TV’s Angela Scanlon gets a spot on the ‘Strictly’ dancefloor

Hannah McNamara

Ratoath television presenter Angela Scanlon has been revealed as one of the 'celebrity' contestants on the new series of 'Strictly Come Dancing', writes Hannah McNamara.

The Meath woman has had her own Saturday night chat show, 'Ask Me Anything' on RTÉ One and also hosts 'Your Home Made Perfect' for the BBC.

On Monday of last week, it was unveiled on BBC Radio 2’s 'Zoe Ball Breakfast Show', that Scanlon is the sixth celebrity confirmed for the 21st run of the BBC flagship programme.

Her fellow contestants announced so far are actress Amanda Abbington, veteran journalist and dancer, Angela Rippon, actors, Adam Thomas and Layton Williams, newsreader Krishnan Guru-Murphy, radio DJs Eddi Kadi and Nikita Kanda, and reality TV star Zara McDermott.

Speaking with Gaby Roslin, who sits in for Ball on the Breakfast Show, Angela said: "It's been in the ether for a number of years, we’ve been close.

"Truthfully, we wanted to have another baby, we were trying to have a baby, I was then pregnant, then I had a very small child and now, it just felt right this year. I believe in feelings and timing and all of those sorts of things. I’m not particularly fit. I have no idea how my pelvic floor is going to react to that level of jumping.

She added: "I’ve never done any of these dances in my life bar a drunken jive at a family wedding, so it certainly feels like there’s room to learn and really push myself."

Strictly Come Dancing returns to screens this autumn and will be judged by Shirley Ballas, Anton Du Beke, Craig Revel Horwood and Motsi Mabuse.