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Former Holby City actress Chizzy Akudolu is the twelfth celebrity to be announced for Strictly Come Dancing

The series has already signed up one Holby City star

Holby City’s Chizzy Akudolu is the twelfth famous face to get her dancing shoes on for this year’s series of Strictly Come Dancing.

Chizzy is known for playing Mo Effanga in the medical drama and will compete against her former co-star Joe McFadden for the crown.

Chizzy was a fan favourite on Holby so there’s no doubt she’ll be a fave with Strictly viewers.

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The 43-year-old said: “When I was 13, I made the finals of a disco dancing competition once but there was this amazing girl who exploded onto the stage with a gorgeous sequined costume, throwing glitter everywhere…

“I knew it was game over for me. That was then, this is now and this is my chance to have even more sequins!”

Chizzy joined Holby back in 2012 but after five years she decided to leave the show back in June.

During her stint on the show Chizzy won the award for ‘Best Newcomer’ at the Black International Film Festival. She also bagged the award as ‘Best Actress’ at the BEFFTA Awards in the same year.

Earlier this year, she took part in BBC One’s Let’s Sing and Dance for Comic Relief with a duo from Casualty and ended up bagging second place.

But does she have what it takes to take the top spot on Strictly?

Earlier this month it was announced that Chizzy’s former co-star Joe, who plays Raffaello ‘Raf’ di Lucca, would be practising his dancing skills for the competition.

Announcing the news, he said: “Strictly is one of the biggest, most entertaining shows on TV, and being asked to be part of it is a once in a lifetime opportunity that I’m thrilled and terrified about in equal measures.”

The actor, 41, previously showed his dancing skills off in 2015 alongside co-star Eleanor Fanyinka in a short sequence titled Holby City Does The Strictly.

Meanwhile it was announced this morning that Good Morning Britain’s Charlotte Hawkins will be the eleventh famous face to take part in the dancing competition.

After teasing viewers at the start of the show Charlotte announced the big news.

She said: “The breaking news is we can announce the 11th contestant to join Strictly is … me!”

Speaking to Kate, who also did the dancing show, she said: “I’ll be getting some tips – you can show me some steps.”

“The excitement’s beginning now,” Charlotte admitted. “It’s been great to be able to tell everyone.”

The trio will join Emmerdale’s Gemma Atkinson, EastEnders star Davood Ghadami, TV host Ruth Langsford, singer Mollie King and Rev Richards Coles to compete to be crowned champion of the series.

Also ready to waltz into the competition are Scottish comedian Susan Calman, former JLS singer Aston Merrygold, Sunday Brunch host Simon Rimmer and comedian Brian Conley.

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The final four contestants will be revealed later today.

No official date has yet been confirmed for the series’ return date but the show usually starts at the end of September and runs through until Christmas.

It will be the first series without Len Goodman on the judging panel but there is a very exciting replacement.

International ballroom champion Shirley Ballas will be taking on head judge alongside Bruno Tonioli, Darcey Bussell and Craig Revel Horwood.


Rebecca Carter
Associate Editor (News)

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