Strictly Come Dancing's Ellie Goldstein's passionate plea to bosses – 'Please'

A Strictly Come Dancing star has already issued a plea to show bosses. Model and disability activist Ellie Goldstein was announced today as the ninth contestant for the programme, which has been a dream come true for her.

The 23-year-old from Ilford has always spoken about how much she loves the programme and, after watching it from the audience, dreamed of taking part as a celebrity. During Wednesday's edition of BBC Breakfast with Jon Kay and Sarah Campbell, Ellie emerged from behind a pair of dancers as they revealed she would be taking part.

Ellie said she was "honoured and excited" to take part in the show, but while rehearsals are currently underway, she has pleaded with bosses to partner her with Nikita Kuzmin. "I like Strictly, I watch every episode, my best partner is Nikita, I love him," she gushed. It comes after a Strictly Come Dancing star pulls out of show as he makes career announcement.

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When Jon asked if Ellie wanted to be partnered with Nikita, Ellie responded: "I want him, please, I love him so much!" She added: "I love him!" But why does she want to dance with Nikita? She said: "He's good looking, he's got a heartwarming, loving smile – making me happy.

"He's sexy, hot, fit, all the things for me. I want to marry him at one point!" When Jon asked if taking part in the show was simply about finding love, Ellie jokingly said it was. Sharing her delight at being part of the line-up, the model who became the first person with Down syndrome to be on the cover of British Vogue, said: "I'm absolutely over the moon to be joining the cast and pros of Strictly Come Dancing this year. It's a show I've loved watching for so long, and the chance to now be part of it feels like a dream.

"I know it's going to be challenging, but I'm ready to do it with the glitter and glamour and make some magic on that dancefloor. Let the Strictly journey begin!" She went on to tell Jon and Sarah: "I think it'll be scary at first, but when I get on the ballroom, I'll be like, 'I'll be free', and I can dance."

Fans have already taken to social media to express their joy at the potential pairing, with one writing: "This warms my heart so much." A second penned: "Yesss!! Ellie & Nikita for the win." Meanwhile, a third went on to write: "Love to see this. Just feel the warmth and the power of inclusion. Unfiltered. I've learned so much from people with learning disability. @BBCBreakfast has always been their platform. Just a great watch."

"So pleased for Ellie and this is going to be a brilliant series already I just know it," said another. Ellie has never shied away from sharing her love for Strictly and described dancing as her "favourite thing in the world."

Speaking previously, she said: "I am proving people wrong, and I am a role model for people like me." She added: "Doctors said I wouldn’t talk, but now I never stop talking!

"You should always believe in yourself. My absolute favourite thing in the world is dancing. One day I would love to be on Strictly Come Dancing. I went to watch it being filmed a few weeks ago, but I didn't want to be in the audience, I wanted to be on the dancefloor."

This year, Ellie joins Gladiators star Harry Aikines-Aryeetey, Love Island's Dani Dyer-Bowen, Doctor Who's Alex Kingston, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, EastEnders actress Balvinder Sopal, YouTube and TikTok star George Clarke, RuPaul's Drag Race UK icon La Voix, and former rugby star Chris Robshaw.

Strictly Come Dancing will return to screens on September 20, airing on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.

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