Jacqui Smith quicksteps in to join Strictly Come Dancing line-up
Former home secretary and the current chairwoman of Sandwell Children’s Trust Jacqui Smith has been confirmed as a contestant on BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing.
Ms Smith, a former Redditch MP, was confirmed as one of the latest contestants completing this year’s line-up.
The news was revealed on The Steve Wright Show on BBC Radio 2.
Announcing that she will join Strictly this autumn, the ex-Labour MP said: “I was speechless with excitement at being asked to join Strictly – and that’s very rare for me.
“Fifty years ago, I got a bronze medal for Scottish Highland Dancing and it feels about time to return to dancing.
“I couldn’t be in better hands with the Strictly team and I am going to throw myself into the challenge. Watch out!”
The ex-politician was the UK’s first female home secretary in 2007. She quit her role in 2009 after an expenses scandal. She later took a backbench position but lost her seat in the 2010 election.
She became the chairman of the Sandwell’s Children’s Trust in 2018. She is also the chairman of the University Hospitals of Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust and the Jo Cox Foundation, and has a podcast, For the Many, with broadcaster Iain Dale.
Smith is the twelfth and final celebrity contestant confirmed for Strictly.
Joining Jacqui in this year’s Strictly Come Dancing is soap star Maisie Smith, boxer Nicola Adams, TV presenter JJ Chalmers, Good Morning Britain presenter Ranvir Singh, The Wanted singer Max George, DJ Clara Amfo and former NFL player Jason Bell were previously announced.
