BBC star ‘set for Strictly 2024’ as controversy plagues beloved dance show

As controversy and damning allegations continue to trouble Strictly Come Dancing, rumours are still swirling around which celebrities will take to the dancefloor later this year.

So far, the likes of Martin Roberts and Coronation Street’s Helen Worth have been rumoured to have caught bosses’ eyes, while reports claim Chris McCausland will become the first-ever blind contestant.

According to the latest speculation, Ralf Little has signed up for the BBC dance show, for which the cast of professional dancers has already started rehearsing.

The former Death In Paradise star has been given odds of 4/7 by the bookies to don sequins and spray tans in the upcoming series.

As stated by The Sun, Ralf could be set for Strictly after quitting Death In Paradise earlier this year.

The news came as a real shock to fans after Ralf spent four years playing DI Neville Parker.

Now, though, he is moving on with a new TV series with his Two Pints Of Lager And A Packet Of Crisps co-star, Will Mellor.

The pair will face a series of challenges on each episode of Will And Ralf Should Know Better as they navigate life in their forties.

The show – which will air on the rebranded channel U+Dave – will see Will and Ralf embrace spirituality, and face their fears of getting older as they discover the perils of living off the grid.

A source said: ‘A lot has changed for Will and Ralf since Two Pints — they were 25 and 21 when they met.

‘But they have stayed great pals throughout and that really comes across in the intimate, frank conversations they have along the way.

‘They’ve got their joint podcast, but it will be nostalgic for Two Pints fans to see them on telly.

‘It will also re-introduce the fellas to those who now know Ralf better as Death In Paradise’s DI Neville Parker, and Will from Strictly and as Corrie’s Harvey Gaskell.’

Ralf said that he is ‘thrilled’ to be working with his old pal once again.

He said: ‘I am thrilled to be working with Will again as it’s always so much fun.

‘This time we get to explore how we should be living in the modern world while educating ourselves, and having a laugh at the same time.’

And who knows, perhaps Will could give him some dance tips after he took part in Strictly 2022.

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Paired with Nancy Xu, Will came fifth before Hamza Yassin was later crowned champion.

The line-up for this year’s Strictly is set to be announced in the coming weeks, with Towie’s Pete Wicks, influencer GK Barry, DIY SOS star Nick Knowles, and The Traitors’ Mollie Pearce all thought to have signed on the dotted line.

Meanwhile, Strictly 2024 was plunged into chaos when a series of allegations were made regarding toxicity in the training room.

Amanda Abbington – who quit in week 5 last year – has accused Giovanni Pernice of ‘bullying’ and ‘degrading’ behaviour, which he has denied.

A complaint was also made about Graziano Di Prima, with reports claiming he kicked and hit Zara McDermott while they released together in 2023.

Both Italian pros have since been axed from the show, and while Giovanni said he looks forward to ‘clearing [his] name’, Graziano apologised and said he ‘regretted’ his actions.

In light of the media frenzy surrounding the matter, Graziano is now said to be under medical supervision, with his family back in Sicily concerned for his welfare.

Several other former Strictly celebs have since broken their silence and made claims about negative environments in rehearsals, with a BBC investigation still ongoing.

The BBC’s director-general Tim Davie has apologised to Strictly contestants who had an experience that ‘hasn’t been wholly positive’.

He added: ‘We will never tolerate unacceptable behaviour of any kind.’