A footballing icon has been tipped to take part in the upcoming season of Strictly Come Dancing
The ballroom is set to welcome a touch of football flair as the latest whispers around the Strictly Come Dancing circuit suggest that former Premier League sensation Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink could be showing off his fancy footwork on the upcoming 2025 season of the BBC hit show.
The ex-Leeds United striker, who has recently stepped down from coaching duties with the England national team, is reportedly ready to tackle the challenge of dance by trading in his studs for dancing shoes and vying for glory under the glitterball.
At 53, the Dutch icon could join an illustrious roster of footballing greats including Robbie Savage, Alex Scott, and Tony Adams, all of whom have previously graced the Strictly stage in the hope of lifting the coveted trophy.
According to a report from The Sun, insiders believe that Hasselbaink's loyal following from his time on the pitch will attract legions of fans to tune into the series.
The source remarked: "Jimmy has a huge fanbase from his years playing in the Premier League and is a very likeable character. Show producers are always keen to book a retired footballer as it gets footie fans tuning into the series and becoming unlikely fans of the show. Jimmy has a competitive edge and is going to get his head in the game."
While no official confirmation has been made, The Mirror has reached out to representatives for both Hasselbaink and the BBC for further comments, reports the Mirror.
Eyes also turn to Olympic legend Sir Mo Farah, Gladiators’ Harry Aikines-Aryeetey – known in the arena as Nitro – and former Big Brother housemate Yinrun Huang, as they too are tipped for joining the sparkly juggernaut's incoming cohort.
Judges Craig Revel Horwood, Shirley Ballas, Motsi Mabuse, and Anton Du Beke are all confirmed to make a comeback for the 2025 season, marking the 23rd series of the beloved show. However, following a couple of tumultuous years, show executives are reportedly anxious about potential new controversies.
Strictly has found itself mired in scandal recently with allegations that some professional dancers have been physically abusive towards their celebrity partners, while the celebrities themselves have faced accusations of inappropriate conduct.
Reports earlier this year indicated that BBC chiefs are gripped by a "terrible, terrible fear" of further scandals tarnishing the show's reputation, prompting efforts to rehabilitate its image, which could influence future casting decisions.
In a bid to avoid any risks, it is believed that the BBC is meticulously vetting potential contestants for the 2025 season. Among those being considered are Blue Peter presenters Joel Mawhinney and Shini Muthukrishnan, as well as Tom Parker Bowles, son of Queen Camilla.
Georgia Toffolo, known for her victory in I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!, is rumoured to be in the running, alongside Girls Aloud member Nicola Roberts. Dani Dyer, who recently tied the knot and gained fame on Love Island, is also said to be a contender, with ex-Coronation Street actress Helen Flanagan cited as another strong possibility for the line-up.
"There is a terrible, terrible fear among those high up that these awful things are going to keep happening and the show will be brought into disrepute again and again," a well-informed BBC insider revealed to MailOnline. "With that in mind, they are taking no chances."
"There will be stringent checks, and asking around, and digging into potential stars' backgrounds to make sure that they're not choosing anyone who might damage the show. For years, there was the whole Strictly "curse" where the contestants and professionals kept having affairs. But that stopped.
"Changes were made to the partnerships and it worked. There have been other issues in the past couple of years, though. What's been even more embarrassing for the BBC is that Wynne and Jamie have been from their own stable of stars. Going forward, those at the top want a wholesome image to shine through. No more scandal – just joy," the insider said.
This report follows the recent incident involving 2024 contestant Jamie Borthwick, known for his role as Jay Brown in the BBC soap EastEnders, who was compelled to issue a heartfelt apology after footage allegedly surfaced showing him making derogatory remarks about the people of Blackpool.
