Strictly Come Dancing confirms singers Toyah Willcox and Wynne Evans

The next three celebrity contestants for the 2024 series have been revealed.

Vernon Kay, who is married to Strictly host Tess Daly, unveiled Wynne Evans, Toyah Willcox and Dr. Punam Krishan on his BBC Radio 2 show on Tuesday morning.

Wynne, 52, is a Welsh singer, presenter, and actor, known for his role as Gio Compario and latterly himself in the Go.compare insurance adverts. 

Toyah, 66, has been performing across stage and screen for over 50 years. She is an award-winning rock legend with hit singles like It’s A Mystery, I Want to Be Free and Brave New World and played at this year’s Glastonbury Festival with her husband, Robert Fripp. 

Punam is a resident GP on BBC Morning Live and BBC Radio Scotland.

Alongside being a practising NHS GP, Punam regularly reports on health news as a broadcaster on TV, radio and national newspapers and has also written her own children’s book with additional books in the pipeline. 

Wynne told Vernon: ‘I couldn’t believe it because its like cloak and daggers. You’re given a code name and you audition and meet the celebs and it is my favourite thing.’ 

‘The waltz, the classic ballroom I’m looking forward to. I did a lot of opera and I think that would suit me.’

‘The stuff I’m nervous about is the ones that involce jumping, I don’t really want to do the jive, I’m kind of a bit nervous about that but I’m taking inspiration from Bill Bailey. I’m going to throw myself into it.’

‘I’m moving around the house lighter footed, I’ve bought dance shoes, ballet shoes new gym kit, bag, pencil case and note pad to make notes. I love the glitz and glamour.’

‘I’ve been in these adverts which has been in everyone’s head and now the Strictly tune is in my head.’

Wynne is best known for his operatic skills, throughout his 25-year career he has had two number one classical music albums, has been a principal at most of the major opera houses around the world and has given over 200 performances at the Royal Albert Hall in London.

He currently has a daily radio show on BBC Radio Wales and has previously had radio shows on BBC Radio 3 and Classic FM.

He told Strictly: ‘I am honestly still pinching myself, a portly balding opera singer, me, taking part in Strictly Come Dancing?!’

‘I’m not entirely sure how I’ll get along, if all else fails I’ll just have to learn the art of distraction. What I do know is I will give it my all and aim to make Wales proud.’

‘I’m definitely going to try and combine my love of Opera into one of my routines. Plus, after winning Celebrity MasterChef last year, maybe the route to the judges’ hearts will be through their stomachs!’

Toyah meanwhile appeared in the Radio 2 studio with Vernon and admitted she has been bursting to let the news slip, especially after performing at Glastonbury in June, saying the show will top off what has been an incredible year for her. 

‘I’ve done so many festivals and Glastonbury and I wanted to be like “guess what?!”.’

I played the Avalon stage and I kept denying I was doing Strictly. I wanted to say to people “do you like my moves”‘. 

‘I’m super excited and love this show. To be a part of it, the spray tan the glitter. Its a landmark year for me I came a pensioner, Glasto and now I get spray tans.’

And Toyah is equally excited to work with Wynne who she told Vernon she has known for over 30 years. 

As for what dances she is looking forward to she confessed that ‘the ones I am most looking forward to are a bit ambitious for me but Salsa Cha Cha Cha.’  

‘I can jive, I’m from Birmingham and everyone jived. I was the girl who never had a dance partner and I used to take over the dance floor.’

‘I think I’m an excellent student until I get tired. With sequins and music I will find the energy.’

And reaching Blackpool is top of her wish list, as she explained a poignant family connection to the famous Tower Ballroom/

‘I performed at Blackpool last week and it was so hard not to say. I was thinking will I be here later this year, it is where I want to get up to.’

‘In 1948 my mother performed there and she was 18. She was a child actress from the age of 12 until she got married at 19.’

‘I’m often playing in venues she danced at and I find that moving.’

Toyah has amassed thirteen top 40 singles, recorded twenty-five albums, written two books, appeared in over forty stage plays, acted in over twenty feature films and presented many television programmes. 

In 2018 Paul McCartney awarded Toyah a Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts Companionship for Outstanding Achievement in music, drama, performance and media.

She gushed: ‘This is going to be a wild and wonderful ride, and I’m here for every sparkly second.’

‘I’m used to performing for big crowds but this is completely fresh for me, how I will do, it’s a mystery… I just want to get cracking and learn some dance routines now!’

Punam meanwhile told Vernon: ‘This still doesn’t feel real, I am overjoyed to be a contestant on this year’s show.’

‘I have watched Strictly every year with my family and it feels extra special that it’s the 20th year, I can’t believe I will be the one getting Strictly-fied now. This is so out of my comfort zone, but I’m up for the journey and will give it my absolute all.’

‘This is surreal, me and the kids sit down and watch it and now I’m jumping off the sofa and onto the TV. I don’t know what the kids will think but I’m sure they’ll be watching and I don’t know how this is happening to someone like me.’

She is looking forward to geting advice from her Morning Live colleagues Helen Skelton and Kym Marsh who have both competed on Strictly before.

‘The Morning Live gang don’t know until now but I’m so blessed and Helen Skelton and Kim Marsh have all done it and they’re working mums and I want to know how they did it and showed up and sparkled with everything else.’

She said she is most looking forward to the Pasodoble, saying: ‘it’s drama, it’s sexy and I’m like yes I think it will be challenging but it is the one I look forward to watching each year.’

‘Its a pinch me moment for the 20th year and being a fan I’m so grateful for the opportunity.’

Blind comedian Chris McCausland was the first celeb contestant of the 2024 series to be uveiled, appearing on This Morning on Monday to announce the news. 

The signing is a first for the dance competition which previously featured deaf EastEnders actress Rose Ayling-Ellis who won the glitterball trophy alongside Giovanni Pearce in 2021. 

Comedian and CBeebies actor Chris, 46, lost his sight aged 22 due to a hereditary condition, Retinitis Pigmentosa. 

Later on This Morning JLS star JB Gill was the second celeb confirmed. 

JB follows in the footsteps of his bandmate Aston Merrygold who was eliminated in 10th place during the 2017 series. 

The star also has history with Strictly, winning the Christmas Special of the BBC One dancing show back in 2012, performing the Jive with Ola Jordan. 

Speaking about signing up for the new series, he said: ‘I did the Christmas special – it was great fun!’

‘It was the most similar dance to what I’ve done in JLS. A lot of the ballroom styles are very alien to me – I didn’t do those dances growing up. I am not a trained dancer.’

Strictly has been plunged into chaos in recent weeks as a number of allegations of abuse from professionals have come to light. 

The scandal erupted when actress Amanda Abbington quit the show last year before claiming that her partner Giovanni Pernice was abusive towards her – later leaving the show.

Soon after it emerged that Graziano Di Prima had been sacked for ‘kicking’ his partner Love Island star Zara McDermott.

Despite the flurry of allegations, Strictly is ploughing ahead with its 2024 series, with the full lineup due to be confirmed in the coming days. 

Earlier this month it was revealed TOWIE star Pete Wicks has signed up, despite the news his close pal Zara McDermott was physically and verbally abused by her professional dance partner Graziano Di Prima last year.

Meanwhile ex Arsenal player Paul Merson and DIY SOS star Nick Knowles have also reportedly put on their dancing shoes.

Meanwhile Tom Dean has broken Strictly rules by revealing he has signed up to compete on the upcoming series before the official announcement. 

The swimmer, 24, will follow in the footsteps of his teammate Adam Peaty as he confirmed recent reports he will be taking part.

The BBC go to great lengths to keep the celebrities taking part in each series top secret and stars usually don’t comment on speculation until it’s officially confirmed.

But Tom confirmed he is getting ready to take to the dancefloor while speaking after the men’s 200 metres individual medley at the Olympics in Paris on Thursday.    

He said: ‘Naturally you want to take a break after you’ve had a full Olympic cycle and the opportunity arose. I thought it would be really exciting to try something a bit different. I’ll be doing that and straight back into training after it.