Hollyoaks stars sign up for Let's Dance
The cast of Hollyoaks and a team of TV chefs will join the likes of entertainer Les Dennis and DJ Neil Fox for the second heat of Let's Dance for Comic Relief, the BBC has confirmed. Former Come Dancing host Angela Rippon and I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! star Nancy Sorrell will also be putting on their dancing shoes for the special BBC1 series, in which celebrities recreate iconic dance routines from films and pop videos. It's not clear yet which Hollyoaks stars will be taking part - but TV chefs Paul Rankin, John Burton Race and Nancy Lam will be among those hoping to cook up a storm on the dancefloor. Jo Brand, Keith Lemon, judges from Dragon's Den and Blue Peter presenters have already been announced as contestants on the show, which kicks off on Saturday February 21 and runs for four weeks. As head judge, Strictly Come Dancing pro Anton du Beke will be joined by two different guest panellists each week, including Emma Bunton, Paul O'Grady and Michael McIntyre. A team of choreographers and stylists with work with the acts - a mix of solo dancers, duos and groups - as they pay homage to cult films such as High School Musical and pop classics including Michael Jackson's Thriller. Viewers will be voting for the acts they would like to see in the final dance-off on the Saturday of Red Nose Day weekend, March 14. The six acts to make the final will be decided over three heats - but contestants for third heat are yet to be announced. Claudia Winkleman and Steve Jones have already been confirmed as the show's presenters. Get exclusive access to your favourite stars. Subscribe to TV Times magazine
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Patrick McLennan is a London-based journalist and documentary maker who has worked as a writer, sub-editor, digital editor and TV producer in the UK and New Zealand. His CV includes spells as a news producer at the BBC and TVNZ, as well as web editor for Time Inc UK. He has produced TV news and entertainment features on personalities as diverse as Nick Cave, Tom Hardy, Clive James, Jodie Marsh and Kevin Bacon and he co-produced and directed The Ponds, which has screened in UK cinemas, BBC Four and is currently available on Netflix.
An entertainment writer with a diverse taste in TV and film, he lists Seinfeld, The Sopranos, The Chase, The Thick of It and Detectorists among his favourite shows, but steers well clear of most sci-fi.