Martina Hingis aims for no foot faults in Strictly Come Dancing

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Former Wimbledon champion Martina Hingis today spoke of her desire to win BBC's Strictly Come
Dancing.

The retired Swiss tennis star is among a host of celebrities competing in the new series of the BBC's hit show.

Ready to dance: Jo Wood, estranged wife of Rolling Stone Ronnie, and boxing star Joe Calzaghe are among those signed up for the latest series of the BBC hit show.

Gallery: Stars of Strictly Come Dancing 2009

Hingis, 28, who quit the sport after testing positive for cocaine use in 2007, said: “I want people to see a different side of me from the player running around the tennis court.

“I'm here to win and I'm very competitive. Everything I do, I want to be the best at it.”

Hingis, who won the Wimbledon women's singles title in 1997, had a reputation for being outspoken and criticising her rivals.

She said: “I've always said what I think. Don't you think tennis is boring today? People don't say anything any more. I have changed. I'm not like I was when I was 18. I've calmed down and always have fun.

“I knew about this show as Monica Seles entered it in the US and my agent was the same agent as Darren Gough, who won it before. So I heard it is a good thing to enter.

“I want to put everything behind me now and this is a new challenge. I can't wait to learn some of the Latin dances and some of the faster ballroom ones, like the quickstep.”

Going for glory: Phil Tufnell and Lynda Bellingham

Hingis has been paired with professional dancer Matthew Cutler, who won the show in 2007 with Alesha Dixon.

Other sports stars in the line-up are boxer Joe Calzaghe, jockey Richard Dunwoody, athlete Jade Johnson and former Test cricketer Phil Tufnell.

They are joined by a host of TV actors, including EastEnders' Natalie Cassidy and Ricky Groves, Coronation Street's Craig Kelly, The Bill's Ali Bastian, Ricky Whittle from Hollyoaks and Footballers' Wives stars Zoe Lucker and Laila Rouass. Loose Women presenter Lynda Bellingham and Jo Wood, the ex-wife of Rolling Stones guitarist Ronnie Wood, have also agreed to take part.

Two BBC presenters, Rav Wilding of Crimewatch and BBC Breakfast's Chris Hollins, complete the line-up.

Speaking at the launch of the new series today, BBC1 controller Jay Hunt said: “Strictly remains one of the best-loved shows on the BBC schedule.

“We want it to be as compelling now as it was when it first launched.”

The line-up of celebrities was revealed by presenters Tess Daly and Bruce Forsyth, who joked about rumours that he would not return for this series. He said: “I've been leaving this show ever since it started.”

Forsyth also challenged reports that the X Factor, ITV's Saturday night rival show, had regularly beaten Strictly Come Dancing in audience figures last year. He said: “You can't compare the two, as Strictly often started earlier and finished at 7.30pm when the X Factor begins.

“In Saturday night television, the difference between 6.15pm and 7.30pm is always one or two million viewers.”

Bellingham, 61, who is best known for her role in the long-running Oxo adverts, dismissed accusations of ageism levelled at the show after veteran judge Arlene Phillips, 66, was axed in favour of Dixon, 30.

She said: “I feel the ageism row has been created. You are as good as you want to be on this show. Winning has nothing to do with age. We've all got something to offer and I see it as a very exciting new challenge.”

Chris Hollins, the 47-year-old BBC breakfast presenter, said: “I just hope to have a good time and carry on the tradition of broadcasters on Strictly. My colleague, Bill Turnbull, was on it a couple of years ago and used to tell me about every twist and pivot he would learn and I thought John Sergeant epitomised the spirit of the competition last year.”

 

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