Hoping to top the table… it’s Kirsty Gallacher!

Sport-mad Kirsty joins the Strictly squad on deadline day.

Having enjoyed a long career at Sky Sports News – where she currently anchors their popular afternoon slot – Kirsty is a well-known face on sports television. Landing her first presenting break on Sky Sport News in 1998, she soon made sport her niche and moved on to appear on programmes such as 90 Minutes, Soccer Extra, 5 Live’s Kirsty and Phil and Soccer AM.

Kirsty has presented a variety of other programmes, including morning show RI:SE, Kirsty’s Home Videos, Simply the Best, Only Fools on Horses and Gladiators. As well as being a sports presenter, she also won the third series of Channel 4’s winter sports series The Games.

While Kirsty’s sports knowledge may be well above par, she admits to never having danced before but considers the challenge to be much akin to sport: “It’s an opportunity to push myself and work on my fitness and health.” And like all committed sportswomen, Kirsty “can’t wait to start training” and thinks “the journey will be fascinating.”

Despite her huge success as a sports presenter, Kirsty has always fancied her chances of being a dancer: “I’ve got some connections to Spain, so I have a secret wish to become a flamenco dancer. It’s my dream!” It seems Anton might just be the man to make these dreams a reality. Kirsty revealed she would “love to dance with Anton” as “he’s a golfer and brilliant fun.”

What do you think about our latest addition to the Strictly line-up? Make sure you’re the first to hear all the latest Strictly announcements by staying tuned to @bbcstrictly, facebook.com/bbcstrictly and here on our official News Blog.