Toyah Willcox is part of the line-up for this year’s Strictly Come Dancing, but just months before the news she had expressed huge concern about a stint on the dancefloor.

The singer-songwriter, 66 – who released singles like I Want to Be Free as part of her music career – was named this week as a contestant on the new series of the BBC show. It comes just months after she addressed the prospect.

She had shared her thoughts on a potential stint in the dance contest back in April. Toyah, who said she is pals with Angela Rippon, who competed in last year’s series, teased that she would need to compete “sooner rather than later,” expressing concern that she wouldn’t “be able to move” like the cast do in routines if she signed up in a few years time.

Asked if she would be up for taking part in the show, Toyah had exclusively told the Mirror: “Oh, God yeah. Well, I’d have to do it sooner rather than later, because I’m not gonna be able to move. I do understand how hard they work. I’m friends with Angela Rippon and she was extraordinary.”

She added: “But they’re rehearsing 10 hours a day every day. And then on Saturday, they do two shows. As I went there, they invited me to watch them do the live show. Then at nine o’clock, they film the Sunday show, and I’m thinking, ‘could I do this?’ If I’m going to do it, it’s gonna have to happen within the next few years because I don’t think I’ll be able to move like that in two years’ time. But, you know, the whole world wants to do Strictly, I wouldn’t say no.”

Toyah Willcox in 2018
Toyah Willcox will take part in this year’s Strictly Come Dancing line-up ( 
Image:
Mike Marsland/WireImage)

Toyah Willcox in 2018.

She previously spoke about a possible stint on the show with the Mirror in April ( 
Image:
Dave Benett/Getty Images)
It’s since been announced that Toyah has signed up for the next series of Strictly, which is set to launch in the coming weeks. She was the fourth celebrity unveiled as part of the line-up, ahead of the show’s returned later this year.

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Addressing the news, which was shared earlier this week, she said in a statement: “Wow Strictly Come Dancing, can you believe it! This is going to be a wild and wonderful ride, and I’m here for every sparkly second. I’m used to performing for big crowds but this is completely fresh for me, how I will do, it’s a mystery… I just want to get cracking and learn some dance routines now!”

Toyah will be competing against the likes of comedian Chris McCausland, JLS member JB Gill, radio host Wynne Evans and Morning Live’s Dr Punam Krishan. Love Island finalist Tasha Ghouri, the Only Way is Essex’s Pete Wicks, X Factor winner Shayne Ward and actor Sarah Hadland have more recently been unveiled as part of the line-up.