Strictly Come Dancing have announced JB Gill as the second official celebrity contestant for the 2024 installment.
Earlier on Monday, blind comedian Chris McCausland, who lost his sight at age 22 due to the hereditary condition Retinitis Pigmentosa, confirmed his involvement during Monday’s This Morning.
Following on from McCausland’s announcement, the ITV mid-morning stalwart surprised viewers again as they revealed that the JLS star would compete on the ballroom series after previously appearing on the show’s Christmas special in 2012.
Gill also follows in the footsteps of his bandmate Aston Merrygold, who starred on the 2017 series when he was partnered with Janette Manrara.
The British singer said of joining the 2024 line-up: “I danced in the Strictly Christmas special over a decade ago and LOVED it, so when I got the call to join Strictly this year, it was an immediate yes from me.
“ I’m raring to go to and looking forward to showing off some new skills to the JLS boys.
“From muddy wellies on the fields of my farm to sequins and Glitterballs - I’m here to embrace it all!”
Speaking to hosts Josie Gibson and Craig Doyle, McCausland joked he has “never watched” Strictly and added: “This is literally the worst-kept secret there has ever been in British television.
“I think it’s been out there – it’s been exhausting keeping a secret everyone seems to know.”
Asked how he feels about taking part, he said: “Apprehensive, massively apprehensive.
“I don’t know what I’m getting myself into. I’ve never watched it, obviously. It’s just some music. I don’t dance, I have never danced. I grew up with headbanging and mosh pits.”
McCausland lost his sight due to retinitis pigmentosa, a hereditary eye disease, which causes gradual degeneration of the retina.
He said: “If anybody out there is thinking ‘How the hell is he going to do that?’ then rest assured that I am thinking exactly the same thing.
“I don’t dance, I haven’t danced, I can’t dance, I can’t see the dancing I will have to do. What can possibly go wrong? Ok, don’t answer that.”
McCausland has been a comedian for over two decades and is a regular face on flagship comedy shows like Have I Got News for You, Would I Lie to You?, QI. The Last Leg, and 8 out of 10 Cats Does Countdown.
He has appeared on Live at the Apollo three times, hosting in 2021, a year that also saw him make his highly acclaimed debut appearance on The Royal Variety Performance. He currently hosts his own Saturday morning chat show for ITV: The Chris McCausland Show.
The announcement comes after swimmer Tom Dean announced he will be appearing on the show after reaching the final of the men’s 200 metres individual medley in the Paris 2024 Olympics last week.
The popular BBC dancing show has made headlines recently after a storm of controversy over the alleged treatment of contestants on the show.
The results of an investigation, launched by the BBC following allegations made about Giovanni Pernice by former participant Amanda Abbington, have not yet been published by the corporation.
Pernice rejects the allegations and fellow dancer Graziano Di Prima has also left the show.
