Strictly Come Dancing has reportedly signed up football legend Paul Merson for its upcoming series (Image: Getty Images)Get daily celeb exclusives and behind the scenes house tours direct to your inboxMore Newsletters SubscribePlease enter a valid emailSomething went wrong, please try again later.More NewslettersWe use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. More infoThank you for subscribing!We have more newslettersShow me See OurPrivacy Notice See OurPrivacy Notice×Group 28 Get daily celeb exclusives and behind the scenes house tours direct to your inboxInvalid emailSomething went wrong, please try again later.Sign UpNo thanks, closeWe use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. More info×Group 28Thank you for subscribing!We have more newslettersShow MeNo thanks, closeSee our
Privacy NoticeStrictly Come Dancing has been at the centre of a misconduct storm over recent weeks, but with the professional dancers already training, the show is still preparing to return in the coming months. And with that comes the news that the BBC have signed up former footballer and Sky Sports pundit Paul Merson for the show. “Paul will be a popular addition,” a source told The Sun. The former Arsenal and England player has battled addictions to drugs, alcohol and betting – spending a reported £7m on these vices. “The more I drank, the more I gambled, and the more I gambled and lost, the more I drank. Then the drinking weren’t enough and the drugs come in… it’s just a massive cycle,” he recalled last year. Now, Paul openly talks about his past and is keen to help others, with the source predicting he will be a hit amongst Strictly fans. They said: “Footballers always do well with fans, whether they can dance or not. But he also has a past, having had to battle addictions to drugs, booze and gambling.”
Paul is now a Sky Sports pundit after making a name for himself in the Arsenal and England squads
(Image: SkySports)
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“Paul has absolutely owned his past and works every day to move forward. He has become a powerful voice seeking to help others with regular charity work and it’s hoped he can show just how far he’s come on the primetime show,” they added. OK! has contacted representatives for the BBC show and Paul for comment. While the line-up has not yet been revealed, this comes after Nick Knowles was the most recent star to also have allegedly joined the show. A source told The Sun that the DIY SOS star has been in talks with the show for months.
He has battled addictions with drinks, drugs and gambling
(Image: Getty Images)
“Nick has always loved Strictly and he is so excited about appearing on the show. He’s got a great personality, is incredibly driven and competitive and is up for giving anything a crack,” they said. “He’s going on the show to entertain and to win. He’ll give it his best shot. Nick and Paul are rumoured to be competing against the likes of EastEnders actor Jamie Borthwick, who won last year’s Christmas special, and blind comedian Chris McCausland. The line-up rumours follow claims made by last year’s contestant Amanda Abbington during her interview with Channel 4 news, with the Sherlock star claiming that the BBC are withholding 50 hours of rehearsal footage of her and Giovanni Pernice. Amanda pulled out of the dance competition last year and later complained about the conduct of Giovanni, describing him as “unnecessary, abusive, cruel and mean”.Story SavedYou can find this story in My Bookmarks.Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right.Follow OK! MagazineFacebookTwitterCommentMore OnStrictly Come Dancing
