Ali Bastian, Natalie Cassidy and Zoe Lucker have all signed up for the upcoming Strictly Come Dancing tour. Joining them on the dancefloor will be previous contestants Kelly Brook, Austin Healey and Mark Ramprakash.
Arlene Philips, will also make a return to the judging panel and will once more sit beside Len Goodman, Bruno Tonioli, and Craig Revel Horwood
Strictly Come Dancing bosses are said to be in a panic after Ali Bastian was struck down by a virus.
Ali’s dance partner, Brian Fortuna was ill first and passed the virus on. Staff are said to be worried that the pair are suffering from swine flu.
One pal told The Sun: “We were petrified Ali had caught swine flu, but she has been downplaying it. She made it to her rehearsal but she fears it getting worse.
Strictly Come Dancing contestants are said to be complaining that Ali Bastian has an unfair advantage on the show.
The Mirror reports that the former Hollyoaks actress attended stage school for three years, where she received various ballet and dance training.
One of the show’s professional dancers allegedly said: “It does give her a bit of an advantage. Her natural talent has already been honed by several dance tutors.”
Strictly Come Dancing’s Ali Bastian has insisted that she is not having a relationship with her dance partner Brian Fortuna.
The former Hollyoaks stars says that she and Brian hit it off when they met, but denied reports that they are now dating.
“We’re just really good friends. Honestly!” she told Now magazine. “We clicked straight away. I can see how it’s easy to fall for someone when you’re dancing with them because you spend so much time together and you have to trust them.”
Strictly Come Dancing contestant Ali Bastian has admitted that she does have feelings for her dance partner, Brian Fortuna.
Since the pair were first snapped together, there have been persistent rumours that a romance is on the cards. Ali added fuel to the fire yesterday, when she told The Sun:
“I think he is lovely. I think because we are working so closely together, you do get interested. You spend so much time together and I really am enjoying the moment. I feel great.
Ali Bastian has quit ITV’s The Bill so she could take part in BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing.
She told the Sunday Mail: “The last few weeks, I’ve been doing both at the same time, so it’s been quite mad. We were filming a riot a week ago and I was in proper helmet, riot shield and jumpsuit, so I’m really enjoying the transition to high heels and sequins!
Soap siren Ali is currently starring in Britain’s longest-running police drama The Bill as PC Sally Armstrong, a policewoman passionate about policing, sometimes to the point of recklessness.
Ali previously appeared in Channel 4 teen drama Hollyoaks, playing the character of Becca Dean from 2001 to 2007. Becca’s most controversial storyline in Hollyoaks saw her fired from her teaching job and sent to prison after having an affair with one of her students.