Strictly Come Dancing’s male pros ‘are competing to be partnered with Maisie Smith… thanks to her huge fan base and proven abilities in the ballroom’
Strictly Come Dancing’s male professional dancers are reportedly in fierce competition to be partnered up with new recruit Maisie Smith for this year’s series.
The 19-year-old actress was recently announced as one of the 12 contestants set to hut the BBC ballroom when the hit show returns to screens in November.
And, according to The Sun, a number of the show’s men are vying to be the EastEnders star’s dance partner, citing her huge fan base and proven abilities.
Coveted: Strictly Come Dancing’s male professional dancers are reportedly in fierce competition to be partnered up with new recruit Maisie Smith for this year’s series
Maisie, who stars as Tiffany Butcher on her hit BBC soap, won Strictly’s Children In Need special alongside former Kevin Clifton last year – making her a favourite to win.
A source said: ‘All the male pros really want to partner with her, not just because she’s young and fit, but she’s also proven herself to be a brilliant dancer. She has a massive fan following, which often ensures contestants get far in the competition.’
Reports of the behind-the-scenes competition comes after it was revealed that Maisie is under investigation for smoking a ‘strong-smelling cigarette’.
Show: The 19-year-old actress was recently announced as one of the 12 contestants set to hut the BBC ballroom when the hit show returns to screens in November. Pictured in January
The actress was at the centre of controversy over the summer, when she was spotted smoking at the cigarette at the wheel of her car.
According to The Sun, BBC bosses were ‘angry’ and ‘extremely disappointed’ after Maisie was caught smoking a hand-rolled cigarette, after pulling over on an empty road in Essex on Sunday July 19.
MailOnline contacted representatives for Maisie Smith and Strictly Come Dancing for comment at the time.
The actress has also reportedly ruffled feathers after signing a big money TikTok deal, despite being told not to by soap chiefs.
Winner: Maisie, who stars as Tiffany Butcher on her hit BBC soap, won Strictly’s Children In Need special alongside former Kevin Clifton last year – making her a favourite to win
Ballroom favourite: According to The Sun, a number of the show’s men are vying to be the EastEnders star’s dance partner, citing her huge fan base and proven abilities
Maisie apparently violated the terms of her EastEnders contract by inking a deal to promote musicians on the app.
The teen previously allegedly turned down an eye-watering amount of money from a record label to promote their artists’ music on her videos.
She reportedly rejected the offer after being told it would breach her EastEnders contract, however she is believed to have gone on to accept a second deal.
An EastEnders spokesperson told the publication: ‘We are looking into this matter.’
Meanwhile, the star reportedly turned down a record deal – which promised to make her ‘the next Kylie Minogue’ – so that she could take part on Strictly this year.
Brilliant: A source said of the actress, ‘All the male pros really want to partner with her, not just because she’s young and fit, but she’s also proven herself to be a brilliant dancer’
She is said to have been told by BBC bosses that the singing career would need to be put on hold if she wanted to remain on EastEnders and take part in Strictly.
A source told The Sun: ‘Maisie wants to crack the music industry and several labels think she is really marketable. One told her she could be the next Kylie, with her girl-next-door looks and down-to-earth personality.
‘But she was told she could not take a record deal and continue on EastEnders and Strictly due to the BBC’s commercial rules.
‘Maisie decided to take Strictly over the deal because she can revisit music after the show. This will give her an even bigger platform than EastEnders to show off her talents. She hopes it will be a huge chance for her.’
Not impressed: Maisie, who plays Tiffany Butcher on EastEnders (pictured), has reprtedly violated the terms of her EastEnders contract by inking a deal to promote musicians on Tik Tok
Ambition: Meanwhile, the star reportedly turned down a record deal – which promised to make her ‘the next Kylie Minogue’ – so that she could take part on Strictly this year
Strictly Come Dancing Contestants 2020
CAROLINE QUENTIN
Age: 60
Profession: Actress, known for roles in Men Behaving Badly and Jonathan Creek
Caroline says: ‘I hope my knees don’t let me down and I hope the foundation garments live up to expectations when I start leaping about!’
Fun fact: She met her now-husband, Sam Farmer in 1998 on the set of Men Behaving Badly when he was one of the studio runners.
MAX GEORGE
Age: 31
Profession: Singer – from former boy band The Wanted
Max says: ‘Nan – I’m doing Strictly this year!’ as he vowed to make his superfan grandmother proud
Fun Fact: Max’s fellow The Wanted bandmate Jay McGuiness was on Strictlby Come Dancing in 2015 – and won it!
CLARA AMFO
Age: 36
Profession: Radio 1 presenter
Clara says: ‘As we know this year has been a real challenge and escapism through dancing is something I know we all enjoy’
Fun fact: Clara has some experience of celeb gameshows, having taken part on Celebrity Masterchef in 2018
BILL BAILEY
Age: 55
Profession: Comedian and TV personality
Clara says: ‘I’m not Lord of the Dance, more a sort of caretaker of the dance’
Fun fact: Bill is a classically trained musician and multi-instrumentalist
MAISIE SMITH
Age: 19
Profession: EastEnders actress
Maisie says: ‘Get me in those sequins, I can’t wait to dive into the Strictly fancy dress box this winter!’
Fun fact: Maisie won the 2019 Children In Need special of Strictly with Kevin Clifton
HRVY
Age: 21
Profession: YouTube star
HRVY says: ‘Being on Strictly is going to be such an amazing experience and I’m so thankful to be taking part this year.’
Fun fact: HRVY follows in the footsteps of former internet star contestants Joe Sugg and Saffron Barker – the latter of whom is close friends with him
JASON BELL
Age: 42
Profession: Retired American Football player – now a pundit
Jason says: ‘I am thrilled. I’m a huge fan of the show, I’ve been watching it since I came to this country, so it’s time for me to do something cool to impress my daughter, now that she can watch me perform!’
Fun Fact: Jason is the father of Girls Aloud star Nadine Coyle’s daughter. The couple were together for 11 years, only splitting recently in 2019
RANVIR SINGH
Age: 43
Profession: ITV broadcaster, Political Editor for GMB
Ranvir says: ‘It feels like I’m on a rollercoaster… Hopefully after the first dance I will feel exhilarated rather than sick!’
Fun fact: Ranvir is the fourth GMB star to star following Susanna Reid, Richard Arnold and Charlotte Hawkins.
NICOLA ADAMS
Age: 37
Profession: Double Olympic gold medallist boxer
Nicola says: ‘I’m a huge fan of the show and am thrilled to be part of something that holds such a special place in so many people’s hearts’
Fun fact: Nicola will form the show’s first ever same-sex pairing as she is parterned with a female professional.
JJ CHALMERS
Age: 55 Profession: Comedian and TV personality Clara says: ‘I’m not Lord of the Dance, more a sort of caretaker of the dance’ Fun fact: Bill is a classically trained musician and multi-instrumentalist
Age: 33
Profession: Ex Royal Marine and Invictus Games medallist
JJ says: ‘Strictly is a whole different ball game in respect to the challenges I will face but I’m up for an adventure’
Fun fact: JJ is close friends with Prince Harry after they worked together on the Invictus Games
JAMIE LAING
Age: 31
Profession: Made In Chelsea star
Jamie says: ‘I’m over the moon I actually get to come back and dance again. It’s going to be unbelievably amazing!’
Fun fact: Jamie was forced to pull out of the 2019 series of Strictly after a foot injury
RT HON JACQUI SMITH
Age: 57
Profession: Politician
Jacqui says: ‘I was speechless with excitement at being asked to join Strictly – and that’s very rare for me…!’
Fun fact: Fifty years ago, she received a bronze medal for Scottish Highland Dancing