Strictly Come Dancing 2016 line-up: Laura Whitmore named first female contestant
The Irish presenter joins the already confirmed Will Young and Ed Balls
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Your support makes all the difference.With the upcoming series of Strictly Come Dancing a mere month away, the contestant announcements are sure to come thick and fast over the coming weeks.
Pop Idol winner Will Young and former shadow chancellor Ed Balls have already been confirmed to appear, but now the BBC has announced its first female participant to be added to this year's line-up: TV presenter Laura Whitmore.
The Irish personality appeared on BBC Radio 1 to confirm the news telling the breakfast show's host Nick Grimshaw she's had to keep it secret for "too long."
She added: "I've always known I've wanted to do it. Even as a kid, my mum was like, 'One day, you'll do Strictly.' It's what she always wanted me to do.
"They asked me before and it was never the right time, but they asked me again."
The former MTV presenter is best known for hosting ITV spin-off series I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! Now! from 2011 to 2015 replacing Strictly reigning champ Caroline Flack.
Also rumoured to be appearing on this year's series are former Eternal singer Louise Redknapp, Birds of a Feather actor Lesley Joseph and astronaut Tim Peake.
Last month, head Strictly judge Len Goodman announced that the next series will be his “swan-song”, with professional dancer Anton Du Beke the favourite to replace him.
The 14th series of Strictly Come Dancing returns to the BBC in September 2016.
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