STRICTLY Come Dancing’s head judge Shirley Ballas has confirmed that two brand-new professional dancers are joining the upcoming series — and she’s calling the line-up “off the charts”.
Appearing on ITV’s This Morning earlier today, Shirley couldn’t hide her excitement as she spilled a few juicy titbits about what fans can expect when Strictly waltzes back onto screens later this year.
“I can tell you that we have two new professionals joining the show and they are amazing,” she gushed.
“There’s a few little changes — you know they do little things every year. But we’ve got the cast of all cast. It’s going to be off the charts!”
Things took a cheeky turn when Paul C Brunson, relationship expert from Married At First Sight, happened to cross over with Shirley.
Host Ben Shephard couldn’t resist stirring the pot, referencing The Sun’s exclusive story that Paul has been signed to the 2025 series.
Ben said: “Well apparently Paul is in the line-up… show us a move!” to which Paul responded with a slick body wave that had the studio in stitches.
Shirley clapped but played coy and expertly deflected the speculation, refusing to officially confirm anything.
It comes after Giovanni Pernice and Graziano Di Prima’s exits from the show.
Giovanni, 34, sensationally quit Strictly in May last year following allegations about his behaviour in rehearsals from former partner Amanda Abbington.
Months later Graziano, 31, was sacked after an altercation with Zara McDermott during her time on the show.
Last month The Sun revealed one of the new dancers in talks to join the show after he was seen in rehearsals with the team.
We told how dancer and choreographer Luke Miller is hotly tipped to be announced as one of professionals.
Fellow professional Dianne Buswell, 36, has also revealed two new dancers will join the competition when Strictly returns later this year.
Speaking on her podcast with Chris McCausland, she told her co-host: “You were in my dream the other day.
“We’ve got two new pros this year on Strictly – don’t know who they are yet – a new boy and a new girl.”
Comedian Chris, 48 – who won the show with Dianne last year – asked: “Who are they getting rid of?”
Dianne replied: “Nobody, but we’re adding two more. I dreamt that you were the new pro male. But I was fake happy, and it’s really mean for me to say that, but I wasn’t really happy for you.
“I was like, ‘what the hell? He’s going to think he’s better than me now’.
“And to make it worse you won the series, so you were a double winner and I was like, ‘this isn’t fair, now everyone’s going to think it wasn’t me who made him win it was actually himself that won it the first time’.”
Shirley was on This Morning to announce a casting call for a dog to star in Coronation Street[/caption]
