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HUGE football star and manager ‘to star on the upcoming season of Strictly Come Dancing’

BBG News

It’s said that football legend Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink might make an appearance during the upcoming series of Strictly Come Dancing.

It’s rumored that the 53-year-old former Chelsea and Netherlands forward who also served as the England coach has reportedly agreed to join the popular BBC program, based on reports from The Sun.

According to the source, Jimmy gained a massive following during his time in the Premier League and is widely regarded as an extremely charming individual.

Producers often seek out retired soccer players for their shows because it attracts football enthusiasts, causing them to tune in and sometimes even develop an interest in the program.

‘Jimmy has a competitive edge and is going to get his head in the game.’

For about two decades, the man who is a father of four had a professional football career with both Leeds and Middlesbrough teams. He decided to retire in the year 2008.

TopMob has contacted representatives for Strictly Come Dancing for  comment.  

The gossip emerged several weeks following the announcement from Strictly management about the professional roster for this season, where they disclosed that there would be not one but two fresh dancers added to the mix.

Dianne Buswell, who won the glitter ball in December alongside Chris McCausland, will rejoin Nadiya Bychkova, Karen Hauer, Katya Jones, Neil Jones, Nikita Kuzmin, Gorka Marquez, Luba Mushtuk, and Jowita Przystal on the dance floor once more in September.

Additional dancers joining the performance are Johannes Radebe, Aljaž Škorjanec, Nancy Xu, Lauren Oakley, Michelle Tsiakkas, and Vito Coppola. Two new performers, yet to be revealed, will also participate later on in the program.

For 2025, Amy Dowden, who had to leave last year’s Strictly competition early due to a foot injury, is set to return, along with Carlos Gu and Kai Widdrington, both of whom didn’t partner with a celebrity in the previous season.

Contrary to speculations suggesting his comeback following his absence from last season, Giovanni Pernice won’t be returning to the dance floor this time.

Sarah James, as Executive Producer at BBC Studios, expressed her anticipation for the upcoming series, noting that they are thrilled to have their outstanding returning professionals back. Moreover, she shared their eagerness to introduce two fresh, new professional dancers to the cast who will contribute to another awe-inspiring season filled with stunning dance performances and much more, scheduled for viewers later in 2025.

In addition to performing individually in the competition, they’ll also dance together in group performances every week.

Previously, it was disclosed that Karen, a professional dancer from Strictly Come Dancing, will make her comeback on the BBC program this year.

As a lifestyle expert, I’ve heard whispers suggesting that our longest-serving dancer might have been let go by the powers that be, igniting discussions about ageism within our tight-knit group. However, I am thrilled to clarify that this 42-year-old star will grace our screens once again when we return in September, just as you’ve come to expect!

Karen, who became a contestant in 2012, hasn’t taken home the Glitterball Trophy yet, but she’s made it to several finals, even partnering with stars like Jamie Laing from Made In Chelsea and Mark Wright, a former TOWIE cast member.

Previously, Karen teamed up with retired football player Paul Merson (age 57), however, they got eliminated during week five last year. In the season before that, she danced with DJ Eddie Kadi.

The former wife of ex-professional dancer Kevin Clifton, hailing from Venezuela, reappears on the show alongside popular Strictly dancers such as Gorka Marquez, Johannes Radebe, and Jowita Przystal – the latter reaching the semifinals last year with Pete Wicks.

As a lifestyle expert, I find myself reflecting on a recent piece of news that caught my attention in November. It seems there was a concern about the possibility of Karen being replaced on the show due to her age, given that dancers such as Dianne Buswell and Michelle Tsiakkas are significantly younger participants.

As a die-hard Strictly Come Dancing enthusiast, let me assure you all: Karen, the cherished and esteemed dancer of our beloved show, is far from being dismissed. Age, in no way, will be the reason for such a decision. Her talent and dedication to the art form make her an irreplaceable part of the Strictly family.

She’s invested numerous years into the program and is eagerly anticipating returning to the training room within the following months, accompanied by a fresh training partner.

In response to rumors suggesting her potential removal from the popular show because of her age, Karen expressed that she feels no intimidation from her younger counterparts.

Certainly, she mentioned that working with fresh recruits invigorates her, and she finds herself motivated by the youthful energy they bring.

In February, she expressed that Strictly tends to feature younger female dancers. Being the longest running participant on the program, she doesn’t view these newcomers as a threat; instead, she observes and learns from them.

“They motivate me and boost my self-assurance. Since joining the show, I’ve evolved into someone who wasn’t here before. I’m always ready to lend a hand because being on Strictly comes with a lot of public scrutiny.” (In this version, I have attempted to simplify the sentence structure and use more common phrases.)

In addition to facing competition from celebrity contestants like Jeremy Vine, Simon Rimmer, Greg Wise, and Chris Ramsey on the show, Karen also had the unique experience of partnering with comedian Jayde Adams – marking her first time dancing with a female partner.

In 2022, when I faced a female competitor for the first time, Karen mentioned that she had danced with numerous male partners before, but this experience felt more organic because it involved understanding their unique approaches.

For me, dancing with Jayde feels like an expression of female empowerment, as our bond of friendship makes me feel my most comfortable.

We’re a group of ladies who discuss a variety of topics. We shed tears of empathy, share moments of joy through laughter, and open up about numerous aspects of our lives.

‘When it comes to the dancing we are able to put that emotion into it.’ 

Last year, it was speculated that there might be a significant reduction (or ‘cull’) in the number of professional dancers for Strictly Come Dancing, and it was suggested that Gorka might not return for the next season.

Gorka has worked with various well-known figures such as Tameka Empson from EastEnders, Katie McGlynn from Coronation Street, and Nikita Kanda, a popular radio personality, on the program he’s been a part of.

2024 saw him dancing a captivating Bollywood routine as part of a Couples’ Choice performance alongside Dr. Punam Krishan from Morning Live. Their performance left the judges in awe.

In 2017, Gemma Atkinson, who later became his partner, appeared on Strictly Come Dancing, marking their first encounter. The fitness model made it all the way to the final, although they just fell short of winning the glitterball trophy, which went to Joe McFadden and his dance partner Katya instead.

This year, the World Latin Dance Champion, who began dancing at 12 years old, secured a fresh position on the judging team for the Spanish adaptation of Strictly Come Dancing.

Apart from that, they have been traveling across the nation, showcasing their dance skills together on their Speakeasy tour as well.

Gemma openly confesses that the period she finds most challenging as a mother is when Gorka is practicing for Strictly, because his demanding work routine frequently keeps him away from their household in Manchester.

She mentioned that he’s hardly ever around, specifically from July to December. If they acquire a partner, they reside wherever their partner is during the workweek. Clearly, they’re based in London over the weekend.

Over the past few years, both Graziano Di Prima and Giovanni from Strictly professional dance team have been removed due to allegations concerning their behavior during rehearsals.

In simpler terms, Giovanni was accused of bullying by his previous famous partner, Amanda Abbington, whereas Graziano reportedly had a confrontation with ex-Love Island contestant Zara McDermott during practice sessions.

There were also reports of a ‘mass cull’ with producers keen to revamp the Strictly pro cast.

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2025-06-22 03:04

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