Strictly Come Dancing bosses hope to land royals to add extra sparkle to the upcoming series

Strictly Come Dancing will return to screens for it’s 20th season later this year.

And it’s been reported BBC bosses are hoping to add a little extra sparkle to this years competition by landing a royal contestant.

England rugby star Mike Tindall, 43, who is married to Princess Anne‘s daughter Zara, and the Queen‘s granddaughter, Lady Louise Windsor, 18, are both said to be top of the list.

‘It would be an incredible coup’: Strictly Come Dancing bosses hope to land royals Mike Tindall, 43 (left) and Lady Louise Windsor, 18 (right) to add a little extra sparkle to the upcoming series

A source told The Sun: ‘The team are doing all they can. In the year of the Platinum Jubilee, it has been a real priority.

‘It would be an incredible coup to secure a royal.’

Mike, who shares daughters Lena, 3, Mia, 8 and 12-month-old son Lucas with his wife, has reportedly been in the producers sights for a long time. 

Past winners: Rose Ayling-Ellis and Giovanni Pernice raised glitterball trophy during the final of Strictly Come Dancing 2021

While Lady Louise, who is the daughter of Prince Edward and Sophie, Countess of Wessex, has only recently moved fully into the public eye during the Jubilee celebrations.  

Other names mentioned include model and socialite Lady Amelia Windsor, 26, who is the granddaughter of the Duke of Kent.

As well as Claudia Winkleman’s half sister Sophie, the Peep Show actress who married the Queen’s second cousin Lord Fredrick Windsor back in 2009. 

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Married couple: Mike, who shares daughters Lena, 3, Mia, 8 and 12-month-old son Lucas with Zara, has reportedly been in the producers sights for a long time

MailOnline has contacted reps for The BBC, Mike and Lady Louise for comment. 

This comes after the news Prince Charles and Camilla are in talks to bring Strictly Come Dancing to the Queen‘s home for Royal Rumba. 

The Prince of Wales, 73, and Duchess of Cornwall, 74, are planning to host a live episode of Strictly at Buckingham Palace following secret discussions with BBC executives – and the pair may even perform a dance for fans.

Centre stage: Lady Louise (left) who is the daughter of Prince Edward and Sophie, Countess of Wessex (right) has only recently moved fully into the public eye during the Jubilee celebrations

Leggy: Other names mentioned include model and socialite Lady Amelia Windsor, 26, who is the granddaughter of the Duke of Kent

Her Majesty, 96, has given her permission for ‘the wonderful spectacle’ to be hosted at her royal residence later this year, The Sun reports.

Camilla is said to be a ‘massive fan’ of the show and even ‘votes every week’ for her favourite dancing duo.

The royal broadcast is being lined up for either the quarter or semi-finals, with only a handful of aides believed to be involved in the top secret project. 

Siblings: As well as Claudia Winkleman’s half sister Sophie, the Peep Show actress who married the Queen’s second cousin Lord Fredrick Windsor back in 2009 (pictured together earlier this year)

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A source revealed there is a ‘real desire’ to make the live special happen and celebrate the end of the Queen’s historic Platinum Jubilee year.

EastEnders’ Rose Ayling-Ellis, who won the 2021 series of Strictly Come Dancing with her professional dance partner Giovanni Pernice, previously revealed Prince Charles and Camilla voted for her on Strictly and introduced themselves in British Sing Language.

In an interview ahead of the Jubilee concert, the actress, 27, reflected on when she met the Royal family as they visited the set of the soap opera.

The royal broadcast is being lined up for either the quarter or semi-finals, with only a handful of aides believed to be involved in the top secret project (pictured with former Strictly professional Brendan Cole in 2019)

She said: ‘So we had Camilla and Charles come to visit and they tried out acting, they acted for a bit and we played our characters and meeting them and it was really really special.

‘Apparently, Camilla is a big fan of Strictly. She said she voted for me every week, and all her children voted for me every week.’ 

The soap star added: ‘That is incredible – the Royal family voted for me, that’s just mad!’ 

Beaming: EastEnders’ Rose Ayling-Ellis has revealed Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall voted for her on Strictly Come Dancing

Rose also revealed she felt ‘touched’ when Charles and Camilla introduced themselves in British Sign Language (BSL).

She said: ‘Both of them came up to me and the first thing they did, they signed Good morning to me.

Rose was moved by the sweet gesture: ‘I was really, really touched by that and I was really impressed that they knew how to sign Good morning.’

Impressed: Rose, who won the 2021 series of Strictly Come Dancing with Giovanni Pernice, was all smiles when she discovered the royal family supported her every week on the BBC show