Wednesday 10 August 2022 08:28 AM Strictly Come Dancing 2022: BGT star Molly Rainford is the 10th star to join ... trends now

Britain's Got Talent singer and CBBC star Molly Rainford is the 10th star confirmed to be taking part in Strictly Come Dancing 2022.

The singer, 21, revealed she's already sought advice from 2020 contestant HRVY, adding that despite her performing background she's like 'Ellie the Elephant' when she takes to the floor.

Molly, who also stars in the CBBC series Nova Jones, was unveiled as the latest star to join the lineup on Wednesday morning.

Speaking ahead of her dancefloor debut, Molly said: 'I've always loved performing and being on stage, but I've never been the most confident dancer. 

'I'm super excited for the challenge to push myself outside of my comfort zone and hopefully add another string to my bow. 

'It will introduce me to a whole new way of expressing myself! I'm also pretty competitive and I'm excited meet the Pros and the other contestants. 

'And on top of all that, I absolutely love the glitz and glamour the show brings to the floor every week.'

The singer grew up in Essex and went onto study at the coveted Sylvia Young Theatre School after auditioning for BGT in 2012.

She added: 'I did Britain's Got Talent in 2012 when I was 11 years old. That definitely changed my life because after getting to the finals, I was sponsored by Sony Music and Simon Cowell to go to the Sylvia Young theatre school. From those auditions throughout school, I got into the CBBC world.'

Since graduating, Molly has starred as intergalactic pop superstar Nova Jones in the CBBC show of the same name.

This autumn, Molly will be seen across CBBC screens as Nova Jones returns for series two, with a third series already filmed for release in the coming months.

Molly has been shortlisted for Best Newcomer at the 2022 Variety Club Showbusiness Awards and has released two EPs, including single Commitment, which has garnered over two million streams to date.

Asked what she fears the most about being on the show, Molly added: 'Forgetting the steps because the judges notice everything. 

'If I was singing, I'd know how handle it, but I'm worried It would throw me off when too much when I'm dancing.'

The star added that she's already spoken to former contestant HRVY about his time on the show, saying: 'One of my really good pals HRVY was on in 2020 and he said it was one of the best experiences he's ever had.'

Molly was the 10th celebrity confirmed for this year's Strictly lineup, after comedian Ellie Taylor was revealed as the ninth celebrity contestant on Tuesday.

The 38-year-old Ted Lasso star will swap the stage for the dance floor later this year to take part in the BBC Latin and ballroom show, but the star insists she has the dancing ability of a 'newly born giraffe'.

Former Heart FM presenter Ellie was unveiled on Lorraine - hosted by Ranvir Singh - and said: 'Well, cover me in fake tan and roll me in sequins! I'm absolutely over the moon to be a part of Strictly 2022!

'I've watched the show for years so to be able to take to the dance floor is a dream come true, for both me and mum who is a Strictly super fan!

'At the moment I'm focusing on the excitement and glitter and choosing to ignore the fact that I have the dancing ability of a newly born giraffe. Bring it on!'

Asked by Ranvir who her perfect professional dance partner would be, Ellie admitted: 'I want someone who's patient. I need a tall, patient person.' 

And preparing for her time on the dance floor, the comedian explained: 'I've got a list of music tracks on my phone - it's getting longer and longer,' but confessed: 'The dancing bit is what is completely out of my comfort zone.'

The Ted Lasso actress - who portrays Flo 'Sassy' Collins in the Apple TV+ show - has also appeared in the likes of Plebs, as well as panel shows, and is a host on Channel 4's The Great Pottery Throwdown.

8 Out of 10 Cats, Fake Reaction, and Mock the Week, and she co-hosts Cheat alongside Danny Dyer, which is coming soon to Netflix.

Ellie is married to CNN reporter Phil Black, after tying the knot in London in 2012, and the couple share three-year-old daughter, Valentina. 

It comes after Matt Goss, 53, was unveiled as the eighth celebrity contestant taking part in this year's Strictly.

The singer was announced as the latest addition to the 2022 line-up on Monday's episode of This Morning. 

Joining hosts Josie Gibson and Craig Doyle, Matt said: 'I am excited, I'm nervous. You have the conversation and then think, 'I've got to dance!' 

Matt, who has been living in America for the last 25 years as a headliner in Las Vegas, said he is happy to be spending an extended period of time at home again.

He said: 'I've been almost reclusive, I come and work and then go back to America. I thought, it's time for me to come home and get out of my own way in a way. 

'Do something completely out of my comfort zone. I'm quite shy off stage so I'll have to face all those demons and learn.' 

It comes after Tyler West was revealed as the seventh celebrity contestant taking part on Strictly.

The KISS FM DJ broke the news on the station's breakfast show hosted by Jordan Banjo and Perri Kiely on Monday. 

He announced in a statement: 'I am SO gassed to be joining the Strictly family! As I started writing this I already got cramp. It's going to be one crazy incredible journey which will no doubt be SO far outside my comfort zone.'

He continued: 'It's a show that means so much to me and my family and I can't wait to seriously shake a leg on that shiny dance floor… with a side of sequins.'

Tyler is best known for hosting weekday afternoons on KISS, for which he was nominated for a prestigious ARIA for Best New Presenter in 2020. 

Having begun his broadcasting career in children's television, presenting various programming across CBBC, he has hosted MTV News, HQ Trivia and the 2020 EE BAFTA Awards Red Carpet Live Show. 

Last year he launched his first BBC Three series, co-hosting Flat out Fabulous as well as becoming the host of The MTV Movie Show. 

It comes after Ellie Simmonds was announced as the sixth celebrity contestant on Sunday. 

The paralympic swimmer, 27, who has a type of dwarfism called achondroplasia and is a height of 4ft, is the first with the genetic condition to appear on the show.

Ellie will be joining already announced stars Kym Marsh, Will Mellor, Richie Anderson and Jayde Adams on series 20 later this year.

Speaking after the announcement on BBC 5 Live Sunday Breakfast, the athlete said: 'Oh my gosh!! I'm literally bursting with excitement!!

'It's been so hard keeping this secret as I've wanted to tell everyone. I'm going on Strictly Come Dancing!! I'm a tad nervous too, well more than a tad… I'm absolutely petrified! 

'To be asked to be part of the Strictly family is just so exciting and I cannot wait, it's going to so much fun. I'm counting down the minutes until it starts; learning to dance, meeting my partner and everyone else involved in the show. 

'Plus wearing the sequins and all that, It's going to be a blast. I've been watching Strictly from as far back as I can remember; it's a traditional lead up to Christmas with my family and it's a genuine privilege to be part of it.'

She added to The Mirror: 'I'll be so, so nervous, and I will try not to think of all the people watching,' said Ellie, who attended the Commonwealth Games yesterday.

'My family and friends will support me and help me stay grounded.

'I am the first dwarf doing the show, I will show how positive that is, that to be different is OK. It is a real honour.'

Ellie is best known as a gold medal-winning Paralympic swimmer. At the age of thirteen she was the youngest British athlete at the 2008 Summer Paralympics in Beijing, and won gold medals in the 100m and 400m freestyle events.

In 2012 she achieved gold in the 400m freestyle and the 200m Individual Medley at the Summer Paralympics in London and won a further gold in the 200m Individual Medley at Rio 2016. 

In addition, she has also won ten gold World Championship titles. 

At the age of 13 she won BBC Young Sports Personality of the Year and a year later, at just 14 years old, she became the youngest person ever receive an MBE. 

She was elevated to OBE in the 2013 New Year Honours for services to Paralympic sport.

After retiring from competitive swimming in 2020, Ellie has gone on to present for BBC Sport, most recently for the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, as well as making documentaries such as Ellie Simmonds: A World Without Dwarfism? for BBC One and BBC iPlayer. 

She is set to explore disability and adoption in a recently announced ITV film.

It comes after Jayde Adams was announced as the fifth contestant to sign up to Strictly Come Dancing 2022.

The comedian and actress, 37 said that keeping the secret hidden had been like 'torture', but that she was a 'massive fan' of the show, as she joked appearing on the beloved show was her main career goal.

She said: 'Since I watched the first series in 2004, I feel like every step I've taken in my career over the last 11 years was to be on Strictly.

'I cannot begin to express the emotions I am feeling, this means so much to me and my family. I've always watched it, apart from a brief hiatus in 2011 as I was relentlessly gigging every weekend (to try and get on Strictly).

'I've been a massive fan of the show for years. I feel like I'm watching myself in a dream and I can't believe I've manifested this.

She added: 'Holding this in has been torture for me!'

Best known as a comedian, Jayde has won several comedy awards and was nominated for the coveted Best Newcomer with her Edinburgh Fringe debut stand-up hour.

The news was revealed on Saturday morning on BBC Radio 5 Live by Scott Mills and Chris Stark. 

Kaye Adams was revealed as the fourth contestant on the series, making the exciting announcement live on Friday's Loose Women on ITV. 

Kaye stunned her fellow panelists Denise Welch, Carol McGiffin and Sunetra Sarker - as well as Nadia Sawalha who appeared via video link - with the news towards the end of the show, with the studio welcoming a plethora of dancers.

While panelists in the studio were thrilled at the announcement, Nadia was left

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