The first contestant for Strictly Come Dancing 2018 has been announced. Katie Piper, the broadcaster, charity campaigner and inspirational speaker, appeared on BBC Breakfast this morning to announce that she will appear on the forthcoming 16th series.
Piper first rose to prominence after she became the subject of a Channel 4 documentary, Katie: My Beautiful Face, in which she detailed her experience as the victim of an acid attack and sexual assault at the hands of her former partner, Daniel Lynch.
Piper went on to create further series for the broadcaster, releasing another short film, Katie: the Science of Seeing Again which followed her stem cell surgery to repair her damaged left eye and two further series, one which saw her meeting other burn victims and Bodyshockers, which explored both the gains and perils of cosmetic surgery.
The star has since gone on to become a philanthropist, acclaimed inspirational speaker and write a bestselling autobiography.
In a statement, Piper said: "I feel so privileged and excited to be part of my favourite show on TV. I already know how much of an amazing experience it will be for me and I can’t wait to show my girls some of my new dance moves.
Katie Piper has been confirmed as the first celebrity to join this year's Strictly Come Dancing.
The TV presenter made the announcement during Monday's BBC Breakfast and even revealed hopes of taking to the dance floor with Giovanni Pernice.
The 34-year-old star admitted she was overjoyed to have been given the opportunity to participate in something 'more light-hearted', having fronted a number of hard-hitting documentaries over the years.
'I feel so privileged!': Katie Piper has been unveiled as the first celebrity taking part in this year's Strictly Come Dancing
While some celebrities remain coy about the professional they're hoping to partner up with, without hesitation, Katie confessed: 'I would like to be partnered with Giovanni. Giovanni, if you're watching, I'm coming for you!'
She then joked she was grateful the news was out, having been elusive when receiving friends' October wedding invitations, and gushed that she was looking forward to taking part in her 'favourite' TV show.
Asked if she was fearful of the straight-talking judges, she enthused: 'I don't want to cry. The judges can be quite scary. I've developed a thick skin over the years so hopefully I'll be fine.'
The secret's out! Katie made the announcement during her appearance on BBC Breakfast on Monday morning
No hesitation! While some celebrities remain coy about the professional they're hoping to partner up with, Katie confessed: 'I would like to be partnered with Giovanni!'
She added: 'For me it's really out of my comfort zone and it's not something I've ever done before.
'The only person I'd told was my husband, over text, and he thought I was joking and I was like, "No I'm being serious!"'
And it seems nobody is more proud than Katie's daughter Belle, four, as the philanthropist joked: 'My eldest is four-and-a-half and she sort of understands she loves dancing, she loves glitter. She said, "Oh, great! Can I be on it too?" and my youngest [Penelope, eight months] is a bit too young for sparkles.'
Admitting that rhythm isn't something she's gifted with, she joked: 'Dance wise, I went to a musical on Thursday and my friend noted that I wasn't even clapping in time, so in terms of rhythm I don't know how that's going to go.
'I can't wait!': The 34-year-old star admitted she was overjoyed to have been given the opportunity to participate in something 'more light-hearted'
Stylish: Katie looked stunning for her appearance on the show, wowing in a chic striped shirt dress and white mule heels
Inspirational: Katie, who was the victim of a cruel acid attack in 2008, rose to prominence when she wavered her anonymity to increase awareness about burn victims
'The only fear is that I don't have that natural rhythm but I like it being a challenge because I'm quite a competitive person.
'Since I've known I was going to be in it, I've been watching lots of old footage to try and get some tips but sometimes that just makes you more nervous.'
Katie, who was the victim of a cruel acid attack in 2008, rose to prominence when she wavered her anonymity to increase awareness about burn victims.
She fronted the Channel 4 documentary Katie: My Beautiful Face as part of the Cutting Edge series, which lead to a follow-up series and a best-selling autobiography.
But Katie admitted she was elated to take part in a show where her past and appearance were 'irrelevant'.
Good track record! Giovanni and partner Debbie McGee made it to the finals during last year's show
'I feel so privileged and excited to be part of my favourite show on TV. I already know how much of an amazing experience it will be for me and I can’t wait to show my girls some of my new dance moves,' the mother-of-two gushed.
'I’m nervous to put on my dancing shoes but can’t wait to learn a new skill and have the Strictly tan and makeover.'
Katie is the first star to be confirmed for the series, though cricketer Graeme Swann, Pussycat Dolls singer Ashley Roberts and choreographer Neil Jones have all been rumoured.
Katie's appearance on BBC Breakfast also saw her admit that all of this year's stars have been using cheese code names to conceal their identities, laughing: 'I was brie!'
Katie Piper is the first contestant announced for Strictly (Picture: Getty, BBC)
Katie Piper has been confirmed as the first contestant for Strictly Come Dancing 2018.
The announcement was made on BBC Breakfast on Monday morning as the star appeared to discuss her fears for taking part.
‘It took a while to say yes because it’s something way out of my comfort zone,’ she confessed. ‘The only person I told was my husband and he thought I was joking.’
‘I’m worried I’ll be the first to go home!’ she laughed. ‘The fear I have is I don’t have the natural rhythm. But I like a challenge, anything I can’t do it inspires me to learn it.’
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video
When asked who she’d like to be partnered with, she confessed: ‘I would really like to be partnered with Giovanni, but I have no sway in that at all.
Advertisement
Advertisement
‘So watch out Giovanni, I’m coming for you!’
‘I hope to come away with a different kind of confidence in a different area of my life,’ she said of why she’s taking part. ‘I think it gives a wider message, my past is irrelevant, to be able to go forward and do these things is a bigger wider message.
‘That’s something I want to take forward, and it’s nice to be part of something so light-hearted!’
Strictly will start filming this month, with the rest of the names to be announced across the next two weeks ahead of the series’ red carpet launch at the end of the month.
(Picture: Guy Levy/BAFTA/REX/Shutterstock)
The final three contestants have in previous years been revealed on a special episode of The One Show, although the second contestant will be named on Monday night’s episode of the BBC magazine show.
Preparations for the series are already underway, with the pro dancers heading back into rehearsals last Monday.
This year’s line-up is tipped to include the likes of Corrie star Catherine Tyldesley, Capital DJ Vick Hope, Olympic diver Tom Daley, and Joe Sugg.
There’s no confirmed date for the series yet but the launch show – when the celebrities meet their pro partners for the first time – is likely to air in early September, with the main series beginning a few weeks later.
Advertisement
Advertisement
MORE: Graeme Swann ‘becomes fifth England cricket player to give Strictly Come Dancing a go’
MORE: Len Goodman is all about the equal pay for Shirley Ballas: ‘Same job, same money’
MORE: Anita Rani on Bollywood, Strictly and ‘owning it’ as an Asian woman on British telly
Katie Piper has spoken openly about the attack in 2008 (Picture: Mark R. Milan/GC Images)
Katie Piper is the first confirmed Strictly Come Dancing celebrity but some fans of the show have been wondering how she became famous.
Katie, 34, started her career as a model, dreaming of a career modelling for magazines, presenting TV programmes and appearing as a regular face in the media.
However, a horrific incident in 2008 threatened to shatter her dream when her ex-boyfriend arranged for a man to attack her with acid on a busy London street.
In 2008, Katie began dating Daniel Lynch. The pair had only been dating for two weeks when they arranged to stay in a London hotel after a dinner date one night.
Katie Piper arrives at the TRIC Awards 2010, two years after the attack, held at The Grosvenor House Hotel on March 9, 2010 in London, England. (Picture: Dave Hogan/Getty Images)
It was during this hotel stay that Daniel raped and attacked Katie, leaving her fearing for her life but she abruptly ended the relationship.
Advertisement
Advertisement
However, persistent apologies from Daniel soon saw Katie answering his calls and she eventually agreed to read an email he had sent her on Facebook.
As Katie later explained in an interview with Mail Online: ‘In one of Danny’s calls he’d told me he’d got a present for me that would change my life for ever. I knew instantly that he was behind it.’
Katie’s own internet service was down so she headed to an internet cafe on Golders Green Road and recalls how Daniel had phoned her as she made her way there, asking her what she was wearing, which she duly answered.
But as Katie went to cross the road, attacker Stefan Sylvestre approached her and, while she thought he was going to ask for money, he threw a cup of acid in her face.
‘I could hear someone screaming and screaming and kept wishing they’d be quiet. Then I realised it was me,’ she added.
‘I was standing in the street with people walking past me and I could feel my face evaporating. I thought I was on fire as the acid ate at my skin.’
Katie Price pictured before the vicious acid attack (Picture: PA)
Katie Price pictured before the acid attack (Picture: PA)
Katie suffered life-changing burns to her face, chest and arms, undergoing countless operations and procedures to heal the scars left by the attack.
The attack had been caught on CCTV, with both Lynch and Sylvestre being arrested. Lynch received two life sentences, while Sylvestre received one too.
Advertisement
Advertisement
It was then in 2009, one year after her attack, that Katie decided to waive her anonymity and appeared in Channel 4 documentary Katie: My Beautiful Face to raise awareness of what victims like her go through.
Katie Piper at the launch of the Katie Piper Foundation at Sony Headquarters in July 2010 (Picture: Ian Gavan/Getty Images)
Describing the attack in a 2009 interview with Daily Mail, Katie said: ‘The pain was indescribable, but for a split second I remember thinking, “How rude to throw coffee when I was trying to help him.” I could feel my skin and clothes burning off me.’
Later reflecting, she added: ‘I’m never going to be the old Katie. She’s like a best friend I once had,’ she admits.
‘She’s gone and there’s a different one in her place. I’m not going to be a victim. I’m the woman who got through this. I’m full of life and looking forward to the future.’
Katie has previously admitted turning to alcohol to ‘feel like anybody else buy herself’ following her harrowing attack.
The 34-year-old admitted she often drank alone until the early hours of the morning at her home as she battled anxiety following her ordeal.
She lost sight in one eye after sulphuric acid was hurled in her face in 2008.
The activist spoke about her binge drinking on the opening night of her one-woman stage show (Picture: Doug Peters/EMPICS Entertainment)
‘I almost destroyed myself six or seven years into my recovery. I can talk about the attack and graphic photos quite easily but this part is difficult because I’ve never talked about it before,’ the TV presenter said on the opening night of her one-woman stage show, What’s In My Head, Mirror Online reports.
Advertisement
‘I’d drink wine, move on to a dodgy spirit, then your cousin’s birthday champagne – then you hear a noise and it’s your neighbours going to work and it’s 7am.
‘I was drinking to feel numb. To feel absolutely nothing until I felt unconsciousness. I was drinking to be someone else.’
The TV presenter married her partner Richard Sutton in 2014 (Picture: Isabel Infantes/PA Wire)
The brave activist was at the height of her boozing in 2013 when she met builder and carpenter Richard Sutton, whom she later married.
‘People have seen photos of my husband at red carpet events but nobody has really heard about what he did behind all of that.’
Katie Piper and Richard James Sutton in 2018 (Picture: Karwai Tang/WireImage)
Katie Piper and Richard James Sutton attend the National Television Awards in January 2018 (Picture: Dave J Hogan/Dave J Hogan/Getty Images)
Piper has since gone on to be an inspiration for other acid attack and burns victims across the country.
As well as her documentary Katie has appeared in a number of other TV shows raising awareness for burns victims and giving them hope at what can be done to help, as well as writing an autobiography, magazine columns, making numerous public appearances and working on her charity the Katie Piper Foundation.
Katie is now married with two children. She announced her engagement to Richard James Sutton in December 2014, tying the knot in November 2015.
They welcomed their first daughter, Belle Elizabeth, in March 2014 and their second, Penelope Diane, in December 2017.
Advertisement
Katie’s Strictly announcement came with her discussing her fears about taking part.
‘It took a while to say yes because it’s something way out of my comfort zone,’ she said.
‘The only person I told was my husband and he thought I was joking.
Katie Piper is the first contestant announced for Strictly (Picture: Getty, BBC)
‘I’m worried I’ll be the first to go home, the fear I have is I don’t have the natural rhythm. But I like a challenge, anything I can’t do it inspires me to learn it.’
When asked who she’d like to be partnered with, she said: ‘I would really like to be partnered with Giovanni, but I have no sway in that at all.
‘So watch out Giovanni, I’m coming for you!’
‘I hope to come away with a different kind of confidence in a different area of my life,’ she said of why she’s taking part. ‘I think it gives a wider message, my past is irrelevant, to be able to go forward and do these things is a bigger wider message.
Thank you for all your lovely messages. I’m super excited but very nervous about being a contestant on this years @bbcstrictly it’s going to be a challenge but everyone who knows me knows I love a challenge so here goes… a new chapter in my life! #strictly2018 #bbcbreakfast pic.twitter.com/hVBQnloqce — Katie Piper (@KatiePiper_) August 13, 2018
‘That’s something I want to take forward, and it’s nice to be part of something so light-hearted!’
Strictly will start filming this month, with the rest of the names to be announced across the next two weeks ahead of the series’ red carpet launch at the end of the month.
(Picture: Guy Levy/Bafta/Rex/Shutterstock)
The final three contestants in previous years have been revealed on a special episode of The One Show. This year, the second contestant will be named on Monday night’s episode of the BBC magazine show.
Preparations for the series are already underway, with the pro dancers heading back into rehearsals last Monday.
This year’s line-up is tipped to include the likes of Corrie star Catherine Tyldesley, Capital DJ Vick Hope, Olympic diver Tom Daley, and Joe Sugg.
There’s no confirmed date for the series yet but the launch show – when the celebrities meet their pro partners for the first time – is likely to air in early September, with the main series beginning a few weeks later.
MORE: Graeme Swann ‘becomes fifth England cricket player to give Strictly Come Dancing a go’
MORE: Len Goodman is all about the equal pay for Shirley Ballas: ‘Same job, same money’
