Source: dailymail.co.uk
Former Coronation Street actress Tina O’Brien has become the latest star to sign up for Strictly Come Dancing.
The 26-year-old who played Sarah-Louise Platt in the soap will join the likes of Good Life actress Felicity Kendal and former minister Ann Widdecombe on the next series.
Also signed up to appear on the BBC dancing show are Gavin Henson, rugby star and ex-partner of Charlotte Church, and actress Patsy Kensit.
Manchester born O’Brien first starred in Children’s Ward and Clocking Off before she joined Corrie in 1999 and left the show in 2007.
Her most famous storyline was the teen pregnancy and birth of baby Bethany in the drama.
She has been lined up to appear in the next series of BBC1 school drama Waterloo Road.
Miss O’Brein famously had a relationship with co-star Ryan Thomas, who played Jason Grimshaw in the soap and the pair had a child together in 2008. But the pair split up after a series of rows in 2009.
The first bunch of signings for the show represent a coup for the series as they are already of a higher calibre than many of those who took part in the last series.
Critics condemned the number of barely recognisable contestants who appeared on the 2009 show, declaring the Strictly dancers were more famous than the celebrity contestants.
But this year the BBC is attempting to re-ignite the show – and reverse a ratings slump – with more high profile and interesting contestants.
Yesterday it was confirmed that dancers Ian Waite and Darren Bennett will return to Strictly as part of this series’ new professional dance group.
But Matthew Cutler and Lilia Kopylova won’t return as a permanent members of the dance group.
Miss Widdecombe, who recently stepped down as an MP, is being lined up in the John Sergeant role of lovable trier in the next series, amid claims she could surprise viewers with her skills.
She was an MP between 1987 and this year when she stepped down at the last election. She has been widely tipped as Britain’s next ambassador to the Vatican.
Felicity Kendal was made a CBE in 1995, has been married twice and has two sons. In 1991 playwright Tom Stoppard left his wife to be with Miss Kendal but she has since reunited with her second husband.
She has also appeared in ITV murder mystery series Rosemary & Thyme as well as Channel 4’s acclaimed drama The Camomile Lawn.
More recently, in 2008, she starred in an episode of Doctor Who alongside David Tennant.
The inclusion of Miss Kendal, as well as Miss Widdecombe, would appear to be recognition that last year’s show, full of young soap stars and actresses, was in danger of alienating the heartland middle-aged audience.
Miss Kensit, 42, like Jo Wood on last year’s show, is appearing on the series after the break-up of her marriage.
Mr Henson, 28, who recently split from Miss Church, will appeal to younger viewers and sports fans.
Traditionally athletes have done quite well on the show, including rugby star Austin Healey.
The number of contestants this year has been cut from 16 to 14.