BBC Asian Network’s Breakfast Show host Nikita Kanda and Waterloo Road actor Adam Thomas are the latest stars to join the Strictly Come Dancing 2023 line-up.
Radio presenter Kanda, who has also fronted The One Show and interviewed stars from Bridgerton actress Kate Sharma to pop star Nick Jonas, said she “can’t believe” she will be starring in this year’s BBC One dancing competition having grown up watching the flagship show.
Announcing the news on her Tuesday morning radio show, she said: “I’m literally shaking, I can’t believe this. I’ve grown up watching this show every single year glued to the TV like many of you at home.
“This has been the biggest secret ever, it’s been so hard to keep this in and today I feel relieved, I’ve finally let this out and (I’m) sharing this moment with you.
“I just can’t wait for the glitz, the glamour, the hair, the make-up, the outfits, and even to meet those judges.
“Who would have thought all those years of me raving it up on the dance floor, at those weddings and those nights out and parties, those moves are making it to the Strictly ballroom stage on BBC One.”
Kanda, 28, added that she is excited to get her “dancing shoes on” as she takes part in the “most challenging and exciting moment of my life”.
She is the ninth contestant confirmed for the upcoming series of the dancing competition, after Thomas, actress Amanda Abbington, Bad Education star Layton Williams, broadcaster Angela Rippon, journalist Krishnan Guru-Murthy, comedian Eddie Kadi, Irish TV presenter Angela Scanlon and former Love Island star Zara McDermott.
British actor and TV presenter Thomas was also confirmed on Tuesday to appear on Strictly this year.
The 34-year-old, who played Adam Barton in soap Emmerdale and most recently reprised his role as Donte Charles in BBC One’s drama Waterloo Road, appeared in ITV’s I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here in 2016 and went on to co-host the spin-off show I’m A Celebrity: Extra Camp.
Dance lessons are on the curriculum for Waterloo Road's Adam Thomas he's ready to be schooled in the world of #Strictly! 🕺🏻https://t.co/XmoYvSHB5o @adamthomas21 pic.twitter.com/seh8gwYYI1
— BBC Strictly ✨ (@bbcstrictly) August 8, 2023
Appearing on Hits Radio Breakfast Show to reveal he will be hitting the Strictly dancefloor, Thomas said: “I am so excited to be joining the cast of this year’s Strictly Come Dancing. I’ve been such a big fan of the show for years, I can’t believe I’m actually doing it.
“I can’t dance to save my life but I’m buzzing to learn and have a good laugh with my pro. Get me on that dance floor… I can’t wait.”
In 2020, Thomas teamed up with his brothers Ryan and Scott for a six-part ITV travel series Absolutely India: Mancs In Mumbai where they took their father back to Mumbai to trace their heritage and long-lost relatives.
The brothers also host popular podcast series Mancs On The Mic.