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Jodie Ounsley has signed up for the Strictly Christmas special
Strictly Come Dancing has announced that Jodie Ounsley – known as Fury from Gladiators – will be taking part in the BBC programme’s Christmas special.
The announcement was made on Strictly: It Takes Two on Monday (November 24), with Jodie making an appearance on the spin-off show for the major announcement. It was revealed that she will be partnered with professional dancer Neil Jones for the festive episode of the ballroom competition.
Speaking to It Takes Two presenter Fleur East, Jodie explained she was seeking “a bit of a challenge” and that was among the reasons she agreed to participate, reports Wales Online.
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The athlete, who became the first deaf woman to represent England at rugby, continued: “I think for me, if you see me as a Gladiator or as a rugby player, I’m serious, I’m powerful, I don’t mess around. But with this, I really just want to be able to let go and, you know, just to dance and just have fun with it. So, just going with the flow and letting go.”
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Jodie said she wanted a challenge
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Jodie revealed she was “chuffed” to be partnered with Neil and commented that rehearsals have been progressing “alright” thus far.
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“It’s been better than I thought,” she explained. “And, yeah, I’m loving it. And I’m just, I’m actually generally really excited.”
Jodie’s rugby achievements include playing professionally for Loughborough Lightning, Sale Sharks Women, and Exeter Chiefs Women, whilst she is also a British Brazilian jiu-jitsu champion. The athlete is additionally a multiple-time World Coal Carrying Champion – a competition which secured her a Guinness World Record this year, for achieving the fastest 50m sprint whilst carrying a 20kg coal bag.
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The star is dancing with Neil Jones
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She joins the previously announced Scarlett Moffatt and Melanie Blatt in the Strictly Christmas special line-up.
This year’s festive edition of Strictly will feature six couples vying for the Glitterball trophy and the title of Christmas Champion, with more celebrities soon to be announced.
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Claudia and Tess will host the show(Image: BBC)
Presenters Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman will host the Christmas special for the last time, having declared their departure from Strictly at the end of this series.
Meanwhile, head judge Shirley Ballas, Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, and Anton Du Beke will be ready to offer heaps of advice, festive spirit, and perhaps a few lumps of coal – before the studio audience votes to determine the winner.
