Strictly bosses want a celebrity wheelchair-user for this year’s show after success

Strictly is to feature a celebrity wheelchair-user for the first time in this year’s series line-up, The Mail on Sunday can reveal.

BBC chiefs are currently casting around for a star to take part as the popular Saturday-night dance competition continues to be the most inclusive on television.

They had initially hoped to make it happen last year but producers ran out of time to train a professional dancer to pair with the celebrity so had to put it off until the forthcoming series.

The decision comes after the popularity of the show’s first deaf participant, EastEnders actress Rose Ayling-Ellis, who won the contest in 2022 and Paralympic swimmer Ellie Simmonds, who made it to week six last year.

A BBC source revealed: ‘This is an extremely challenging project but one that Strictly bosses think is worth it and believe it is going to be absolutely brilliant.

The push for further inclusion comes after the popularity of Paralympic swimmer Ellie Simmonds, who made it to week six last year

The decision comes after the popularity of the show’s first deaf participant, EastEnders actress Rose Ayling-Ellis, who won the contest in 2022

‘It is yet another example of how progressive and inclusive the programme is. As well as creating some wonderful television moments, it will also give an amazing opportunity to someone in a wheelchair.

‘The original plan was that it would happen last year but the logistics are very difficult and to get a professional dancer trained and ready to take this on meant more work than was originally anticipated, so the most sensible thing to do was to put it off for a year.

‘There is so much excitement about this at the BBC right now.’

In 2018, Strictly aired a group routine featuring their professionals teaming up with wheelchair-bound dancers from the inclusive Candoco Dance Company. 

They performed to David Bowie’s Life On Mars in a routine that was choreographed by the show’s former judge, Arlene Phillips.

A BBC source revealed: ‘This is an extremely challenging project but one that Strictly bosses think is worth it and believe it is going to be absolutely brilliant

The dancers performed to David Bowie’s Life On Mars in a routine that was choreographed by the show’s former judge, Arlene Phillips

The dancers say that it would be a huge advantage if the celebrity is fit because they will need to have a strong upper body

Experts predict that the disabled contestant may get out of their chair to perform on the ballroom floor

Wheelchair users have previously been included in larger group routines but a celebrity would perform one-on-one weekly 

Wheelchair dance experts speculate that routines will include spinning around in the chairs rather than the usual pirouettes. 

They also predict that the disabled contestant may get out of their chair to perform on the ballroom floor.

The experts also say that it would be a huge advantage if the celebrity is fit because they will need to have a strong upper body to work with their professional partner.

Wheelchair dancing has become increasingly popular in the UK in the past ten years.

Wheelchair dance experts speculate that routines will include spinning around in the chairs rather than the usual pirouettes

Deaf contestant Rose Ayling-Ellis and her partner Giovanni Pernice with the glitterball trophy during the final of Strictly Come Dancing 2021

Paula Moulton and Gary Lyness became Britain’s first and only top-class Latin Wheelchair Dance Sport couple and compete for Team GB in Para Dance at IPC Level. In 2018 they ranked eighth in the world in Latin.

In 2020, Strictly had its first same-sex couple, with Olympic boxer Nicola Adams and Katya Jones being paired together, and the following year it was the men’s turn with pro star Johannes Radebe dancing with Great British Bake Off star John Whaite.

A spokesman for Strictly declined to comment.