Alexandra Burke is the fifteenth and final celebrity contestant confirmed for the brand new series of Strictly Come Dancing. The 15th series of the BAFTA award-winning entertainment show produced by BBC Studios will return in the autumn on BBC One putting the sparkle back into Saturday and Sunday nights.

Alexandra says: “I am so excited to be joining this year’s Strictly cast! I love this show and have followed it from the beginning, so being able to be a part of it is just a dream come true for me - I still can’t believe it! I am very nervous as I am a singer not a dancer, but I am going to give this my absolute everything and try my best to make everyone proud.”

Alexandra Burke is a singer and West End performer currently starring in Sister Act in the lead role of Doloris Van Cartier in the UK tour. In 2014, she made her West End debut playing Rachel Marron in the stage musical adaption of The Bodyguard and received a nomination for Best West End Newcomer at the West End Frame Awards. Alexandra first shot to fame after winning ITV’s The X Factor in 2008 and her debut single Hallellujah sold over one million copies and became the top selling single for that year in the UK - a first for a British female solo artist. Her first single after winning the show was Bad Boys with Flo Rida which was a success debuting at number one in the UK singles chart and selling nearly one million copies as well becoming a platinum single. Her other hit singles include Broken Heels, All Night Long featuring Pitbull and Start Without You.

The news was revealed today (Monday 21 August) on BBC One’s The One Show.

Alexandra Burke joins Jonnie Peacock, DebbieMcGee, Chizzy Akudolu, Charlotte Hawkins, Brian Conley, Susan Calman, Aston Merrygold, Simon Rimmer, JoeMcFadden, Reverend Richard Coles, Gemma Atkinson, Ruth Langsford, Davood Ghadami and Mollie King to make up the Strictly class of 2017.