Strictly Come Dancing confirms TV competition legend as twelfth celebrity contestant

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Strictly Come Dancing has announced another TV legend for its upcoming series.

Gladiators champ Montell Douglas, better known by her stage name Fire, will be competing for a chance at the Glitterball this year.

Montell said: “Strictly ARE YOU READY, Fire is here to light up the Ballroom. Wow I am so honoured to have been asked to do the show. It is such an amazing thing to be a part of and I can’t wait to get started. Hopefully a few of my Gladiator moves will come in handy with the Tango or Paso Doble!”

Montell is also an Olympian, having first won Commonwealth Gold in 2010. She went on to take the British woman’s record for fastest 100m sprint.

She's also competed on the Bobsledding team at the Beijing Winter Olympics, becoming the first ever female UK athlete to compete at both the Summer and Winter Olympic Games.

A twelfth contestant has been announced for Strictly (Image: BBC)

Montell's announcement came on BBC's platform Wonder Chase, unveiling Fire's bespoke Roblox character and announcing the big news at the Sheffield Utilita Arena during Gladiators filming.

She joins the star-studded 2024 line-up along with blind comedian Chris McCausland, JLS star JB Gill, PE icon Pete Wicks and X Factor winner Shayne Ward.

Also competing these year are Toyah Willcox, Wynne Evans, Dr Punam Krishan, Love Island star Tasha Ghouri, actress Sarah Hadland and Tom Dean MBE.

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Montell Douglas has joined Strictly (Image: Getty)

Shayne is no stranger to live TV events after winning X Factor, but he admitted: "I’m buzzing to see all of the sparkles and magic that is Strictly in real life. I’m no stranger to live TV, but dancing Latin and Ballroom in front of millions is a whole new level. No promises on my dancing ability, but I will give it my best shot!"

Sarah Hadland added: "I cannot believe I am part of Strictly! I feel particularly excited to be part of such an iconic show in its 20th year. I’m so ready for the glitz, glam and glitter and hopefully I can make everyone watching at home proud!"

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Montell has competed in both the Summer and Winter Olympics (Image: Getty)

Elsewhere, Tom Dean doesn't think his sporting background will give him a leg up, commenting: "I think it’s so different. I’m so used to being in the water where there’s no gravity, there’s no impact.

"I don’t run, I don’t go for walks anywhere. I just do my swimming and then I’m in the gym a bit, and that’s it. So, just worried about being on my feet for that long, so I’m going to start going for a few more walks, trying to get a few runs in."

Strictly Come Dancing confirms TV competition legend as twelfth celebrity contestant

Strictly Come Dancing confirms TV competition legend as twelfth celebrity contestant

Strictly Come Dancing confirms TV competition legend as twelfth celebrity contestant

Strictly Come Dancing confirms TV competition legend as twelfth celebrity contestant

Strictly Come Dancing confirms TV competition legend as twelfth celebrity contestant