'Pray for me' - Loose Women's Kaye Adams to take the floor for Strictly Come Dancing

Kaye Adams is the latest celebrity contestant confirmed for Strictly Come Dancing 2022.

The Loose Women star, 59, announced her involvement during Friday’s episode of the ITV daytime show, while TV and radio personality Richie Anderson, 34, was unveiled during the Zoe Ball Breakfast Show earlier in the day.

They join previously announced stars in the line-up – Coronation Street actors Will Mellor and Kym Marsh.

Adams said she signed up for the dance competition as she wants the last year of her 50s to be “memorable”.

Her fellow Loose Women panellists were in disbelief after she broke the news, with Denise Welch trying to reassure her by saying: “I did Dancing On Ice and and it’s terrifying but it’s a wonderful experience.”

Adams confessed she is “absolutely terrified” and admitted she “can’t dance at all”.

But despite the nerves, she said she wants to embrace the opportunity, adding: “I can’t make much (more) of a fool of myself any more than I am.”

She added: “I said I wanted to make the last year of my 50s memorable and I can’t think of a better way of doing it than showing the world my two left feet. Pray for me.”

BBC handout photo of Kaye Adams who has been announced as the fourth celebrity contestant confirmed for Strictly Come Dancing 2022

Adams, whose television career began as a news reporter at Scottish Television in the 1980s, also hosts a morning show on BBC Radio Scotland and has presented programmes on various channels, including on STV and the BBC, and was previously a panellist on Channel 5’s morning show The Wright Stuff.

Meanwhile, Anderson said it is a “massive honour” to dance in an all-male partnership on Strictly.

He is a regular fixture on the BBC Radio 2 Breakfast show, presenting the travel bulletins, and has also hosted a variety of programmes himself.

Anderson has been a regular presenter on The One Show and featured in BBC One’s Platinum Jubilee coverage earlier this year.

Strictly has so far featured two same-sex pairings, with boxer Nicola Adams and Katya Jones dancing together in 2020 and Johannes Radebe and Bake Off’s John Whaite making the final last year.

Former pop star Marsh and Two Pints Of Lager And A Packet Of Crisps actor Mellor, both 46, were unveiled on BBC Breakfast on Thursday.

Marsh found fame in the band Hear’Say, who were created through ITV show Popstars in 2001, before turning to acting and starring as Michelle Connor in Coronation Street.

She now co-presents Morning Live alongside Gethin Jones, and recently appeared in the touring theatre production of Fatal Attraction.

Mellor said Strictly is his mother Shirley’s favourite show and that following the death of his father in 2020 from cancer, he wants to create new memories.

Four new professional dancers will appear in the new series of Strictly, creating the show’s largest ever roster.

It comes after two-time winner Oti Mabuse and Aljaz Skorjanec announced their departures.

The last series was won by Rose Ayling-Ellis with professional partner Giovanni Pernice.

The forthcoming 20th series will see audiences return to the studio, with the launch show scheduled to be recorded on September 7.