Girls Aloud singer joins Strictly

Girls Aloud singer Kimberley Walsh is the latest celebrity to be unveiled as a contestant in the forthcoming series of Strictly Come Dancing.

The 30-year-old will be taking to the dancefloor alongside Westlife's Nicky Byrne, Daybreak presenter Richard Arnold and actress Dani Harmer.

The identities of the other 10 stars have been kept under wraps, but are said to include model Jerry Hall, Olympic cyclist Victoria Pendleton and former children's TV host Johnny Ball.

Referring to her 2009 Kilimanjaro climb for Comic Relief, Walsh said of her hopes for the show: "I'd love to stay to the end - it can't be harder than climbing a mountain!".

She posted a picture of herself on Twitter that showed her wearing a revealing red glittery outfit, along with the message: "Dancing the cha cha cha...".

Her dancing partner is yet to be revealed, but Walsh also shared a photograph of her practising with professional dancer Anton du Beke. Bradford-born Walsh made her stage debut in the London production of Shrek the Musical last year and has also worked as a television host.

Contestants were seen arriving at rehearsals at a south London dance studio on Saturday, hiding behind masks of show host Sir Bruce Forsyth.

The stars will all be outed early next week ahead of the recording of the launch show which will be broadcast on BBC1 next Saturday.

Clues to the identities of the other celebrity dancers have been revealed on the Strictly website, including one next to a bright pink dress saying: "Now she's in the Strictly frame. Can this lady stand out from the pack?".

Another clue, shown alongside a picture of a red jacket and black trousers, reads: "This guy is onto a good thing going into Strictly Come Dancing in 2012."