BBC Strictly's Alesha Dixon lifts lid on which star she's backing to lift glitterball trophy

Former Strictly Come Dancing champion Alesha Dixon has opened up about her top pick for this year's glittering lineup on the BBC show.

Alesha Dixon, the much-loved former victor of Strictly Come Dancing and current Britain's Got Talent judge, has exclusively disclosed to Reach plc who she's cheering for in the latest series.

Best recognised for presiding over the panel on ITV hit show Britain's Got Talent, the pop sensation has given us a glimpse into her preference for this year's Strictly champion during 2024.

In a broader conversation about the newly introduced Media, Broadcast and Production T-level, Alesha let slip about her early favourite from the BBC contest.

When quizzed on which dancer had caught her eye so far, Alesha confessed: "You know, I haven't seen this season yet."

She quickly followed up with an eager endorsement, adding: "I know that JB (Gill) is in it, though, so even though I haven't seen it yet, I'm rooting for him!"

This revelation isn't entirely unexpected; after all, Alesha was riding the waves of her independent music success concurrently when JLS, featuring JB Gill along with bandmates Aston Merrygold, Marvin Humes, and Oritse Williams, were making their mark on The X Factor back in 2008.

With each member of JLS having since dipped their toes in various reality TV exploits, JB's inclusion draws a personal connection to Alesha as he once took part in Dance Dance Dance, a competition hosted by none other than Alesha herself.

Elsewhere in the interview, Alesha revealed her excitement about her career in the entertainment industry and the new qualifications that will enable young people to follow in her footsteps in a supportive environment.

The Boy Does Nothing singer has become part of the T-team a group of celebrities endorsing T-levels as a revolutionary qualification. Alesha is advocating for the brand-new Media, Broadcast and Production T-level, which was launched across England this September.

Recent statistics reveal that 73% of individuals believe that the pathways and opportunities into the creative industries are inaccessible to many, while 86% of parents would feel more confident about their child pursuing a creative career if they were more informed about the available opportunities.

Alesha described the campaign as "really exciting", explaining: "Before I actually got into the entertainment industry, I wanted to be a teacher, and I absolutely love going into schools and speaking with young people.

"This campaign really spoke to me," she continued. "So I've joined the T-team experts and we're here to raise awareness on the benefits of T-levels for 16 to 19-year-olds.“I would have loved something like this when I was younger,” Alesha admitted. “I think there's lots of stigma around working in Media and Broadcast and production. I think probably a lot of parents think that to get into media, it's about who you know rather than what you know.

“But T-levels really lift the lid on that - this is a bona fide way into the industry where your children can be hands-on, working on an industry placement with the employer, and learning real-life skills in the classroom that are then transferable to the real world. I just think it's a brilliant idea.”

Alesha added: “If you were a young person, knowing that you're going to be out there in the real world, working in an industry that you aspire to be in, it would be super exciting.

Pointing out that the qualification is also beneficial to employers, she noted: “And of course, these courses are tailor-made for what the employers need and want, so it's a completely bespoke qualification in that sense.”

She also spoke of her own experience when she started out in the entertainment industry, recalling: “I think it's important to inspire young people and give them options, because I just think people really see the entertainment industry as otherworldly. I know I did growing up; I thought it was Mars.

“I didn't even know it was possible to be in the entertainment industry, so I think we've got to lift the lid on that and show parents that there are steps you can take that will give you the confidence that your child is doing the right thing.

“Ultimately, it's about fulfilling a passion, and that's where my passion comes from. You get one life; you want to do something with your life that gives you satisfaction.”

I think a lot of people are nervous and fearful, so they maybe choose a safer route,” she reflected. “Or they don't go for their dreams because they're not sure that it's possible.

“So I think when it comes to the creative industries, we've got to encourage people to go for it, because I think a lot of people choose to walk away because they don’t know how how to go about it.

“But the creative industry so exciting!” she enthused. “There are so many options and so many jobs available for young people. I always come from the viewpoint of being passionate about the creative industries, being passionate about young people and showing them what's possible.”

Parents can find more information and access free resources by visiting the T-level info website at: www.tlevelinfo.org.uk

Strictly Come Dancing continues on Saturday at 6.20pm on BBC and BBC iPlayer.