EastEnders stars join the line-up of Strictly Come Dancing
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EastEnders Nina Wadia is the 11th star to join the line-up of Strictly Come Dancing.
The actress is best known for playing Zainab Masood in the BBC soap.
She has also starred in Goodness Gracious Me and Open All Hours spin-off Still Open All Hours.
She said: “I’ve always danced like nobody’s watching, so if we blindfold the judges I could actually win Strictly 2021.”
She added: “I think I should do this before I’m too old any more.
“I think this is last year I’m ever wearing heels.
I think I think there’s a lot happened in the last couple of years and I just want to grab life by the balls.”
Addressing the outfits worn on the show, she said: ” I’ve always been a little bit of a tomboy, so this is going to be a bit of a struggle for me.
“And everyone keeps talking about a lot of sequins and a lot of tanning, but it should be fun, I’m looking forward to it.”
Fellow EastEnders actress Rose Ayling-Ellis became the 12th celebrity to be confirmed as taking part in Strictly Come Dancing.
She will be the first ever deaf contestant to appear in the BBC One dancing competition.
Ayling-Ellis described being the first ever deaf contestant on the show as “exciting” and “a little bit scary”.
She added: “It is the hardest secret I have ever had to keep so it feels amazing to finally have this out in the open.
“I hope I will do the deaf community proud and break down more barriers.
“But I am also very excited to learn an incredible new skill and even better I get to learn whilst wearing beautiful dresses made especially for me.”
The actress has played Frankie Lewis in EastEnders since 2020.
They joins the previously announced line-up of TV presenter AJ Odudu, Peep Show’s Robert Webb, McFly star Tom Fletcher, Dragons’ Den investor Sara Davies, Coronation Street star Katie McGlynn, BBC Breakfast presenter Dan Walker, TV presenter Tilly Ramsay and actor Greg Wise.
CBBC host Rhys Stephenson and former Bake Off winner John Whaite will also take to the dance floor in the BBC One series, with Whaite set to compete as part of the show’s first all-male pairing.
