Sam and Punam still seem bursting with energy after rehearsals (Image: JAMES CURLEY AND MAGICMOMENTSUK)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 NoticeWhile the run up to this year’s contest has been dogged with behind-the-scenes controversy, it seems the Strictly magic is back with the 2024 crew unable to keep the smiles off their faces as they emerge from a day of rehearsals. This year’s Strictly Come Dancing celebs and the pro dancers were seen heading back to their hotel after their gruelling day, but were definitely in high spirits as they beamed for the cameras. Back in the swing of things was pro dancer Aljaz Skorjanec, who returns to the show this year after a two-year break. He was accompanied by his wife, It Takes Two presenter Janette Manrara and their daughter Lyra, who was born last year.
It was happy families for returning pro Aljaz
(Image: JAMES CURLEY AND MAGICMOMENTSUK)
Aljaz gives Strictly 2024 the thumbs up
(Image: JAMES CURLEY AND MAGICMOMENTSUK)
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Other star names, including former Corrie star Shayne Ward, who was sporting an impressive head of curly hair and a beard, also seemed happy and relaxed, with Olympian Sam Quek and Dr Punam Krishan larking around as they headed through the car park. Pop star Toyah and Gladiator Montell Douglas – aka Fire – were all smiles as they arrived back for a well-earned rest along with pro dancers Neil Jones and Nancy Xu.
Shayne’s all smiles after rehearsals
(Image: JAMES CURLEY AND MAGICMOMENTSUK)
Curly haired Shayne seemed to have a spring in his step
(Image: JAMES CURLEY AND MAGICMOMENTSUK)
Wynne’s got a new trim figure to take him into the contest
(Image: JAMES CURLEY AND MAGICMOMENTSUK)
Also spotted was opera singer and star of the Go Compare ads Wynne Evans, who showed off his impressive six stone weight loss in his sporty rehearsal clothes. The opera singer’s weight had crept up to 22 stone, with Wynn revealing that his size had slowly increased following his marriage breakdown and the loss of both his parents. The star admits he found himself sliding into depression and having suicidal thoughts, while all the time keeping up a cheery persona for his Welsh radio show he presented. Wynne has revealed that he decided to slim down when he had ‘trouble getting up the stairs’. “I thought ‘I’ve got to do something’”, he explained on ITV’s This Morning. “My mental health hasn’t been great in the last five or six years, and it really helped.” The father-of-two is best known for appearing in the adverts for Go Compare, a role that’s lasted 14 years.
Pro Nancy is back in the Strictly action
(Image: JAMES CURLEY AND MAGICMOMENTSUK)
Martell is on the case when it comes to Strictly success
(Image: JAMES CURLEY AND MAGICMOMENTSUK)
Other stars competing on this year’s competition include EastEnders actor Jamie Borthwick, TOWIE’s Pete Wicks, and Sarah Hadland of Miranda fame. Pete has said his close friend Zara McDermott “pushed” him to compete on the upcoming 20th series. Speaking on ITV’s Lorraine about how he was feeling about competing on the show, Pete admitted he was “petrified”. “I’m like a Ferrari from the waist down and a Volvo from the waist up”, he added. “The hips are there but the top half doesn’t move.”
Neil returns as one of the show’s pros
(Image: JAMES CURLEY AND MAGICMOMENTSUK)
Toyah looked ready to take on the challenge
(Image: JAMES CURLEY AND MAGICMOMENTSUK)
Asked if Zara had offered him any advice, he said: “Zara … was the one that kind of pushed me to do this because she loves the show. I’ve been quite honest about it, I’ve never actually seen it. The first time I saw Strictly was the first live show last year when Zara was on it and and I just thought, wow, this is amazing. “But I never imagined myself doing it. Sequins and all that sort of stuff is not necessarily (my style).” Following allegations of bullying and inappropriate behaviour in rehearsals, the BBC announced in July that the Saturday-night show would introduce new welfare measures, including a chaperone who will be present “at all times” during rehearsals.Story SavedYou can find this story in My Bookmarks.Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right.Follow OK! MagazineFacebookTwitterCommentMore OnEastEndersThis MorningJanette ManraraNeil JonesPete WicksShayne WardAljaz SkorjanecStrictly Come Dancing
