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Zara McDermott is the seventh celebrity contestant confirmed for Strictly 2023!

Zara McDermott is a broadcaster and content creator, she was a government policy advisor, working for the Department of Energy and Climate Change and Department of Education before appearing on Love Island in 2018.

One of Zara’s biggest passions is making documentaries that inspire conversation and educate young people on hard hitting issues, she has fronted five successful BBC films so far: Revenge Porn, Uncovering Rape Culture, Disordered Eating, and Gaia: A Death on Dancing Ledge. Her other broadcasting work includes presenting the entertainment show Love In The Flesh on BBC Three.

Zara’s work for young people has been recognised on several occasions; she was invited to Clarence House by the Duchess of Cornwall and Refuge charity and worked with the Duchess on a visit to a SARC (Sexual Assault Referral Centre). Alongside this, she has worked with the government and the Home Office on several campaigns to end violence against women and girls, most notably fronting a campaign that changed the law for victims of digital abuse. Zara is also an ambassador for the ‘Shaping Us’ campaign for the Centre of Early Childhood, which was launched by Her Royal Highness The Princess of Wales.

Zara McDermott said: “I am so excited to be joining the world of Strictly! I grew up watching it every year with my nan and she was the biggest Strictly fan. We would dance around the house and I have such fond memories of that time in my life. I even remember the first ever series, and being mesmerised by all the beautiful dresses! I can’t wait to throw myself into this experience and start training. It’s going to be incredible.”

The news was revealed this afternoon on Going Home with Vick and Jordan on BBC Radio 1. Zara joins Amanda Abbington, Angela Rippon, Layton Williams, Krishnan Guru-Murthy, Eddie Kadi and Angela Scanlon in our line-up. Follow @bbcstrictly for all the latest announcements.

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184 comments

  • Comment posted by DC, at 19:06 7 Aug 2023

    Did you say celebrity? Give me a thumbs up if you have never heard of her!

    • Reply posted by Suzanne, at 19:25 7 Aug 2023

      Suzanne replied:
      There's advantages and disadvantages to having been "heard of" before Strictly.... if you are known and liked that's good, but in Zara's case I knew of her before she presented documentaries on important current issues and not for good reasons!

  • Comment posted by TheGent, at 17:35 7 Aug 2023

    Over-using the word celeb, aren't they. Anyone who appears on a show is a celeb these days!

    • Reply posted by flamingo, at 17:41 7 Aug 2023

      flamingo replied:
      The definition of celebrity is ‘A famous person, especially in entertainment or sport. The state of being well known’. All these contestants are well known in their particular field.

  • Comment posted by Baggieman, at 19:14 7 Aug 2023

    Another household name

  • Comment posted by StaticCentreHalf, at 18:31 7 Aug 2023

    Sad day for SCD.

    • Reply posted by strictly speaking, at 18:46 7 Aug 2023

      strictly speaking replied:
      Come writers and critics who prophesize with your pen
      And keep your eyes wide, the chance won't come again
      And don't speak too soon for the wheel's still in spin
      And there's no tellin' who that it's namin'
      For the loser now will be later to win
      'Cause the times, they are a-changin'

      I'm not enthralled by the modern day youth movements of tik tok or love island but to appeal to younger generations the producers look to these media I guess. But obviously judging Zara on it is of no consequence of benefit, so won't do it, and she will probably be a wonderful contestant anyhow. I feel annoyed about certain modern aspects like love island but won't be against Zara because of it good luck Zara

  • Comment posted by Grapesy, at 19:22 7 Aug 2023

    Spreading the talent thin here…… basically ex-Love Island and that’s it.

    • Reply posted by D1691693993364, at 19:33 7 Aug 2023

      D1691693993364 replied:
      totally agree

  • Comment posted by Metro1962, at 17:24 7 Aug 2023

    More scraping of the barrel for this show......What ever happened as it use to great celebs .....now just anyone off the street can be on it...real shame.😒😒😒😒😒😒😒😒😒

    • Reply posted by redjimf, at 17:30 7 Aug 2023

      redjimf replied:
      Zara isn’t someone off the street, just because you haven’t heard f her doesn’t mean she’s not a celebrity. She is a respected documentary maker and a former government advisor.

  • Comment posted by Steve T, at 19:21 7 Aug 2023

    RIP SCD. We have finally run out of celebs. Time to call it a day. The same old, same old format became boring 😴 years ago, its over, let it go and move on.

    • Reply posted by Taffeta and Lace, at 20:06 7 Aug 2023

      Taffeta and Lace replied:
      It really has gone to the dogs now.

  • Comment posted by Norbert, at 17:09 7 Aug 2023

    I've heard of 2 out of 7.

    • Reply posted by thisisveryhard, at 21:07 7 Aug 2023

      thisisveryhard replied:
      That many

  • Comment posted by Nicky91, at 07:53 8 Aug 2023

    i like her, she seems nice

    great to have a fellow strictly fan on the show too!

    very good looking lady either, good luck Zara, my advice to you, fully embrace the strictly sparkle and always keep enjoying every single moment of your journey

    • Reply posted by strictly speaking, at 16:56 8 Aug 2023

      strictly speaking replied:
      Lovely positivity exactly what strictly is about. Well said

  • Comment posted by Willie Gallacher, at 18:55 7 Aug 2023

    It was so corny,it was the concept of a genius..............I,m talking about Susannah,s red/orange skirt with Anton appearing out of it.................hilarious.

  • Comment posted by loz, at 19:47 7 Aug 2023

    Sorry but I’ve never heard of this lady b4 have you?

    • Reply posted by paulmoneill, at 20:05 7 Aug 2023

      paulmoneill replied:
      She's made documentaries like Stacey Dooley has. As Love Islanders go she's more intelligent than most. I'm not sure if that's a compliment or an insult. The SCD audience will either love or or hate her.

  • Comment posted by Briona, at 17:06 7 Aug 2023

    Papers today have Daniel Sturridge ex footballer has been signed for this year
    Any comments on this

    • Reply posted by flamingo, at 17:17 7 Aug 2023

      flamingo replied:
      I don’t really know any footballers - or I should say any who aren’t too old!

  • Comment posted by strictly speaking, at 12:27 8 Aug 2023

    I think Zara has the potential to do well, she seems versatile and driven. I think Giovanni or Vito would be great partners for her.
    She could have a lot of young fans who vote, I imagine she is big on social media? I think older generations will not care about certain shows she's been on when she starts dancing. I noticed how many on topic posts are deleted and how many which one could describe as breaking rules are left up. A targeted scheme by certain people or even one wouldn't be a surprise though.

  • Comment posted by DSFWXM, at 17:23 7 Aug 2023

    Daniel Sturbridge I hope he puts more into dancing than ever he did at playing football. A talented player but didn’t like work!!!!

    • Reply posted by StaticCentreHalf, at 21:46 7 Aug 2023

      StaticCentreHalf replied:
      well said. Alongside Titus Bramble one of my great disappointments/mis-firing predictions for greatness.

  • Comment posted by StaticCentreHalf, at 21:53 7 Aug 2023

    Love Island, Made in Chelsea, X Factor and now strictly. Bit of a pattern....?

    • Reply posted by strictly speaking, at 22:35 7 Aug 2023

      strictly speaking replied:
      That tv personalities for a t.v. show are most likely to come from other tv shows? A shocker that

  • Comment posted by D1691435604399, at 20:13 7 Aug 2023

    The show is now the top of jobs to accept when the 'preferred' ones have stopped coming in. The level of celeb being asked to take part has been rapdidly reduced to that of any one remotely popular on the social platforms. Those with careers to boost or reboooooot.

    • Reply posted by flamingo, at 20:19 7 Aug 2023

      flamingo replied:
      I don’t think Zara has any need to boost her career. She’s a very well respected filmmaker who could probably take on any number of projects. Strictly will do very little for her chosen career.

  • Comment posted by strictly speaking, at 22:57 7 Aug 2023

    May get moderated, deleted and berated
    But won't be depleted or deflated
    Strictly is my favourite show
    Whoever is on they'll give it a go!
    From summer's end until Christmas time
    so much dancing to inspire a rhyme
    It's jolly good fun for all who view it
    If I were a celeb I'd jump to do it
    Expressing yourself is a personal thing
    I wonder what the reveal tomorrow will bring
    A sports star is likely to be good bet
    And we've had no east enders cast yet
    Looking forward to that with glee
    Goodnight strictly fans from me

    • Reply posted by flamingo, at 07:10 8 Aug 2023

      flamingo replied:
      Good to have your poems again! To the point and on topic!

  • Comment posted by Willie Gallacher, at 21:04 7 Aug 2023

    Goodnight folks...........I got to get to bed............Got to be up at 3.30am to get in the queue for sun loungers

    ROFL

  • Comment posted by George, at 16:51 7 Aug 2023

    Why can't we be told where to listen or watch to find the announcement?

    • Reply posted by Mildred, at 16:57 7 Aug 2023

      Mildred replied:
      Love it. The first poster on this new Strictly Reveal post...but complaining why not give a hint 🤣

  • Comment posted by armchair dancer, at 22:21 7 Aug 2023

    Never heard of Hamza before last year and he went on to win. His level headed, warm, good humoured personality shone through consistently to complement his musicality. I wouldn't choose to watch love Island, so Zara is totally unknown to me but she may do well. Collecting a disparate group of individuals whose roles bring them into the spotlight an enormous exercise. Doing really well to keep it going.

    • Reply posted by strictly speaking, at 23:11 7 Aug 2023

      strictly speaking replied:
      Hamza was a great surprise
      Surprises like that make strictly!