After a two year break, the Slovenian dancer will join 14 other professionals for the show’s 20th anniversary. Speaking on BBC News, he said, “I had an absolute ball during my nine-year stint on Strictly, during my time away I became a parent, which has been an exciting challenge in itself, and now I’m ready to experience the Strictly magic again. “It feels so right to be coming back, I missed the fun, glitter and the judges of course, and I hope to make my daughter Lyra proud!” The beloved BBC Latin and ballroom show is set to return this autumn.
Last season, Italian dancer Vito Coppola claimed victory with soap star Ellie Leach, but who will take the stage – and the glitterball – this year? Pic: BBC The list of other returning dancers confirmed by the BBC includes fan favourites Dianne Buswell, Nadiya Bychkova, Graziano Di Prima, Amy Dowden, Karen Hauer, Katya Jones, Neil Jones, Nikita Kuzmin, Gorka Marquez, Luba Mushtuk, Jowita Przystal, Johannes Radebe, Kai Widdrington, Nancy Xu, Carlos Gu, Lauren Oakley, Michelle Tsiakkas, and Vito Coppola. However, fans have noticed Giovanni Pernice’s absence from the list. It has been officially announced that he will not be returning to Strictly Come Dancing for the upcoming series, following his recently publicised controversy.
Pic: Shutterstock Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman are set to resume their roles as hosts, while Shirley Ballas, Motsi Mabuse, Craig Revel-Horwood, and Anton du Beke will return as judges for th.
