Rochdale soap star Katie McGlynn joins Strictly Come Dancing's dazzling line-up for 2021

Photo: BBC

Katie McGlynn

Rochdale soap star Katie McGlynn has been named as a celebrity contestant on the next series of Strictly Come Dancing.

Katie, 28, is best known for her role as Sinead Tinker in Coronation Street, for which she was BAFTA nominated and won a National Television Award for Best Serial Drama Performance in 2020.

Katie was also a regular in Waterloo Road and currently stars in Hollyoaks as mysterious newcomer Becky Quentin.

She said: “It’s been so hard keeping it a secret, but I can finally say that I’m getting ready to shake my shimmy and become part of the Strictly family.

“I’m really not a dancer, but I’m so excited to learn a new skill on this crazy journey and cannot wait to slip into some sequins along the way. Although I do get to have so much fun as an actress, a lot of my roles have involved quite serious and challenging storylines, so I’m fully ready to let my hair down and do something different, even if it is completely outside of my comfort zone.

“I can’t promise that I’ll be the best, but I’m going to give it 110% on the dance floor! As long as I don't fall over I'll be happy."

Katie will be joined in the next season of the BBC show by 14 other celebrities.

This year’s line-up also includes: musician Tom Fletcher of McFly-fame; comedian Robert Webb; TV presenter AJ Odudu; the winner of the third series of The Great British Bake Off, John Whaite; CBBC presenter Rhys Stephenson; Sara Davies MBE, of Dragons’ Den; BBC Breakfast presenter Dan Walker; Gordon Ramsay’s chef daughter, Tilly Ramsay; actor Greg Wise; actor Nina Wadia OBE; actor Rose Ayling-Ellis, who became the first ever deaf actor to play a deaf character on EastEnders; Olympic swimming champion Adam Peaty MBE; comedian Judi Love; and former England rugby player turned sports pundit, Ugo Monye.

Strictly Come Dancing will return to BBC One for its 19th season this autumn.