Former Strictly Come Dancing professional Ian Waite is calling on the BBC to spice things up with an all-stars edition of the beloved ballroom competition.
The 54-year-old dancer, who lit up the dance floor on Strictly from 2004 to 2010, believes it’s time to bring back some fan-favourite pairs for a nostalgic showdown. Speaking to BANG Showbiz, he said:
“It’s definitely something they could look into because there’s so much nostalgia… Everybody loves the old pros from Strictly and the nostalgia that goes around it.”
Waite suggested the likes of Darren Bennett and Jill Halfpenny, Vincent Simone and Rachel Stevens, and himself with Zoe Ball could return, adding:
“An all-stars would be a great thing to do.”
While Strictly has faced recent controversy — including 2023 complaints by actress Amanda Abbington about her pro partner Giovanni Pernice — Ian is confident that new safeguarding measures will help ensure a safer environment for both celebs and pros moving forward.
He explained:
“Hopefully the safeguarding is in place now so that that won’t happen again… it protects not only the celebrities but it protects the pros — because who’s to say we won’t be abused.”
Waite is currently on the road with The Return of the Legends tour, alongside fellow Strictlyveterans Brendan Cole, James Jordan, Pasha Kovalev, and Vincent Simone. Despite being known for their competitive streaks, Ian says the group has built a strong backstage bond:
“It’s like a proper bromance backstage. We all love each other. We all appreciate each other.”
The Return of the Legends tour runs nationwide from 5th September to 17th October. Fans can find more info at legendsofthedancefloor.com.
Whether or not an all-stars Strictly season becomes reality, it’s clear that the passion for sequins, sambas, and second chances is still burning bright.
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