Friday, May 29, 2009

BBC moves forward with wheelchair dancing TV show

From BBC News:

Actress Michelle Gayle and singer Heather Small (pictured) are among the celebrities who have signed up to take part in a new BBC dancing competition.

Dancing On Wheels sees the celebrities partnered with wheelchair users who have never danced before.

The winning couple of the six-part series will represent the UK at the Wheelchair Dance Sport European Championships in Israel this autumn.

BBC Three boss Danny Cohen said the show would be "fun and glamorous".

He added: "This is a really important project for BBC Three, and underlines our commitment to covering disability in a mainstream way, following the success of Britain's Missing Top Model last year."

Gold medallist Mark Foster, actor Kevin Sacre, rugby legend Martin Offiah and presenter Caroline Flack have all signed up to compete.

Professional ballroom dancer and wheelchair dance teacher Brian Fortuna will choreograph the couples.

The couples will train intensively and perform in front of a panel of judges, who will decide each week which couples stay in the competition.