'I have the dancing ability of a newly born giraffe'

Stand-up Ellie Taylor has joined the line-up for this year’s Strictly Come Dancing.

She said: ‘Well, cover me in fake tan and roll me in sequins! I'm absolutely over the moon to be a part of Strictly 2022.

‘I’ve watched the show for years so to be able to take to the dance floor is a dream come true, for both me and mum who is a Strictly super fan.

‘At the moment, I'm focusing on the excitement and glitter and choosing to ignore the fact that I have the dancing ability of a newly born giraffe. Bring it on!’

She is the ninth celebrity contestant confirmed for the hit BBC One show, with fellow comic Jayde Adams and sitcom star Will Mellor previously announced.

The news was revealed on ITV’s Lorraine this morning.

Ellie Taylor began her career as a stand-up via ITV’s reality programme Show Me The Funny. She is known as a regular on the BBC’s Mock The Week and The Mash Report and its follow-up Late Night Mash.

More recently she has co-hosted Channel 4’s The Great Pottery Throw Down and as an actress appears in Apple TV+’s Ted Lasso.

Her debut book, My Child and Other Mistakes, became a Sunday Times bestseller last year, while she is set to present You Won’t Believe This for Channel 4 and Cheats, alongside Danny Dyer, for  Netflix.

The rest of the Strictly 2022 line-up comprises Kym Marsh, Richie Anderson, Kaye Adams, Ellie Simmonds, Tyler West and Matt Goss.

» Jayde Adams joins Strictly

Published: 9 Aug 2022