Strictly Come Dancing Confirms Anneka Rice As Last Contestant Of 2019 Line-Up

TV personality Anneka Rice is the final star to be announced for this year’s Strictly Come Dancing.

The presenter was announced as the 15th celebrity contestant on Wednesday during an appearance on BBC Radio 2, completing this year’s line-up. 

Anneka Rice has been confirmed for this year's Strictly Come Dancing

She said: “I haven’t danced since I was seven and Miss Beer sent me home from my ballet class because I was hopelessly uncoordinated. My family and friends haven’t seen me dance since, not at a wedding or round a handbag, so it’s going to be a challenge for my partner.

“In fact, I’ve asked for two – one on each side. I can’t see myself in a long frilly dress either. But I’m feeling recklessly excited.

“Strictly has always been my Autumn’s entertainment and now I’m part of it! My children will probably leave the country.”

Anneka rose to fame in the 1980s as one of the hosts of Channel 4′s Treasure Hunt. She then went on to front her own BBC game show Challenge Anneka, which ran from 1989 to 1995. 

More recently, she appeared on a celebrity version of Channel 4′s Hunted in aid of Stand Up To Cancer last year. 

Olympic rowing champion James Cracknell was also confirmed for Strictly on Wednesday, becoming the fourth sporting star on the line-up, alongside former England footballer David James, Paralympic champion Will Bayley and footballer and presenter Alex Scott.

James and Anneka join other the confirmed celebrities, comedian Chris RamseyEastEnders star Emma Barton, YouTuber Saffron Barker, Coronation Street’s Catherine Tyldesley, BBC Breakfast’s Mike Bushell, CBBC presenter Karim Zeroual, Viscountess Emma Weymouth, RuPaul’s Drag Race judge Michelle Visage, Made In Chelsea’s Jamie Laing and Radio 1 DJ Dev Griffin

Strictly Come Dancing returns to BBC One in the autumn.