Overview
- Strictly’s official social channels confirmed Chris Appleton as the fourth celebrity contestant, a move the show announced on Friday 19 June.
- Appleton is a Leicester-born stylist who has worked for Kim Kardashian, Jennifer Lopez and others and recently published a memoir that reached the New York Times best-seller list.
- The series will be presented this year by Emma Willis, Josh Widdicombe and Johannes Radebe after long-time hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman left the show.
- The announcement drew a divided reaction online with some viewers questioning the casting choice and others defending Appleton’s high-profile credentials.
- More celebrity names will be revealed over the summer ahead of the show’s planned return in September and broadcasters have noted an on-air moment that fuelled speculation about additional recruits such as Roman Kemp.