Strictly Come Dancing 'signs up Doctor Who star' as rehearsals begin

Doctor Who actress Alex Kingston has reportedly signed up to join this year's line-up of Strictly Come Dancing. According to reports, the highly acclaimed actress, 62, will join reality TV star Dani Dyer, former Coronation Street actress Helen Flanagan, Apprentice star Thomas Skinner and Neighbours actor Stefan Dennis.

Olympic gold medallist Sir Mo Farah, presenter Stacey Solomon and Vicky Pattison, who made her name on the back of Geordie Shore, are also rumoured to take part. As yet the BBC have not confirmed the official celebrity line-up.

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A TV insider told The Sun: "She’s a real talent and will add a lot, it’s always exciting to have a prestigious actress on the cast."

They added: "It’s the first time Alex has done a reality show of any kind, but she’s a huge fan of the show and couldn’t resist the opportunity." The Mirror has reached out to Strictly Come Dancing for comment.

Alex became a firm favourite of Doctor Who fans after landing the role of River Song and her character was part of David Tenant, Matt Smith and Peter Capaldi's stints on the sci-fi show. Her TV career has spanned many years as she has starred in US medical drama ER, period dramas The Fortunes and Misfortunes of Moll Flanders, Arrow and A Discovery of Witches.

Alex has made no secret of her love of the show and expressed that she would love to take part, similar to that of Sarah Hadland. In 2019, Alex said: "Sarah Hadland and I talked about how much we’d like to do Strictly Come Dancing. Then I discovered she’s a trained ballet dancer. 'Hang on a minute! That’s not fair!' So, I can’t do it on a season when she is on it!"

A spokesman for the BBC told the Mirror: "We don’t comment on speculation.”

Another star that has reportedly signed up to the BBC show is model Ellie Goldstein who plans to change the perspective of people with Down's Syndrome. Ellie has been a model since the age of 14 years old and has made history by landing the cover of Vogue and inspiring a Barbie doll.

In an interview with Metro, she explained: "People like me lead to change slowly in the industry.’ ‘People need to know about me and my condition. We need more disability representation out there."

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Lead judge Shirley Ballas has expressed her excitement for the return of the show this year. While on This Morning, she said: "We've got a cast, I know I say it every year, but we've got the cast of all casts. It's gonna be absolutely off the charts."

Shirley will be joined by fan favourites Motsi Mabuse, Craig Revel Horwood and Anton Du Beke.

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