Capital FM's Vick Hope has signed up for 'Strictly Come Dancing'.

Vick Hope

Vick Hope

While celebrities including Scarlett Moffatt, Maya Jama, Les Dennis and Coleen Rooney have all been tipped to take part, radio host Vick is the first star to sign up for the upcoming 16th season of the BBC show, as producers reportedly struggle to secure A-listers.

Many stars are said to be wary of the so-called 'Strictly Come Dancing' curse, after a number of stars saw their relationships end when they took part on the show.

Speaking to The Sun, an insider said: "'Strictly' has always been a massive draw in the past, but it hasn't been as easy this year. They've asked loads of top names, but with people like Louise Redknapp and Ben Cohen in mind, many in relationships are saying no."

Louise and her husband Jamie Redknapp ended their 19-year marriage just months after she competed on the show, while Ben is now in a relationship with his former dance partner Kristina Rihanoff.

While Capital DJ Vick hosts '4Music Trending Live' and Sky One's 'Carnage', show bosses are worried that as she is not a household name, her signing won't attract other stars to compete.

The insider added: "Bosses are obviously hoping to bring in some bigger names, but they need everyone signed by the end of this month."

However, 'Strictly' chiefs are believed to have also banned reality stars for the upcoming series, leaving their options even more limited.

A spokesperson for the BBC said: "We do not comment on speculation. The line-up will be announced in due course."

Meanwhile, BBC bosses have also hired three new professional dancers for the show after they did not renew veteran dancer Brendan Cole's contract.

Earlier this year, Brendan said: "This is quite hard to talk about. The BBC haven't renewed my contract - we get renewed year on year - and they made an editorial decision not to have me back on the show."

Tagged in