Bake Off winner and CBBC host become fourth and fifth Stictly contestants
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John Whaite, the former winner of The Great British Bake off will be part of Strictly’s first all-male partnership as he becomes the fourth contestant to be confirmed for this year.
The chef and cookery author said: “I’m so grateful, excited and nervous to be joining the Strictly 2021 family.
"I’ve been wearing sequins and jazzy attire since I was three years old and can’t wait to hurl myself, full throttle, around the most glamorous dance floor on earth.
“What’s more exciting for me is that I’m going to be one half of the first all-male partnership, which is a great step forward in representation and inclusion.
"Whoever it is I’m paired with, I hope they are up for a challenge as I want our routines to include lots of spectacular lifts.”
Taking up the fifth slot is actor and TV presenter Rhys Stephenson who is best known for hosting on the children’s TV channel CBBC, where he often hosts alongside the puppet Hacker T Dog.
He has also presented some of the biggest shows across CBBC, including Blue Peter, Saturday Mash-Up! and the channel’s news show Newsround.
Stephenson is an ambassador for Place2Be, a charity which provides mental health services in schools.
He has been acting from an early age, first with the National Youth Theatre and then performing at the Edinburgh Fringe and in a number of shows with the Sydenham Arts Festival.
