I’M A Celebrity star Sam Quek is the latest celebrity to sign up for Strictly Come Dancing.
The former Team GB hockey star won gold at the Rio Olympics and then launched a presenting career covering the Tokyo 2020 Games and captaining the team on A Question of Sport.
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Sam is the latest star to sign up for Strictly Come DancingCredit: Getty – Contributor
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The Olympian retired from the sport after the 2016 Games.Credit: PA: Press Association
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Sam appeared on I’m A Celeb 2016. Credit: Rex Features
Liverpudlian Sam, 35, joined the line-up just two days after swimmer Tom Dean, who won gold in Paris this week, was revealed as another Strictly signing.
A TV insider said: “The show is really tapping into the buzz around the Olympics this year, as well as drawing heavily on BBC talent – perhaps more than ever before.
“But Sam has very much become a star in her own right in recent years, and has found her place as a presenter.
“She will also bring some much-needed glamor to this year’s line-up.”
Samu is no stranger to reality TV, having appeared on I’m A Celebrity in 2016.
She narrowly missed out on a place in the final three, and the series was eventually won by Scarlett Moffatt.
The Sun exclusively revealed this week that deaf Love Island star Tasha Ghouri, 25, has also signed up for Strictly.
Until then, the celebrity line-up appeared to be dominated by men as it included Arsenal and England footballer Paul Merson, 56, blind comedian Chris McCausland, 47, EastEnders star Jamie Borthwick, 30, reality TV star Pete Wicks, 37, and DIY SOS presenter Nick Knowles, 61.
Meanwhile, swimmer Tom, who won the men’s 4x200m freestyle on Tuesday night, risked getting into hot water with the Beeb.
He confirmed The Sun’s story that he had signed up for Strictly – but that was before the BBC confirmed it publicly.
He said: “Of course you want to take a break after you’ve been through the whole Olympic cycle and the opportunity presents itself.
“I thought it would be really exciting to try something a little different. I’ll do that and get right back to training after that. That’s something to look forward to.”
Strictly’s Amanda Abbington raised the alarm about Giovanni Pernice to the whole cast, co-star reveals
The stars of the show usually don’t comment on whether they’re taking part until the BBC reveals the official line-up.
Bosses go to great lengths to keep their line-up a secret every year – including using code names and top secret filming locations.
But the three-time Olympic champion confirmed our story and said he plans to seek advice from Team GB team-mate Adam Peaty, who finished ninth on the BBC show in 2021, alongside professional dancer Katya Jones.
The BBC will start officially revealing the full celebrity line-up from Monday.
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Tom Dean has also signed up for the next series of Credit: Sportsfile
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