Richard Arnold

More used to reporting on the glamour and glitz of Strictly in his professional career as a showbiz correspondent, the tables have turned for Richard Arnold who steps into Strictly Come Dancing as a contestant in 2012.

A firmly established journalist and presenter, Richard came to prominence as a cheeky showbiz reporter on GMTV, known for his quick wit, banter and encyclopaedic knowledge of TV.

Since leaving the GMTV sofa in 2010, Richard has hosted Soap Challenge, Loose Lips and The Planet’s Funniest Animals. In June 2012, he returned to early mornings as showbiz editor on Daybreak.

Away from the screen Richard writes a weekly column for Hello! Magazine, Woman’s Own and regularly contributes articles to national newspapers.

In 2010 Richard teamed up with former Strictly Come Dancing contestant and colleague Kate Garraway to dance to ‘Born to Hand Jive’, from the musical Grease, on Let’s Dance for Sport Relief. The pair won their heat and made it to the final.

Putting his TV trivia to the test in the BBC’s Celebrity Mastermind, Richard came second with his specialist subject, Dallas.