Reality TV veteran reportedly signs up to Strictly Come Dancing

There are just a couple of weeks to go before the Strictly Come Dancing launch show airs and we’re getting super excited as more and more names are announced.

The latest thrown into the pot is the wonderful Debbie McGee, magician Paul Daniels’ widow.

Debbie is taking part on the show as a tribute to her late hubby (Credit: FameFlyNet)

She will be following in the dance steps of husband Paul who appeared on the show back in 2010.

However, Debbie is hoping to do better in the contest than her other half, who lasted just two weeks before being voted off.

A family friend says Debbie wants to do the show in tribute to her late husband, who she loved very much.

“Debbie has wanted to do the show for years,” the source has told The Sun.

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“She was offered it this year and decided it was the right time.

“She has told friends she is doing it for Paul, and is going to take it incredibly seriously.

“She wants to put the fun back in her life for the first time properly since he died.

A friend says she wants to put some fun back into her life (Credit: ITV)

“Debbie has spent her entire life being a sidekick and now she wants to be centre stage herself for a change. She cannot wait.”

Last year it was revealed that Debbie, who has previously been on Celebrity Carry On Barging, Wife Swap and The Farm, was really keen to appear on the show and had tried to get her agent to persuade producers to have her on the show.

“I’ve written it on my list of things to get finalised. I would love to do it,” she said at the time.

She’s been desperate to be in Strictly for years (Credit: ITV)

But will Debbie have an unfair advantage?

According to her friend she has spent a lifetime dancing.

In her younger years she attended the Royal Ballet School and later opened her own dance company called Ballet Imaginaire.

Debbie studied at the Royal Ballet School and also open up a dance school (Credit: ITV)

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The source said: “Debbie has spent her entire life dancing so has a huge advantage.

“This will make her a favourite to win from the word go.”

Other stars taking part in this year’s show include: Aston Merrygold, Brian Conley, Davood Ghadami, Joe McFadden, Mollie King, Ruth Langsford, Simon Rimmer, Susan Salman, Gemma Atkinson, and Richard Coles.