Strictly Come Dancing bosses have reportedly bagged Doctor Who star Alex Kingston for the latest series.
The ER actress, 62, is said to have ‘jumped at the chance’ to sign up for the BBC series after watching her pal Sarah Hadland come second place last year.
A source told The Sun: ‘Bosses are delighted to have snapped up Alex.
‘She’s a real talent and will add a lot, it’s always exciting to have a prestigious actress on the cast.
‘It’s the first time Alex has done a reality show of any kind, but she’s a huge fan of the show and couldn’t resist the opportunity.’
Daily Mail has contacted the BBC and Alex’s representatives for comment.
Strictly Come Dancing bosses have reportedly bagged Doctor Who and ER star Alex Kingston for the latest series
Alex notably appeared in US drama ER from 1997 to 2005 alongside George Clooney.
She also took on a recurring role in Doctor Who, playing River Song – the love interest of Matt Smith’s incarnation of the Doctor and the daughter of Amy (Karen Gillan) and Rory (Arthur Darvill).
Alex has previously spoken about her desire to sign up for Strictly, revealing she and her close friend Sarah – who competed last year – had discussed it.
‘Sarah Hadland and I talked about how much we’d like to do Strictly Come Dancing,’ she said in 2019.
‘Then I discovered she’s a trained ballet dancer. ”Hang on a minute! That’s not fair!” So, I can’t do it on a season when she is on it!’
The series will return later this year, although an exact date is yet to be announced.
It’s believed Ellie Goldstein is reportedly set to become the first Strictly star with Down syndrome after signing up for the show.
The model, 23, who has appeared on the cover of Vogue, is hoping to ‘break down barriers’ in the entertainment industry.
Alex memorably took on a recurring role in Doctor Who, playing River Song – the love interest of Matt Smith’s incarnation of the Doctor
When Ellie was born, doctors said that she would ‘never walk or talk’, and one nurse devastatingly suggested that her parents might want to ‘leave her’ at the hospital.
But she has defied all expectations since her birth in December 2001, making history as the first model with Down’s syndrome to feature in major international campaigns.
And as Strictly Come Dancing is set to return to screens this Autumn, Ellie has been rumoured to be the latest celebrity who has signed on to the cast.
Gucci hired Ellie for its Unconventional Beauty adverts, landing her the cover of Italian Vogue in 2020.
She has graced the covers of numerous magazines, including Elle and Glamour, featured in promotions for Gucci Beauty, Adidas, TK Maxx, Body Shop, Boots, Spotify, Victoria’s Secret and Sports Direct, and even hung in the National Portrait Gallery in London on two occasions.
Ellie has been flown to Sweden, Italy and Germany for photoshoots, and has just strutted her stuff on the catwalk at London Fashion Week.
In 2023, she headed to Paris to receive a prestigious Business of Fashion award.
As well as being ‘treated like a princess’ on photoshoots, Ellie has also been showered with designer gifts — clothes and bags from Gucci and Kurt Geiger — and helped create her own dress for Adidas, pale pink with ‘Role Model’ written on the back.
Ellie Goldstein is reportedly set to become the first Strictly Come Dancing star with Down syndrome after signing up for the show
When Mattel launched its first Barbie with Down’s syndrome, the company hired Ellie to help promote the doll.
‘I’ve done so much modelling and I love it,’ she previously told Daily Mail. ‘And I adored doing the Barbie job — it was great to finally see a doll that looked like me.’
Other celebrities rumoured to be among the 2025 line-up include Dani Dyer, Neighbours veteran Stefan Dennis, Stacey Solomon and Vicky Pattison.
Helen Flanagan, dating expert Paul C Brunson, Gladiators star Nitro, Tom Parker-Bowles and Georgia Toffolo have also been tipped to appear.
