Strictly Come Dancing 2022 announces the sixth member of the lineup

Strictly Come Dancing 2022's sixth contestant has been revealed  - and we can't wait to see their moves on the dance floor. 

Ellie Simmonds OBE will be taking part in the new season of the show. The news was announced this morning on BBC 5 Live Sunday Breakfast and Ellie is "bursting with excitement" over joining the show. Ellie will start filming for the pre-recorded Strictly Come Dancing 2022 next month, alongside the rest of the Strictly Come Dancing 2022 contestants.

Ellie, who is a gold medal-winning Paralympic swimmer, told the BBC, "Oh my gosh!! I’m literally bursting with excitement!! It's been soooo hard keeping this secret as I've wanted to tell everyone I'm going on Strictly Come Dancing!!

"I'm a tad nervous too, well more than a tad… I'm absolutely petrified! To be asked to be part of the Strictly family is just so exciting and I cannot wait, it's going to [be] so much fun. I'm counting down the minutes until it starts; learning to dance, meeting my partner and everyone else involved in the show.

"Plus wearing the sequins and all that, It’s going to be a blast. I've been watching Strictly from as far back as I can remember; it’s a traditional lead-up to Christmas with my family and it’s a genuine privilege to be part of it."

The first Strictly Come Dancing signup - Will Mellor - was announced just days ago, and since then it's been confirmed that Kym Marsh, Kaye Adams, Jayde Adams and Richie Anderson will all be taking part. 

Strictly Come Dancing fans were thrilled by the announcement, taking to Twitter to express their delight.

"I love Ellie. Great booking," wrote one fan, while another added, "Another brilliant and important move by Strictly. Inclusivity and positivity about disability. And I’m sure we will all be talking about her ability in the end too."

While a third wrote, "Amazing !! I cannot wait to see her on the dancefloor good luck Ellie xx"

Good luck, Ellie!