dance to save my life but I’m buzzing to learn and have a good laugh with my pro. Get me on that dance floor…I can’t wait!’
Speaking to previous contestant Fleur East on her radio show, Adam admitted ‘Everybody says I can dance but the only time anyone has seen me dance is when I’m drunk and sober dancing and drunk dancing, completely two different things.’
Ballroom-bound: Adam Thomas is the eighth celebrity contestant confirmed for the brand new series of Strictly Come Dancing
Radio star: Nikita Kanda was also confirmed on Tuesday morning. She is the current host of the BBC Asian Network’s Breakfast show
Alongside Emmerdale, Adam is also known for reprising his role as Donte Charles in BBC One’s Waterloo Road after being an original cast member in the original series.
He appeared in ITV’s I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here in 2016, and went on to co-host the spin-off–I’m a Celebrity: Extra Camp.
In 2020 Adam teamed up with his brothers Ryan and Scott for six-part ITV travel series Absolutely India: Mancs in Mumbai where they took their late father back to Mumbai to trace their heritage and long lost relatives.
He also co-hosts popular podcast series Mancs on the Mic, alongside his brothers.
Adam’s brothers are also known for their reality show stints. His twin brother Scott was a Love Island finalist in 2016 while older brother Ryan won the final series of Celebrity Big Brother.
Adam has been married to his wife Caroline since 2017 and the couple share two children – a son called Teddy and a daughter called Elsie-Rose.
Nikita is best known for being the current host of the BBC Asian Network’s Breakfast show, previously having presented the Saturday afternoon show.
She has interviewed everyone from Killing Eve star Sandra Oh, Bridgerton actors Kate Sharma and Charithra Chandran, to Marvel actress Awkwafina and global pop star Nick Jonas.
TV star: Adam is best known for playing Adam Barton in ITV soap Emmerdale as well as his recent return to BBC series Waterloo Road (pictured in Emmerdale in 2017)
Family: Adam has been married to his wife Caroline since 2017 and the couple share two children – a son called Teddy and a daughter called Elsie-Rose
Recently nominated for Presenter of the Year at the Asian Media Awards, Nikita has also fronted regular reports on BBC One’s The One Show.
Nikita said: ‘I can’t believe I’m going to be on Strictly. This is a dream come true. I’m still pinching myself. I don’t think it will properly sink in until I step onto the dancefloor. I can’t wait to get glammed up and get out there. Throw the glitter on me!’
The news was revealed on Tuesday morning on BBC Asian Network Breakfast with Nikita Kanda.
On Monday Love Island star Zara McDermott was the seventh celeb contestant confirmed.
Following the announcement Zara said: ‘I am so excited to be joining the world of Strictly! I grew up watching it every year with my nan and she was the biggest Strictly fan’.
On the airways: Nikita is best known for being the current host of the BBC Asian Network’s Breakfast show, previously having presented the Saturday afternoon show
TV stints: Recently nominated for Presenter of the Year at the Asian Media Awards, Nikita has also fronted regular reports on BBC One’s The One Show
‘We would dance around the house and I have such fond memories of that time in my life. I even remember the first ever series, and being mesmerised by all the beautiful dresses!’
Before adding: ‘I can’t wait to throw myself into this experience and start training. It’s going to be incredible’.
In July MailOnline exclusively revealed that documentary maker Zara would become the first ever Love Island contestant to appear on the BBC show.
Adam and Zara join already announced stars Angela Rippon, Amanda Abbington, Layton Williams, Krishnan Guru-Murphy Eddie Kadi and Angela Scanlon.
STRICTLY COME DANCING 2023: WHO ARE THE CONTESTANTS?
Angela Rippon
Age: 78
Profession: Journalist
Angela says: ‘Having been a fan of Strictly since day one, and as a former presenter of Come Dancing, this will be quite an adventure for me. A scary one, considering I’m about to be 79. But I’m looking forward to the challenge, and perhaps being able to learn to dance the Argentine Tango.’
Amanda Abbington
Age: 49
Profession: Actress
Amanda says: ‘I’m thrilled to have been asked to do Strictly. I’m actually really shy and self-conscious so this will be a great opportunity for me to overcome those things.’
Layton Williams
Age: 28
Profession: Actor
Layton says: ‘Absolutely buzzing to confirm that I will be taking part in THE most iconic dance competition in the UK! It’s time to bring it to the Ballroom. So excited to learn new skills from the best. Bring on the sequins… ALL the sequins!’
Krishnan Guru-Murphy
Age: 53
Profession: Journalist
Krishnan says: ‘I’m surprised, delighted and slightly confused to find myself taking part in Strictly on the basis of ‘You only live once!’ I can’t wait to start learning to dance, but I am slightly worried about my general decrepitude.’
Eddie Kadi
Age: 40
Profession: Comedian and radio presenter
Eddie says: ‘WOW. Anyone who knows me, understands that music and dance is so important and central to who I am. I’m so unbelievably proud and honoured that Strictly and the BBC have asked me to join the 2023 Team. I promise you, I’m going to give it everything I’ve got. This is going to be a VIBE.
Angela Scanlon
Age: 39
Profession: TV presenter
Angela says: ‘I’m not particularly fit, I’ve no idea how my pelvic floor is going to react to this dancing. I’ve never done any dances apart from drunken jiving at a wedding!’
Zara McDermott
Age: 26
Profession: Documentary maker and former Love Island star
Zara says: ‘I am so excited to be joining the world of Strictly! I grew up watching it every year with my nan and she was the biggest Strictly fan. We would dance around the house and I have such fond memories of that time in my life.’
Adam Thomas
Age: 34
Profession: Actor and presenter
Adam says: ‘I can’t dance to save my life but I’m buzzing to learn and have a good laugh with my pro. Get me on that dance floor…I can’t wait!’
Nikita Kanda
Age: 27
Profession: Radio and TV presenter
Nikita says: ‘I can’t believe I’m going to be on Strictly. This is a dream come true. I’m still pinching myself. I don’t think it will properly sink in until I step onto the dancefloor. I can’t wait to get glammed up and get out there. Throw the glitter on me!’
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