Blue singer Lee Ryan is the latest celebrity to join Strictly Come Dancing 2018
With 12 of its stars now announced, from a line-up that includes comedian Seann Walsh and singer Ashley Roberts, this year's Strictly Come Dancing looks set to be more exciting than ever.
Lee Ryan, who is best known as a former member of Noughties boy band Blue, is the latest star confirmed for this year's series.
Ryan is the second member of Blue to take part in the dance competition. His fellow bandmate Simon Webbe came second in the 2014 edition, and Ryan says that it "changed his life". "Four years later the man is still doing his ballroom moves on stage," he joked.
Between 2000 and 2005, the four-piece boy band sold more than 15 million records, had three number one albums and performed to crowds across the globe. The band split in 2005 but reunited for the 2011 Eurovision Song Contest and went on to make two more albums.
Until June this year, Ryan also appeared on EastEnders as bad-boy Woody Woodward and received the 2017 Inside Soap Award nomination for Best Newcomer.
His Strictly involvement formed part of ITV's daytime panel show Loose Women, as Ryan revealed more about his current Strictly regime. The One Love singer said: "I’ve been boxing loads just to get my weight down," and admitted that he wasn't worried about the Strictly curse because he was single.
In a statement, he said: “I’m so excited to be joining this year’s Strictly line-up. It is a real honour for me and I can’t wait to get out on the dance floor.”
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On Friday, it was announced that BBC News broadcaster Kate Silverton, Walsh and Roberts had joined the Strictly line-up.