While the latest Strictly Come Dancing line-up has come in for criticism over its lack of star power, across the pond, bosses have pulled out all the stops to secure big names for their upcoming series.
Queer Eye’s Karamo Brown and former White House press secretary Sean Spicer have been named as two of the celebrities taking to the floor on Dancing With The Stars.
They will be joined by model Christie Brinkley, Dawson’s Creek actor James Van Der Beek, former NBA basketball player and former Mr Khloe Kardashian Lamar Odom and Kel Mitchell of 90s sitcom Kenan & Kel.
The line-up was announced on US breakfast show Good Morning America on Wednesday, where Sean Spicer wasn’t exactly feeling confident about his dance ability.
President Trump’s former aide, who was fired in 2017, said: “I was kicked out of band in sixth grade and the quote was ‘You have the sense of beat of a steamroller’.”
Karamo added: “I want the sequins, I want the moves, I want it all.”
Christie Brinkley also said she does not think her current role as Roxie Hart in Chicago on Broadway will give her an advantage.
“No, not at all. I think of the real dancers like they could knock their own teeth out with their knee,” she said.
“I can barely get my leg up and, believe me, what I learned in Chicago doing the honey rag, you cannot dance to Beyoncé doing the honey rag, so I need some moves.”
Also taking part are country singer Lauren Alaina, former Fifth Harmony member Ally Brooke, ex-NFL star Ray Lewis, The Office actress Kate Flannery and The Bachelorette star Hannah Brown.
Meanwhile, the upcoming series of Strictly features the likes of RuPaul’s Drag Race star Michelle Visage, Olympic rower James Cracknell, comedian Chris Ramsey, ex-footballer David James, EastEnders star Emma Barton and ex-Coronation Street actress Catherine Tyldesley.
The new series of Dancing With The Stars will begin on US network ABC on 16 September, while Strictly Come Dancing begins on BBC One on 7 September.
