New Strictly battle as two CBBC stars ‘wrestle for coveted line-up spot’

Strictly Come Dancing bosses are reportedly facing a ‘full-on battle’ deciding which CBBC presenter could be cast for the upcoming season.

The BBC series first hit screens in 2004, featuring countless stars who have hit the dancefloor alongside the roster of professionals, with each season usually featuring a BBC star too.

In that time there have been several cast from the CBBC channel including Helen Skelton, Rhys Stephenson and Karim Zeroual.

Appearing on Strictly has catapulted the careers of some, with agents of lesser-known celebrities pushing for their clients to get a chance on the dance series.

However now it’s been reported that some representing CBBC presenters are battling it out, with a BBC insider claiming there are ‘sharp elbows’ at the children’s channel over who might get to dance on the upcoming season, to air later this year.

The front-runner is Blue Peter presenter Shini Muthukrishnan, 22, who joined the show in January, with 32-year-old Evie Pickerill also reportedly in the running.

However, the agents of some of her co-stars are ‘fuming at the prospect of losing out because they know how it elevates careers’.

‘There can really only be one from the world of CBBC so there is now a full-on battle, a war,’ a BBC source has told the Daily Mail.

‘A place on Strictly for those on children’s TV is seen as the golden goose. It’s a way of getting them out of that genre of TV and turning themselves into household names.

‘Many of their agents have approached Strictly’s casting boss but have been usurped by Shini. There is a lot of anger.’

Last year nine contestants had links to the BBC, including EastEnders actor Bobby Brazier, BBC Asian Network presenter Nikita Kanda, BBC Radio 1Xtra Eddie Kadi and Waterloo Road star Adam Thomas.

Many BBC stars have won the Glitterball Trophy since Strictly began 20 years ago including season 1 winner, newsreader Natasha Kaplinsky, as well as Holby City actors Tom Chambers and Joe McFadden, EastEnders actress Rose Ayling-Ellis and sports presenter Chris Hollins.

Metro.co.uk has contacted BBC and representatives for Shini Muthukrishnan and Evie Pickerill for comment.