Strictly Come Dancing signs Coronation Street legend in line-up leak?

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Strictly Come Dancing has reportedly signed a huge Coronation Street star for this year's line-up.

Strictly Come Dancing judges
(Image credit: BBC)

The announcements for Strictly Come Dancing 2024 celebrities have begun, but it looks like we could also be adding a Coronation Street favourite to the list according to reports. 

Following a rumored line-up leak, The Sun has reported that we will be adding Coronation Street favourite Shayne Ward to the stars who have already been announced this week. 

So far, the BBC has revealed that comedian Chris McCausland, JLS star JB Gill, opera singer Wynne Evans, singer and actress Toyah Willcox, Morning Live GP Punam Krishan, Love Island 2022 star Tasha Ghouri and reality TV star Pete Wicks will officially be joining the show. 

Soap fans will remember Shayne as Coronation Street's factory boss Aidan Connor, who had a heartbreaking exit from the show back in 2018 when the character took his own life. 

Since then, singer, actor and former X-Factor winner Shayne has enjoyed huge success in Channel 5 crime drama The Good Ship Murder with ex-Coronation Street co-star Catherine Tyldesley.

Shayne Ward wearing a black suit and bowtie in front of a red background

Shayne is reportedly joining this year's Strictly.  (Image credit: Getty Images)

Talking of Shayne's Strictly adventure, a source reportedly told The Sun: "Shayne is a previous winner of an audience-voted talent show so will have high hopes of doing it again. He is excited to begin training.

"He has some dancing experience so could be a contender for the glitterball trophy. He also has a whopping fan base from his years as a Coronation Street hunk."

Other names that have been linked to Strictly Come Dancing 2024 but are yet to be confirmed include EastEnders favorite Jamie Borthwick, DIY SOS star Nick Knowles and Tom Dean, who reportedly let slip that he will be in this year's line-up at the Paris Olympics after helping Team GB retain their men’s 4x200m freestyle title. 

According to PA news, Tom said: "Naturally you want to take a break after you've had a full Olympic cycle and the opportunity arose. I thought it would be really exciting to try something a bit different."

Strictly Come Dancing 2024 will start on BBC One next month. 

Claire Crick
Claire Crick
Assistant Managing Editor at What To Watch

Claire is Assistant Managing Editor at What To Watch and has been a journalist for over 15 years, writing about everything from soaps and TV to beauty, entertainment, and even the Royal Family. After starting her career at a soap magazine, she ended up staying for 13 years, and over that time she’s pulled pints in the Rovers Return, sung karaoke in the Emmerdale village hall, taken a stroll around Albert Square, and visited Summer Bay Surf Club in sunny Australia. 

After learning some tricks of the trade at websites Digital Spy, Entertainment Daily, and Woman & Home, Claire landed a role at What’s On TV and whattowatch.com writing about all things TV and film, with a particular love for Aussie soaps, Strictly Come Dancing and Bake Off. 

She’s interviewed everyone from June Brown — AKA Dot Cotton — to Michelle Keegan, swapped cooking tips with baking legend Mary Berry backstage at the NTAs, and danced the night away with soap stars at countless awards bashes. There’s not a lot she doesn’t know about soaps and TV and can be very handy when a soapy question comes up in a pub quiz! 

As well as all things soap-related, Claire also loves running, spa breaks, days out with her kids, and getting lost in a good book.