08 August 2023 , 07:17
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Strictly Come Dancing has confirmed the eighth contestant taking part in the 2023 series of the BBC show. Adam Thomas was announced as the latest name to be taking to the dancefloor next month. The former Emmerdale star and Waterloo Road actor, 34, was unveiled as the next participant on Tuesday's The Hits Radio Breakfast Show.
Adam said of joining: "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!"
The actor is best known for playing Adam Barton in Emmerdale, where he won a TV Choice award for Best Soap Newcomer and was involved in several explosive storylines. Adam left the hit ITV soap in 2018 and has recently reprised his role in Waterloo Road as fan favourite Donte Charles.
Adam Thomas was announced as the latest name to be taking to the dancefloor next month (David Fisher/REX/Shutterstock)
The actor is best known for playing Adam Barton in Emmerdale (ITV)As well as his acting credentials, Adam appeared on I'm A Celebrity in 2016, finishing in third place. In 2020, Adam teamed up with his famous brothers Coronation Street star Ryan Thomas and Love Island star Scott Thomas 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, and to see for the first time the country where the brothers descended from.
It follows Monday's announcement that saw one Love Island star make show history. Zara McDermott was announced to be the first ever villa star to take part in the BBC series, after a 'ban' on Islanders taking part.
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Her stint on the BBC show was announced on BBC Radio 1, where she joined the station's Going Home with Vick and Jordan show to share the exciting news. Speaking to hosts Vick Hope and Jamie Laing, Zara revealed she was "scared" but "excited" to take on something "so far out of her comfort zone". She said: "I've been rewatching last year's in detail, analysing everything, every dance.
"I'm scared, scared but excited. There is gonna be challenges with everything. I'm excited for the slower stuff. It's such a far cry from my day job… this is live, you cannot make a mistake. You get one take and one take only. This is so far out of my comfort zone."
She added: "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.
Former Love Island star, Zara McDermott, was announced on Monday night"I even remember the first ever series, and being mesmerised by all the beautiful dresses! I can’t wait to throw myself into this experience and start training. It’s going to be incredible."
It comes after Angela Scanlon, best known for hosting Your Home Made Perfect on BBC Two as well as for her work on The One Show and Robot Wars, was announced as the sixth celebrity to join the BBC show. Prior to this, Sherlock star Amanda Abbington, Angela Rippon and Layton Williams, were all confirmed during a bumper reveal on The One Show last week, with fans thrilled to see them taking part. Also on the bill is comedian Eddie Kadi, while more names are set to be announced.