From seminars to samba: Here’s where the 2024 Strictly Come Dancing cast went to uni

Strictly Come Dancing, the Saturday night staple that brings sequins, glitter, and cheesy jokes to our screens every autumn.

This year, the show has a star-studded cast from actors, to sports stars, to secret geniuses, as it turns out this year’s cast is not only great on the dance floor but in the lecture theatre too. Who knew?

So, here’s where the 2024 Strictly Come Dancing cast went to uni and what they studied.

Tasha Ghouri

via BBC

Both Strictly and Love Island fans will know Tasha is incredible on the dance floor so it’ll be no shock to them that she studied BA dance production at Slough Creative Academy, where she achieved a first class honours degree.

Slough Creative Academy is a not for profit organisation which gives young people “an affordable alternative to university or vocational school dance training.”

Tasha has faced some backlash by Strictly viewers for having dance training. She spoke to Kiss FM about the criticism, saying: “I’ve not danced for quite a few years – since Love Island, my career is so different. It’s such a different dance style, I may actually not be good at it, like ballet – I’m not good at ballet. I’m trained in commercial street style. It’s going to be very hard but I’m excited for a challenge.”

Sam Quek MBE

via BBC

Former England GB hockey player, Sam, went to Leeds Metropolitan University, now known as Leeds Beckett University where she did a BSc (Hons) in sport and exercise science.

She also achieved her first international cap whilst she was at university in 2009.

JB Gill

via BBC

Whilst the JLS star does not hold a degree, he was studying for a BA in theology at King’s College London but put his studies on hold to pursue his music career. A move that clearly paid off.

Dr Punam Krishan

via BBC

It’s not a surprise that out of anyone in the 2024 Strictly cast, that Dr Punam went to uni, is it? I mean, she’s literally a doctor.

Dr Punam studied medicine at Glasgow University, and said that before graduating in 2006, she’d failed her third year first time round. I’m sure some of us can relate to that.

Chris McCausland

via BBC

Chris graduated in 2000 with a BSc (Hons) in software engineering from Kingston University in London. He then went into the field of web development before becoming a stand up comedian.

Wynne Evans

via BBC

Radio host, comedian, and opera singer, Wynne, studied at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, where he achieved a Master’s degree in voice and opera. He also studied at the National Opera Studio. Fancy.

As well as his Master’s degree, Wynne was made an honorary fellow by the University of Wales Trinity St David in 2013.

Tom Dean MBE

via BBC

British freestyle swimmer, and now-axed Strictly dancer, Tom, went to the University of Bath where he did an undergraduate degree in mechanical engineering.

Unsurprisingly, Tom was a sporting scholar and deferred his second year to focus on training for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. However, due to the coronavirus pandemic, the Olympics was moved to the next year, meaning Tom had to defer again.

According to his LinkedIn, he is currently pursuing a Master’s in mechanical engineering at the University of Bath.

Montell Douglas

via BBC

There seems to be a theme here amongst the sports stars because Montell is also super smart.

She completed her BA in sports science from Brunel University, after originally wanting to do psychology which she said was “oversubscribed”.

Montell then went onto to do a postgraduate diploma in psychology at Middlesex University in 2009.

Related stories recommended by this writer:

• Revealed: The whopping net worths of the 2024 Strictly Come Dancing contestants

• Inside Tasha Ghouri and Andrew Le Page’s glam life post Love Island, while she slays on Strictly

• The UK’s richest 30 under 30 has just been revealed and there are some very unexpected entries

Featured image via BBC