Will Bayley: Who is Strictly Come Dancing star Will Bayley? Age, job, dancing experience

Strictly Come Dancing 2019 returns to screens this September and the celebrity line-up has started to be revealed. This morning (Monday, August 5), the ninth and 10th contestants were announced. Paralympian Will Bayley MBE is taking part alongside Jamie Laing,  Michelle Visage, Karim Zeroual, Viscountess Emma Weymouth, Emma Barton, Chris Ramsey, David James, Saffron Barker, Mike Bushell ,  Catherine Tyldesley, footballer Alex Scott and radio host Dev Griffin.

Who is Strictly Come Dancing star Will Bayley?

Will Bayley MBE was the 10th Strictly Come Dancing 2019 contestant to be revealed. 

Bayley is a British World Table Tennis Paralympic champion from Kent. 

The news that he would be taking part in Strictly 2019 was announced on TalkRadio this morning.

In a statement, Bayley said: “I’m so proud to be on the show, it’s my family’s favourite show. I have no dance experience at all, but I hope I can do well. I want to inspire people with a disability- that would mean a lot to me. I want to prove to people I can do this.”

Since birth, Bayley has suffered from arthrogryposis, a rare condition which affects all of his four limbs.

WHEN DOES STRICTLY COME DANCING 2019 START?

Bayley is 31-years-old and is ranked as the world’s number one player in Paralympic Table Tennis. 

He began playing table tennis as a child when he was recovering from non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, cancer which saw him undertake six months of chemotherapy at Great Ormond Street Hospital. 

His grandmother bought him his first tennis table and at age 12 he joined the Byng Hall Table Tennis Club in Tunbridge Wells and went on to represent Kent’s able-bodied men’s team.

Since age 17, he has trained at the English Institute of Sport in Sheffield. 

In January 2017, Will as awarded an MBE for services to Table Tennis. 

Bayley is currently training to defend his Paralympic title at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic games.

At the London 2012 Paralympic games, Bayley won the silver medal and at Rio 2016 he won gold, beating Brazilian Israel Pereria Stroh. 

In celebrating his win, he jumped on the table in celebration for which he received a yellow card. 

Bayley was a Commonwealth Games ambassador for the Gold Coast Games in Australia 2018.

He also serves an ambassador for Kent Sports Trust Foundation, Pepenbury and Disability Sports Coaching. 

WHO IS IN STRICTLY COME DANCING 2019? FULL LIST

Does Will Bayley have any dance experience?

At the moment it is unknown if Bayley has had any formal dance training.

Bayley did have an interest in performing after he left high school and was awarded a place on the Theatre Studies course at The BRIT School for Performing Arts.

Bailey’s is a professional dance partner on the show has not yet been revealed.

The dancing couples will not be unveiled until the Strictly Come Dancing 2019 launch show at the end of August.

WHO ARE THE STRICTLY COME DANCING 2019 JUDGES?

Who are the Strictly Come Dancing 2019 contestants?

So far, 10 Strictly contestants have been announced. They are:

  • Actress Emma Barton
  • Footballer David James
  • Comedian Chris Ramsey
  • Coronation Streets Catherine Tyldesley
  • Youtuber Saffron Barker
  • Sports presenter Mike Bushell 
  • CBBC presenter Karim Zeroual
  • Viscountess Emma Weymouth
  • American TV Personality Michelle Visage
  • Paralympian Will Bayley
  • Made in Chelsea star Jamie Laing
  • Footballer Alex Scott
  • Radio 1 DJ Dev Griffin 

Strictly Come Dancing 2019 returns to BBC One in September 

source: express.co.uk