Strictly Come Dancing is set to return to BBC One next month and apparently the 15 confirmed celebrities were given clever code names to keep their identity shtum
Strictly Come Dancing’s celebrities were reportedly given ice cream flavours as code names to keep their identities secret ahead of their big reveals. The hit BBC One dance show’s 2023 line-up was confirmed earlier this week with the likes of Les Dennis, Zara McDermott and Angela Rippon making up the 15 celebrities.
It has now been claimed that the stars were each given an ice cream flavour as a code name when they first signed up to Strictly in order to keep the line-up, as well as their identity, a secret. According to reports, Les, 69, was “rum and raisin”, Nigel Harman was “mango”, Adam Thomas was “rocky road” and Krishnan Guru-Murthy was “tutti frutti”.
Other codenames apparently saw Angela, 78, as “cookies and cream”, Zara, 26, as “strawberry”, EastEnders star Bobby Brazier as “matcha”, Ellie Leach as “bubblegum”, Annabel Croft as “honeycomb”, Amanda Abbington as “raspberry ripple”, Eddie Kadi as “pistachio”, Angela Scanlon as “cherry”, Jody Cundy as “coconut”, Nikita Kanda as “mint choc chip” and Layton Williams as “Neapolitan”.
A source told Daily Star: “The celebs were all given code names to keep everything top secret. Execs decided to make them all ice cream flavours as a bit of fun. Everyone loved it. They’ve had Les Dennis answering to rum and raisin. He’s been in showbiz for years, but that was definitely a first!” The Mirror has contacted BBC for comment.