TV's Tracy Beaker set for Strictly

TV's Tracy Beaker set for Strictly
TV's Tracy Beaker set for Strictly (Image credit: Doug Peters/EMPICS Entertainment)

Children's TV star Dani Harmer is to join the new series of Strictly Come Dancing. Her involvement emerged after a touring musical in which she was due to star, called Disco Inferno, was axed. Dani - who is known to young fans for her role in children's drama Tracy Beaker - had previously appeared in Let's Dance For Comic Relief. She and dance partner Tyger Drew-Honey reached the final of the show in March. Her musical - which also featured ex-EastEnder Sam Attwater and Javine Hylton - was pulled after a week's run in Malvern, prior to hitting the road. She told fans on Twitter: "I would just like to send a massive apology to everyone that has booked tickets to see Disco Inferno! Unfortunately the tour has been cancelled. "Looking forward to my next adventure. Can't wait to tell you all what I'm doing next! So excited." It was later confirmed that she would be on Strictly, which returns to BBC One on September 15. Also believed to be taking part in the next series are TV presenter Johnny Ball and former England cricketer Michael Vaughan.

Patrick McLennan

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.