08 August 2023 , 07:46
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Strictly Come Dancing has confirmed the ninth contestant taking part in the 2023 series of the BBC show.
Nikita Kanda was announced as the latest name to be taking to the dancefloor next month. The news was revealed on Tuesday's BBC Asian Network Breakfast with Nikita Kanda. It follows the announcement that Waterloo Road and former Emmerdale star Adam Thomas is on the line-up.
Nikita said of joining: "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!"
Nikita is best known for being the current host of the BBC Asian Network’s Breakfast show, previously having presented the Saturday afternoon show. Nikita is known for her star-studded interviews and she was recently nominated for an impressive Presenter of the Year at the Asian Media Awards. As well as her show, Nikita has also worked on BBC One’s The One Show.
Nikita Kanda was announced as the latest name to be taking to the dancefloor next month
Nikita is best known for being the current host of the BBC Asian Network’s Breakfast showIt's been an exciting day for Strictly announcements as Emmerdale and Waterloo Road's Adam, 34, was revealed as the eighth contestant 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!"
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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.
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.
On Monday Love Island's 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.
Emmerdale and Waterloo Road's Adam Thomas was revealed as the eighth contestantHer 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. 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.