‘I was a Strictly Come Dancing reserve – but I’m glad I didn’t make the cut’

Strictly Come Dancing’s class of 2024 has officially been confirmed, and the stars including Toyah Willcox and Nick Knowles, have begun to rehearse, but some secret celebrities never make it to the live shows.

The BBC series has previously kept famous faces on a ‘reserve’ list, who are ready to step in if anyone in the selected line-up is unable to take part.

The precaution makes sense when it’s considered what a juggernaut of a series it is, and the production’s commitment to ensuring the best experience for viewers.

Andrea McLean has previously spoken about exactly what taking on this special, but barely talked-about role entails.

‘I was actually a reserve and I was so relieved when I didn’t get called up because I got a glimpse into what it’s like,’ she told Metro.co.uk and other publications.

‘And I just said, this is too scary and actually I was really happy that I didn’t have to do it.

‘So I had a little taste and it was great. And now I never, ever want to try it.’

Although Strictly fans never got to see her perform, Andrea, 54, did learn a routine with an unspecified male partner.

‘I don’t want to say because it will spoil it – because we did a routine and everything, and he was super nice,’ she shared.

‘Really, really nice and I was relieved and I think he was relieved because I looked nice in the dress and that was as far as it went!’

Andrea self-deprecatingly added: ‘I just knew that if I actually ended up on the show, everyone would do that, “Ah! Ohhhhh…” and it wouldn’t be good.’

While Andrea may not have been called up to step out, it was a different case entirely for Kelvin Fletcher.

The Emmerdale star has said he had failed multiple auditions and didn’t even make it to the ‘subs bench’ in 2019.

However, Strictly got onto the phone to ask him to spin into action when Jamie Laing injured himself during a group routine and damaged a tendon.

‘I had wanted to do it for so long, I’ve auditioned for it before, but they said no,’ he recalled.

Kelvin, 40, couldn’t resist saying yes when they did finally give him a chance, despite the tricky circumstances and the shortened amount of time to practise. The risk paid off as Kelvin went on to lift the glitterball trophy with professional dancer Oti Mabuse.

‘Coming at the last minute wasn’t the ideal scenario, but sometimes opportunities present themselves. Never in a million years did I think I’d go on to win it,’ he stated.

Explaining the exact circumstances of how his participation came about, he told the Fuelling Around podcast it was a totally ‘random’ call to his agent when it transpired Jamie couldn’t continue.

Kelvin claimed that he wasn’t given long to consider the offer – he had to give an answer within a couple of hours.

‘I wasn’t even on the replacement list that they have, so I was the absolute underdog, the underdog that couldn’t even make the subs bench, but for me it was the absolute opportunity of a lifetime,’ he summarised.

Hopefully, the full cast make it to the dance floor in September, but if not, then there are likely some mystery stars ready to pick up the phone…

Strictly Come Dancing will return on BBC One and BBC iPlayer later this year.

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