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Les Dennis completes our line-up for Strictly 2023!

Les Dennis is our fifteenth and final celebrity contestant confirmed for the brand new series of Strictly Come Dancing. Les has been in showbiz for over 50 years, including famously hosting Family Fortunes for 16 years.

He started his career as a comedian on the Working Men’s Club circuit in and around his native Liverpool. He got his big break on TV Talent show New Faces, and went on to star in sketch and variety show The Laughter Show, forming a double-act with the late Dustin Gee.

His TV acting career includes roles in Extras, Brookside, Death in Paradise and Midsomer Murders and two years in Coronation Street. On stage he’s starred with the Royal Shakespeare Company, the English National Opera, and in hit plays and musicals such as Hairspray, Legally Blonde The Musical and 42nd Street.

Les Dennis said: “I’m thrilled to be doing this iconic wonderful show as I approach my 70th birthday! In my career I’ve always gone for challenges outside my comfort zone and this is the ultimate one! Can’t wait.”

Les joins Amanda Abbington, Angela Rippon, Layton Williams, Krishnan Guru-Murthy, Eddie Kadi, Angela Scanlon, Zara McDermott, Adam Thomas, Nikita Kanda, Ellie Leach, Jody Cundy, Bobby Brazier, Nigel Harman and Annabel Croft in our line-up. Follow @bbcstrictly for all the latest announcements about the upcoming series.

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285 comments

  • Comment posted by SouthernSoftie, at 10:02 11 Aug 2023

    Out of curiosity I looked back at the last few years of finalists. Every year I had, prior to the show starting, only come across 1 of the celebs who made it to the final. But I had thoroughly enjoyed watching the progress and admiring the hard work of those people who made it through. It really does not matter who is taking part, but how they conduct themselves and are they prepared to work hard. To everyone who is saying the formula is tired, or moaning that they don't know who half the people taking part are, I would say don't watch then. There are plenty of us who look forward to a bit of glamour in the dark evenings and applauding those brave enough to put themselves out there.

    • Reply posted by Jen, at 10:08 11 Aug 2023

      Jen replied:
      Well said 👏👏👏

  • Comment posted by frankie, at 09:19 11 Aug 2023

    I find it refreshing to have a few more older contestants this year with a third of the cast being in their 50s or older.

    • Reply posted by Nicky91, at 09:23 11 Aug 2023

      Nicky91 replied:
      yes definitely something i was hoping for, after last few years of quite young line ups

      i have heard 7 out of 15 then, not bad for a dutchman like me

  • Comment posted by Annie, at 09:05 11 Aug 2023

    Hi Everyone, decided to wait till line up complete before posting. I've heard of half the celebs which is more than usual, though tbh, that doesn't matter as it's always great getting to know them - and sometimes one I've never heard of turns out to be a favourite! At the moment Les Dennis is my fav!
    A good line up, I think, with a wide age range and representing different areas of life.

    • Reply posted by flamingo, at 09:43 11 Aug 2023

      flamingo replied:
      Morning, Annie. Certainly a good cross section of celebrities so looking good I think!

  • Comment posted by Mrs Sunshine, at 09:06 11 Aug 2023

    Some real positive souls around on the blog this morning, not .🤣🤣

    • Reply posted by flamingo, at 09:46 11 Aug 2023

      flamingo replied:
      Friday blues!

  • Comment posted by phil123, at 09:00 11 Aug 2023

    Great addition. I have actually met him. Hope he does well.

  • Comment posted by Howard Booth, at 09:41 11 Aug 2023

    Whoever is in it we will all be glad of this on Winter nights on a Saturday and we will all have our favourites and we will all love it as we always have ....who knew Hamza last year ?and who knew he was going to win it .....and what a a guy

    • Reply posted by Mrs Sunshine, at 09:46 11 Aug 2023

      Mrs Sunshine replied:
      Here Here 👏 👏 👏 👏 👏

  • Comment posted by Willie Gallacher, at 09:06 12 Aug 2023

    Les and his smile

    Will be here for a while

    A while may even be longer

    If his fan base is rich

    Look out for his pitch

    His chances get stronger and stronger

    But will he survive that real cool jive

    Or that rhumba and go with the flow

    The answer is iffy,oh wait a jiffy

    The truth is I DONT REALLY KNOW

    • Reply posted by OddOder, at 10:00 12 Aug 2023

      OddOder replied:
      Bardically brilliant, Mr T! Bravo

  • Comment posted by redjimf, at 09:07 11 Aug 2023

    Lots of people will at least have heard of and seen Les Dennis over the years. I can’t imagine him being a great dancer but good luck to him.

    • Reply posted by flamingo, at 09:48 11 Aug 2023

      flamingo replied:
      He did sort of dance in HMS Pinafore but he was playing an elderly overweight admiral so possibly not fair to judge him on that!

  • Comment posted by Bristolian Cream, at 08:52 11 Aug 2023

    Will he do his Mavis from Corrie? Well I don’t really know Rita!!

  • Comment posted by Suzanne, at 09:06 11 Aug 2023

    Isn't he teeny-tiny well shorter than the average male celeb... I am suggesting he's going to be matched with Jowita purely based on heights 😁👍😂

    • Reply posted by redjimf, at 09:12 11 Aug 2023

      redjimf replied:
      I think you might be right about him being on the short side

  • Comment posted by Willie Gallacher, at 13:27 11 Aug 2023

    Like a contestant last year,I thought/think Les got a bad deal many years ago. A bad deal that he,to his credit hasnt said much about it............Folks get hurt in life.Fairness loyalty and justice are void with some people.
    Only my opinion of course.

  • Comment posted by Mrs Sunshine, at 18:18 11 Aug 2023

    Any up date on the launch date? If the blog I hope everyone enjoys the rest of the summer see you all in September, hope to return to more positive news of our Amy wishing her a speedy recovery 🩷🩷🩷

    • Reply posted by flamingo, at 18:25 11 Aug 2023

      flamingo replied:
      We will certainly miss her, I hope she feels well enough to perhaps just say hello sometime?

  • Comment posted by flamingo, at 09:55 11 Aug 2023

    I mentioned Les being the last celebrity on the other blog as it’s on the front page of a certain newspaper but had my post deleted as off topic. Bit odd.

    I’m not a huge fan but over the last few years he’s been very good in more serious roles in the theatre and has also been in Gilbert and Sullivan. He will give value for money, I think, and be a good sport. I hope they won’t try and push him into the buffoon role.

    • Reply posted by OddOder, at 10:56 11 Aug 2023

      OddOder replied:
      I bet they will, flamingo. I think he'll find it a challenge and probably not what he's expecting either! But then again, Bill Bailey won (I'm still wondering how that happened).

  • Comment posted by lightbuffer, at 09:11 11 Aug 2023

    A reasonable line up. I even recognise a few of the names in there, this time round. They look and feel like they should give a decent account of themselves, same as other strictly years. Good work by the bods with the giant butterfly nets.

    • Reply posted by emaweni, at 15:25 11 Aug 2023

      emaweni replied:
      I was pleasantly surprised too. I actually recognise most of the names 🤗 last year, barely knew any except Helen (who should have won). We always 'get to know' them, but it'll be nice to know them from the start... and I hope, this year, Madam Ballas doesn't have her blatant favourites (Hamza) or get spiteful with the more attractive participants again. Hate spiteful comments (unless it's Craig of course 😉).

  • Comment posted by paul smith, at 17:17 11 Aug 2023

    The usual suspects with the usual negative comments EVERY year. If you don't like it, don't watch it. Simple.

  • Comment posted by They Dont Like it up em, at 09:59 11 Aug 2023

    Les Dennis is great. Don't forget his 15 years on Family Fortunes.
    And his Mavis impression "Well I don't really know"
    A good clean entertainer.

  • Comment posted by nessie69, at 16:12 11 Aug 2023

    Now the line up is complete I wonder how long the blog will stay open for.? If it closes tonight, let's enjoy what's left of the summer and look forward to a sparkling ✨ series in the Autumn 🍂 Personally I am really pleased with the line up.

    • Reply posted by Mildred, at 16:16 11 Aug 2023

      Mildred replied:
      Yes on all points.
      Think this will be a Fab-U-Lous Strictly series 🫰

  • Comment posted by Summerskye, at 16:16 12 Aug 2023

    I’m sure the blog will close soon . Looking forward to everyone taking part hope they all enjoy their journey. Till the show begins hope all posters keep safe and chat again when the show begins ❤️❤️💃🕺

    • Reply posted by flamingo, at 16:19 12 Aug 2023

      flamingo replied:
      Enjoy the rest of the summer and take care until Strictly starts again!

  • Comment posted by Careless whisper, at 08:20 12 Aug 2023

    Welcome contestants one and all ,
    How brave of you to answer the call.
    Come the fall, if you give it your all,
    It could be you that lifts the glitterball.

    • Reply posted by Mrs Sunshine, at 08:35 12 Aug 2023

      Mrs Sunshine replied:
      Excellent Lily 1912 😄 sounds like the good fairy 🧚‍♂️ out of a panto sounds right up wor Les Dennis's Street 😜 see what I did there 😀

  • Comment posted by mike, at 13:37 11 Aug 2023

    Les is more (see what I did there?). Really, I'm glad he's joined the show and can't wait for the week to week progress that everyone makes. Through to the thrilling final. Great stuff.

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First routine reveals for 2023