Bury actress Gemma Atkinson has joined the celebrity line-up for Strictly Come Dancing.

The BBC show revealed this morning that the 32-year-old would be “bringing the drama to the Strictly 2017 ballroom”.

The former Castlebrook High School is one of a number of celebrities announced for the 2017 show, including Mollie King from The Saturdays, EastEnders actor Davood Ghadami and Loose Women’s Ruth Langsford.

She said: “I am honoured to be asked and so thrilled to be joining Strictly Come Dancing 2017!

"I'm beyond excited and incredibly nervous but I am looking forward to learning a new skill in ballroom and Latin dancing and taking on this new challenge.”

Gemma is known for playing Lisa Hunter in Channel 4’s Hollyoaks between 2001 and 2005.

She has since played series regular Tamzin Bayle in BBC One’s Casualty and was most recently seen in ITV’s Emmerdale playing Carly Hope where she was nominated for Best Newcomer at the National Television Awards 2016.

In February this year, Gemma joined the Key 103 breakfast team in Manchester hosting the breakfast show from 6am to 10am on weekdays.