Could This Unlikely Star Be About To Sign Up For Strictly?

ross-kemp-strictly-come-dancing
ross-kemp-strictly-come-dancing
(Image credit: Rex Features (Shutterstock))

You might know him best as hard-nosed Grant Mitchell in Eastenders. But Ross Kemp has proven he's just as tough in real life, with six series of challenging Extreme World documentaries for Sky 1.

But despite his brave ventures into war zones, criminal underworlds, and politically-divided countries, could a popular BBC show be his biggest challenge yet?

Reportedly, Ross Kemp is a huge Strictly Come Dancing fan, and has even admitted that he'd love a chance to appear on the show.

The former soap star even revealed that he had chance to take part in the popular dancing programme back in 2014, but turned it down after he was shaken by a dangerous experience while filming a documentary.

Speaking to The Daily Star, Ross revealed "I love Strictly Come Dancing. I have been asked before.

"I was going to do it. Then I got home from Camp Bastion after being shot at and thought: ‘No, don't be so silly.' "

So would he be up for taking part in it now? The famed ‘tough guy' admitted, "I'll never say never to anything." It's not a no, so it sounds pretty promising to us!

At the time, an insider reportedly told The Daily Star that Ross would be a brilliant scoop for the ballroom show.

They said, "Strictly bosses believe Ross would prove a massive ratings hit on the show and are determined to get him ‘at all costs'.

"Producers are willing to splash the cash as much as possible to get him on the dance floor."

(Ross as Grant Mitchell in 1991, alongside Steve McFadden as Phil Mitchell)

It wouldn't be the first time an Eastenders star, or former Eastender, had taken part in the competition either. Kara Tointon took part in the show in 2010, and the hilarious Tameka Empson also participated in the 2016 series.

Following his departure from the soap in 2006, Ross has established himself as a hard-hitting, investagative journalist through his documentary work. He's found himself in the midst of terrorists, the migrant crisis, and India's sex-trafficking industry. Ross ha even scooped himself a BAFTA for his investigative efforts.

Sadly, the series has now ended and won't be being recommissioned for Sky1, but the network has confirmed that they're in talks with Ross about a new show - "We are in talks with him about exciting new factual entertainment projects for the channel."

Could Ross soon be bringing some of that bravery to the Strictly Come Dancing ballroom? We'll have to wait and see!

Amy Hunt

Amy Hunt is an experienced digital journalist specialising in homes, interiors and hobbies. She began her career working as the features assistant at woman&home magazine, before moving over to the digital side of the brand where she eventually became the Lifestyle Editor up until January 2022. Amy won the Digital Journalist of the Year award at the AOP Awards in 2019 for her work on womanandhome.com.