Strictly Come Dancing’s 2017 line-up has no contestants over 60

Find out about the composition of the class of 2017.

Published Aug 22, 2017

Claudia and Tess during last year’s Strictly Come Dancing (BBC)

The new series of Strictly Come Dancing will feature no contestants over the age of 60.

It is only the second time this has happened in the show’s 14 years on television.

Debbie McGee leaves Broadcasting House, London, after appearing on The One Show, where she was announced as the 13th celebrity to join the Strictly line-up (PA)

Strictly Come Dancing: age range of contestants graphic — Strictly Come Dancing: age range of contestants (PA graphics)

By contrast, last year saw 70-year-old Lesley Joseph set the record for the oldest woman ever to appear on Strictly.

The show usually includes in its line-up at least one contestant who is in their sixties or above.

This peaked in 2010 when no fewer than five celebrities were aged 60 or over, including politician and novelist Ann Widdecombe, 62, actress Felicity Kendal, 64, and Paul Daniels, who was 72 at the time.

Strictly Come Dancing: age gap between youngest and oldest contestants graphic — Strictly Come Dancing: age gap between youngest and oldest contestants (PA graphics)

Here are some other statistics about the 2017 series of Strictly Come Dancing:

:: Just 34 years separate the oldest and youngest celebrities: the joint smallest age range in the show’s history.

:: The youngest competitor will be 24-year-old paralympian Jonnie Peacock.

:: Despite the narrower age difference, the latest series may still be one of the most diverse on record. For the third year running 27% of contestants are non-white, there is a disabled competitor for the first time, and two participants – radio presenter Reverend Richard Coles and comedian Susan Calman – are gay.