While there are still a lot of question marks hovering over this year’s series of Strictly Come Dancing, one thing that has been confirmed is that it will be going ahead, with some of the line-up having already been announced.
So far, 10 celebrities have been confirmed so far, including Caroline Quentin, Jason Bell, Max George and Clara Amfo.
Also competing in 2020 will be Ranvir Singh, JJ Chalmers, Bill Bailey and Nicola Adams, who will make history as part of the show’s first ever same-sex pairing.
Maisie Smith of EastEnders fame is also taking part, while Jamie Laing will be returning to the ballroom following his accident last year.
The big question is, with just a couple of spots left on the line-up, who else has been tipped to be taking part? Here’s a quick round-up of possible names...
Maya Jama
Former Radio 1 DJ Maya Jama is someone who’s rumoured to have been on Strictly bosses’ wishlist for some time – she even said in 2018 that she’d turned it down as she was concerned viewers wouldn’t know who she was.
In April 2020, it was reported by The Mirror that producers had made a “six-figure offer” to get Maya, and only a few weeks later, she announced she was leaving Radio 1 as future commitments meant she didn’t have time to commit to her usual weekend show.
At the time, she joked on Instagram: “Lol on it if they add a dancehall section.”
Still, we reckon she could well be one to look out for.
Steph McGovern
It’s been well-documented that 2020 is the year Strictly bosses want to introduce their first same-sex partnership to the dance floor, with The Sun reporting in June that producers are hoping the pair will be formed of two women.
This, of course, turned out to be true when Nicola Adams was announced for the series, but at the time, the tabloid also revealed a list of other famous women who were supposedly in the frame, which included Jessie J, Gillian Anderson and former BBC Breakfast star Steph McGovern, who would be the latest in a long line of the show’s presenters to do the Strictly.
Phillip Schofield
The Daily Star reported This Morning presenter Phillip was in “top secret talks” to compete as part of one of the show’s same-sex couples, after coming out as gay earlier this year.
However, this was shot down by his spokesperson, who insisted to Radio Times that the claims were completely “untrue”, adding: “He is not in talks with the BBC.”
Myleene Klass
It’s not just us who could have sworn Myleene Klass had already done Strictly Come Dancing, right? Well, she hasn’t, but it’s looking like 2020 could well be her year.
The Daily Star reported in May that Myleene was near the top of producers’ hit-list, having already made a stir on shows like I’m A Celebrity and, of course, Popstars.
And speaking of Popstars...
Nicki Chapman
Yes, that same Daily Star report also named Nicki Chapman as a potential celebrity contestant on the upcoming series.
The showbiz outlet claimed producers were keen on seeing Nicki and Myleene competing against one another, with the former having been a judge when the latter was a contestant on Popstars, eventually making it through to the winning group, Hear’Say.
Sophie Hinch
Perhaps better known under her online moniker Mrs Hinch, Sophie is the vlogger responsible for making thousands of viewers around the UK think differently about cleaning (and getting them to stock up on Zoflora, of course).
Having already attracted YouTube stars over the last two years, The Mirror reported that bosses were keen to continue the trend in 2020, with Mrs Hinch’s name cropping up as one that the BBC was especially keen on signing.
Michelle Keegan
Well, it wouldn’t be a Strictly rumours round-up without a mention for Michelle Keegan, would it?
The former Coronation Street star has literally been rumoured for Strictly every year since she quit the soap (six years ago!), and true to form, she was “tipped” for the upcoming series back in April.
However, a source has since told The Sun that she’s not interested, as she has “more pressing things in the pipeline”.
Angellica Bell
Former CBBC presenter and regular One Show host and contributor Angelica has been linked to Strictly a number of times before, but has so far never joined the line-up.
However, she recently addressed the rumours in an interview with The Sun, saying cryptically: “I like challenges, so who knows?
“I can’t imagine ever learning steps but I like clubbing and think I’m quite a good dancer. But that doesn’t mean it will translate to Strictly.”
Katie McGlynn
Like Michelle, Katie McGlynn has repeatedly been linked with a spot on Strictly, as well as its ITV rival Dancing On Ice, since stepping down from her role as Sinead in Corrie.
The Mirror reported that Katie had been linked with a spot on this year’s line-up, after impressing viewers with her turn on the celebrity version of The Greatest Dancer for Sport Relief.
Joe Wicks
One of the true stars of lockdown, Joe Wicks has been keeping the nation fit and raising thousands for the NHS in the process.
We wouldn’t be at all surprised if he was to capitalise on his surge in popularity and sign up for one of the most-watched shows on TV, with The Sun claiming he was at the centre of a bidding war between Strictly and I’m A Celebrity.
However, The Body Coach has since confirmed to Metro that he won’t be signing up this year, pointing out that “the same rumour [has circulated] every year for three years now”.
Michelle Ackerley
According to The Sun, Michelle Ackerley could be following in the footsteps of fellow CBBC star Karim Zeroual by participating on the show.
She is known to kids and adults alike, hosting Art Ninja on the BBC’s children’s network and presenting The One Show and Watchdog.
She’s also no stranger to reality TV, having competed on Celebrity Masterchef a couple of years ago.
Alan Carr
After Alan was strongly rumoured to be joining the Strictly line-up last year, he told the Loose Women that 2020 could finally be the year he signs up.
He said at the time: “I will do it, but next year. I’ve got a busy year. They cornered me and they said, ‘Would you do it?’”
Fingers crossed they’ve managed to persuade him this time.
Catherine Tate
Probably the most surprising stars on this list, sketch comedian Catherine Tate was named as one of the celebrities being eyed by Strictly bosses back in April.
The Mirror reported that because of Catherine’s existing profile in the UK, they were willing to fork out to get her on the line-up.
Iain Stirling
Love Island’s narrator has got a bit of time on his hands after both the summer and winter series of the ITV2 reality show were cancelled, but The Sun reported Strictly bosses were hoping to fill his schedule by signing him up.
He’d also be able to get some dance tips from his girlfriend and Love Island presenter Laura Whitmore, who took part on the 2016 series of Strictly.
RuPaul
RuPaul was one of the first names attached to this year’s series back in April after the success of Drag Race co-star Michelle Visage on Strictly in 2019.
However, with travel restrictions to and from the US currently in place and filming on various series of Drag Race needing to be rescheduled, who knows if Ru would even be able to take part now.
Tamzin Outhwaite
After Tamzin’s EastEnders character was killed off in spectacular fashion in dramatic scenes last year, could her next TV role see her taking to the dancefloor?
The Sun reported that she was in “advance talks” to appear on Strictly, with a source saying that she’s “excited” at the prospect, given her performance background.
However, reports have since linked her to a spot on the I’m A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! line-up instead.
Tim Lovejoy
Tim appears to have caught the Strictly bug from his Sunday Brunch co-host Simon Rimmer.
According to The Sun, he’s keen on giving the show a go after watching his mate on the show in 2017.
Zoe Sugg
Undoubtedly one of the most famous YouTubers in Britain – with make-up lines and books to her name, not to mention an actual Madame Tussads waxwork – Zoella is another star whose name has repeatedly been linked with a spot on the Strictly line-up.
It looks as though this is the year we could finally see her on the dance-floor, though, following in the footsteps of her brother, Joe Sugg, who made it to the final in 2018, and now hosts his own Strictly podcast.
Holly Hubert
And if the rise of YouTube vloggers as celebrities is something that makes you feel old, then allow us to introduce you to Holly Hubert. Or Holly H as she’s known to her 16.7 million TikTok followers.
The Mirror has claimed bosses are keen to sign up stars from different social media platforms in a bid to keep younger viewers interested, with the 23-year-old TikTok star among those they’re interested in.
Given her moves in the video above, we think we’re in for some real entertainment, if nothing else.
Tilly Ramsay
In keeping with the previously-mentioned social media stars, Tilly Ramsay is another name that has been mentioned as a potential Strictly signing.
A source told The Sun that Tilly was “in talks” with the BBC for this year’s series, having made a name for herself on YouTube and with her own CBBC cooking shows.
Of course, to many, she’s best known as the 18-year-old daughter of celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay, and we wouldn’t fancy being the judge who had to critique Tilly’s dancing in front of her dad...
Jane Goldman
But Tilly isn’t the only one of this year’s rumoured Strictly stars with a famous connection.
Screenwriter Jane Goldman is known for penning films like Kick-Ass, various instalments in the X-Men series and Disney’s upcoming remake of The Little Mermaid.
In May, Jane – who is married to broadcaster Jonathan Ross – was tipped to be be in “advanced talks” to sign up for Strictly by the Daily Mail, but she has now denied that this is the case.