Olympians hit Strictly dancefloor (From Hampshire Chronicle)
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Olympians hit Strictly dancefloor
7:56pm Monday 10th September 2012 in National News © Press Association 2013
Victoria Pendleton is among the stars taking part in this year's Strictly Come Dancing
The 14 stars who will grace the dancefloor for this year's Strictly Come Dancing have finally been confirmed, including Olympians Louis Smith and Victoria Pendleton who are trading medals for mirrorballs.
The pair will join stars such as Denise Van Outen and former children's TV host Johnny Ball who are among those moving on to a new cha-cha-challenge when the BBC1 series begins on Saturday.
Programmes bosses ended weeks of speculation about the line-up by announcing on The One Show the contestants who will don sequins and spray tans.
They include model Jerry Hall, former wife of Sir Mick Jagger, and actor Sid Owen, best known for his years as Ricky Butcher in EastEnders. Former This Morning presenter Fern Britton, who took part in a Strictly Christmas special is also among the hopefuls, along with James Bond actor Colin Salmon.
Gold-winning track cyclist Pendleton, who bowed out from her sport after London 2012, made no secret of her desire to take part in the ballroom show and her participation was confirmed earlier.
Gymnast Smith, who won silver in the pommel horse event, previous showed off his performance talents as a contestant on The X Factor which will soon go head-to-head with Strictly for Saturday night audiences.
Ball, whose daughter Zoe is a past contestant on the dance show and hosts spin-off programme It Takes Two, becomes the oldest contestant ever to take part, at the age of 74.
Former England cricket captain Michael Vaughan follows in the footsteps of fellow cricketers Darren Gough and Mark Ramprakash by taking part in the show. Former Emmerdale actress and You've Been Framed host Lisa Riley is also among the new intake who hope they will be this year's twinkle-toes.
Westlife's Nicky Byrne, Daybreak presenter Richard Arnold and actress Dani Harmer had already been confirmed for the show. Girls Aloud singer Kimberley Walsh used Twitter to tell her fans she is taking part.
Sir Bruce Forsyth and Tess Daly return as the hosts of this year's contest, with Darcey Bussell a new addition to the judging panel, joining regulars Bruno Tonioli, Craig Revel Horwood and Len Goodman.
