Olympic Gold Medallist Tom Dean Joins Strictly Come Dancing Amid Show's Scandal

Olympic swimmer Tom Dean has reportedly become the latest star to sign up for the new series of Strictly Come Dancing.

The 24-year-old was part of the British relay team who won the gold in the 4×200 men’s freestyle at the Olympics in Paris on Tuesday.

According to The Sun, the swimmer will be heading straight into rehearsals for the BBC show as soon as he is back in London.

A source said: ‘It’s quite a coup for the producers to bag an Olympian fresh from winning gold in Paris, and swimmers have been shown to be great contestants.

‘They tend to be a sensation as a result of their fitness, competitiveness and sheer determination to win — and Tom will still be pumped from his victory in France.

Olympic swimmer Tom Dean has reportedly become the latest star to sign up for the new series of Strictly Come Dancing

The 24-year-old was part of the British relay team who won the gold in the 4×200 men’s freestyle at the Olympics in Paris on Tuesday (pictured with Matthew Richards)

‘He doesn’t quite have the same profile as other top-level swimmers yet but that’s likely to drastically change after his time on Strictly.

MailOnline has contacted representatives of Strictly Come Dancing for comment.

Tom, from Berks, won three gold and two silver medals at the 2002 European Championships in team events and an individual bronze in the 200m freestyle.

He also won two golds in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics in the 200m freestyle and the men’s 4x200m freestyle relay.

The swimmer was made an MBE in the 2022 New Year Honours.

Tom is far from the first swimmer to try his hand at Strictly. Ellie Simmonds most recently competed in the 2022 series while Adam Peaty took part in 2021 and Mark Foster competed in the 2008 series.

The celebrity lineup for the 20th anniversary series is due to be released in the next few days.

However, stars have already been reportedly confirmed to be hitting the dancefloor as rehearsals begin.

The full Strictly line up was reportedly been ‘leaked’ as alleged list has confirmed the stars joining Pete Wicks (pictured), Paul Merson and Nick Knowles on the upcoming series

It was revealed earlier this month that ex Arsenal player Paul Merson (L) and DIY SOS star Nick Knowles (R) have also reportedly put on their dancing shoes

Earlier this month it was revealed TOWIE star Pete Wicks has signed up, despite the news his close pal Zara McDermott was physically and verbally abused by her professional dance partner Graziano Di Prima last year.

Meanwhile ex Arsenal player Paul Merson and DIY SOS star Nick Knowles have also reportedly put on their dancing shoes.

And now according to a Reddit post seen by Metro, all 15 stars set to compete have been leaked in an ‘alleged list’.

The post reportedly included a screenshot from an Instagram Story shared to someone’s close friends, suggesting it wasn’t meant for public knowledge.

Famous names on the list included Ted Lasso star Hannah Waddingham, Coronation Street star Shobna Gulati, Loose Women presenter Janet Street-Porter, Blue singer Dun
can James and Tracy Beaker Returns star Kia Pegg.

The caption reportedly read: ‘Got this off of a friend, this seems so exciting! Can’t wait for this, especially Hannah Waddingham!’

Chris McCausland was also on the list, after the comedian failed to deny the Strictly rumours last month during an interview with Gyles Brandreth, who also made the ‘leaked list’.

Elsewhere Olympic legend Dame Laura Kenny, Outnumbered star Tyger Drew-Honey, Sarah Millican and Doctor Who star Pearl Mackie also appeared on the list.

The final names were reportedly actor Sunil Patel, radio presenter Jordan North, former professional footballer Jermaine Jenas and EastEnders star Shona McGarty.

Meanwhile Death In Paradise actor Ralf Little has also been rumoured to be joining the lineup.

When contacted about the alleged list, Strictly representatives at the BBC told MailOnline that celebrity contestants for this series will be announced in due course.

Famous names on the list included Ted Lasso star Hannah Waddingham

Coronation Street star Shobna Gulati (L) and Loose Women presenter Janet Street-Porter (R) were also reportedly on the list

Chris McCausland was also on the list, after the comedian failed to deny the Strictly rumours last month during an interview with Gyles Brandreth , who also made the ‘leaked list’

Blue member Duncan James also appeared on the alleged list

The show was thrown into more crisis on Monday as backstage staff branded the scandal-plagued show ‘toxic and cruel’.

The BBC show has been engulfed by drama since Giovanni Pernice was suspended after his celebrity partner Amanda Abbington accused him of abusive behaviour, saying he was ‘cruel and mean.’ He denies the claims.

It was followed by Graziano’s sacking last month over reports he verbally and physically abused Zara during rehearsals.

Graziano has apologised for kicking his former partner and added other allegations do not align with ‘how he remembers it.’

And now, according to The Observer, production workers at the hit dance series have alleged they were grilled on their ‘sex lives.’

One complained that ‘talented co-workers were treated with cruelty,’ while another added that the workplace environment on the show eight years ago was ‘tense, toxic, uncomfortable.’

Graziano Di Prima’s was sacked last month over reports he verbally and physically abused Zara McDermott during rehearsals. Graziano has apologised for kicking his former partner and added other allegations do not align with ‘how he remembers it’

One then told the publication how they had been subjected to ‘sexualised comments’ including queries about their sex life.

A spokesperson for the BBC told the publication: ‘The welfare of our crews working on each series of Strictly is always of paramount importance to us.

‘We act speedily when any concerns are raised, and we have thorough, effective and longstanding processes to manage them. We do not recognise the claims relating to a negative workplace culture.’

MailOnline has contacted the BBC for comment.

It comes just days after Strictly was plunged into further crisis after Amanda claimed that Giovanni was trying to block the release of up to 50 hours of ‘toxic’ footage’ following her bullying complaint to the BBC.

In an emotionally charged interview, the actress, 50, compared the dance show to ‘the trenches’ telling Channel 4 News that BBC producers had been left ‘horrified’ by clips that also allegedly exhibited ‘humiliating behaviour of a sexual nature’.

The Sherlock star sensationally quit the dance competition last year citing ‘personal reasons’ before reports surfaced that she had demanded footage of her rehearsals after the experience with the show and her dance partner left her with PTSD .

Giovanni, who has strongly denied any threatening or abusive behaviour, was later suspended, with the BBC later launching a probe over claims of off-camera misconduct made by Amanda as well as other celebrities .

Yet in a dramatic twist in the Strictly saga, the actress has claimed Giovanni tried to stop her legal team from accessing the video ‘evidence’ after producers were forced to put cameras in the dance studio after Amanda raised concerns.

‘There’s 50 hours of footage that’s being blocked. You know, 50 hours is a lot of footage, and a lot of time spent in a room that was toxic,’ she told presenter Krishnan Guru-Murthy.

‘It’s out there. There is evidence out there of what happened in that room and I’m not the one who’s blocking it. I’ve said anyone can watch it, but he (Giovanni) doesn’t want anyone to see it, which is quite telling if he’s got nothing to hide.’

A spokesperson for Giovanni told MailOnline at the time: ‘We would urge people to wait for the review’s conclusion and not to pay heed to these very serious and defamatory allegations that have no evidence in support of them.’