Strictly Come Dancing 2024: Paralympic Star Ellie Simmonds Joins the Glitterball Race!
Ellie Simmonds Dazzles with Strictly Announcement
Hold onto your sequins! Ellie Simmonds OBE, the multi-gold Paralympic swimming hero, is set to light up BBC One and BBC iPlayer this autumn as she joins the 20th season of Strictly Come Dancing. The news drops on BBC 5 Live Sunday Breakfast, with Ellie bursting with excitement.
“Oh my gosh!! I’m literally bursting with joy!! It’s been extremely difficult for me to keep this secret because I’ve wanted to tell everyone. I’m auditioning for Strictly Come Dancing!! I’m a little nervous, well, more than a little… I’m completely terrified! It’s an honour to be asked to join the Strictly family, and I can’t wait; it’s going to be a lot of fun.” – Ellie Simmonds OBE
From Paralympic Pool to Dancefloor Glory
Ellie isn’t just any new Strictly contestant. She’s a swimming legend. At just 13, she became Britain’s youngest athlete at Beijing 2008, snagging gold in the 100m and 400m freestyle. She followed up with more Paralympic golds in London 2012 and Rio 2016, plus ten World Championship titles.
- First BBC Young Sports Personality of the Year at age 13
- Youngest ever MBE recipient at 14
- Earned an OBE in the 2013 New Year Honours
Since retiring from competitive swimming in 2020, Ellie has carved out a TV career on BBC Sport, including presenting the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games and producing hard-hitting documentaries like Ellie Simmonds: A World Without Dwarfism?
Strictly Countdown Begins!
Now, Ellie is swapping lanes for the dancefloor. She’s counting the days until the sequins, samba, and special effects kick off. “I’ve been watching Strictly for as long as I can remember; it’s a tradition in the run-up to Christmas with my family,” she says.
Get ready, Britain – Ellie Simmonds is ready to bring the heat to Strictly 2024!
