Although named after a Shakespeare heroine, Cleopatra Sylvestre – more often known personally and professionally as Cleo – had to wait until very late in a long career to play one of the playwright’s women on a major stage. Last year, she was cast at Stratford-upon-Avon as Audrey in As You Like It, in a touching production using the conceit of older actors recreating a Royal Shakespeare Company show they appeared in decades before.

As the programme noted that this was the RSC debut of Sylvestre, who has died aged 79, it was clear the framing device was fake. And, given the talent and success of an actor who made her West End debut aged 19, the belated bestowal of such a role is a measure of the obstacles that actors of colour long faced in the UK.

The gaps are even more striking because Sylvestre’s career had initially seemed fast-tracked. The daughter of a Yorkshire dancer, she turned the family kitchen table in north London into her first stage, dancing on it as a child, and enrolled at the Italia Conti juvenile theatre school. Aged 16, she bunked off from double biology to record a song with the Rolling Stones. A cover of To Know Him Is to Love Him, it was released in 1964, under the name Cleo. This proved a false start artistically, but Sir Mick Jagger reported being “so sad” at the death of his “old friend”, who stands in pop history as the first woman to record with the Stones.

There were also other striking early breakthroughs. In 1967, aged only 19, she acted alongside Sir Alec Guinness in the London West End in Wise Child, the first play by Simon Gray. Two years later, she became the first black woman to play a lead role at the National Theatre – in Peter Nichols’ comedy, The National Health – and, in the same period, achieved the equivalent of that landmark in a major TV soap opera, with a recurring role in ATV’s Crossroads.

In a 2015 letter to The Guardian, after the death of the TV show’s creator, Hazel Adair, Sylvestre wrote: “It was not long after Enoch Powell’s “rivers of blood” speech. At a time when racial tension was quite high, especially in places such as Birmingham where the show was based, the decision to introduce a main character who was black was unprecedented and a brave decision for a soap that was sometimes ridiculed.”

Through no fault of her performances, much ridicule also attended her other launch platforms. In Wise Child, Guinness played a criminal blackmailed into pretending to be the mother of a young man. Gray, who had a sideline in diaries and articles about his playwriting disasters, reported customers demanding their money back in the interval as Guinness did not seem to be in the play. One couple, who had realised he was playing the heroine, shouted, “Sir Alec, how could you?” as they walked out.

But, though playing a role that the dramatist himself dismissed as “a simple-minded cockney West Indian”, Sylvestre impressed enough to receive an acting award nomination and a dressing room visit from Sir Laurence Olivier, artistic director of the National Theatre, who gushed, she would recall, in the perfect “Larry” imitation that all actors of her generation had: “Oh, Miss Sylvestre, I’d just like to congratulate you on the most wonderful performance.”

Two years later, she was at the National in Nichols’ comedy about the NHS. In both The National Health and Crossroads, Sylvestre played nurses. This would now be seen as stereotyping – although it reflected one of the great contributions of immigration to the UK – but the point was that the roles were of a size being written at the time only for white actors.

In interviews, Sylvestre continued to be grateful to Olivier for the break. It is not clear, though, if she was aware of a shocking complication in his patronage. Published in 2013, The National Theatre Story, the organisation’s official history, endorsed a story told in Nichols’ Diaries 1969-1977 (2000). Using language that would have appalled many then and is completely abhorrent now, Olivier is reported to have said, after the first night of The National Health: “Much as I admire the negro races, I’m not great admirer of their histrionic abilities … D’you think the regular girls in the company should black up?”

Such attitudes may explain why, in theatre, Sylvestre never subsequently developed quite the momentum that her early successes suggested, although later National Theatre administrations treated her much better. In 2021, she sparkled in a stage version of Dylan Thomas’s Under Milk Wood and former NT boss Sir Nicholas Hytner cast her, in 2018, in Alan Bennett’s hospital-set play, Allelujah, at his Bridge Theatre, where she had graduated from nurse to patient.

On TV, Sylvestre was in regular demand for character parts from Z Cars in 1967 via Grange Hill in 1979 to Platform 7 and All Creatures Great and Small as recently as last year.

In an interview late in her career, she was asked for advice for the next generations of her profession and replied: “To young actors, I would say acting must be a passion; there will be rejection, but that ‘dream job’ is waiting around the corner.”

It was a characteristically generous response from someone who – due to the slowness of cultural change in British showbusiness – faced much rejection and was denied many of the dream jobs that her pioneering achievements make possible for those who follow her.

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Strictly Come Dancing’s Chris McCausland has revealed how the BBC production team have been supporting him as the show’s first blind contestant.

Speaking to The Independent and other media ahead of the show’s launch, the comedian admitted that he and his dance partner are “winging it” since McCausland has never seen the show before, and his professional partner has never taught someone who is blind.

“We’re just gonna have to figure it out as we go along,” he said. “The production team are just being really flexible. My dance partner is figuring out how to teach me. And we are winging it. That’s the best way I think.”

Speaking about his rehearsal experience so far, McCausland explained that adapting to wearing new dancing shoes was the first hurdle.

“The part of the problem for me is wearing shoes that I’m not used to walking in,” he said. “I can’t feel the floor through the shoes properly.”

“There’s a lot of things that are going to make this more complicated,” he laughed. “If it wasn’t on live telly that would be a good thing as well!”

McCausland lost his sight aged 22 due to a hereditary condition called retinitis pigmentosa.

As well as being a comedian on panel shows from Have I Got News for You to Would I Lie to You?, McCausland hosts ITV Saturday morning series The Chris McCausland Show, and is known by younger viewers as Rudi, the market trader, in CBeebies show Me Too!

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Discussing his motivations behind joining the show, he said that working in a team is a welcome change from his stand-up work, which can be quite “solitary”.

“The best things I’ve done are the things I’ve really had no experience in and had to learn,” he said. “This is so far out of my comfort zone that it’s gonna be an experience.

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He admitted he was initially reticent about signing up, mainly because he thought it was a silly idea.

“I wasn’t keen on the idea at first,” he said. “Immediately I was like, ‘No, I can’t do that… that’s ridiculous. That’s a stupid question!’ I’m quite resistant to things and then it takes me a while to acclimatise to it and really think it through. But then I just need to process these things.”

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In the Channel 4 series Scared of the Dark, he spoke openly about his experience of going blind, explaining that he can “still see light and space” and has “an awareness of the space around me, not in terms of objects and things, but in terms of the room and whether there might be something in front of me”.

Speaking about representing disability on screen, the comedian said that he thinks that it can be more impactful when it is more subtle.

“My attitude has always been to represent by not banging you over the head. I think the best way to represent a disability is to make people forget about it whenever possible. It’s always part of you.”

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“But if you can do a show where, say, 80 per cent of it isn’t about being blind, that makes it more impactful and funnier when you do talk about it. I believe in representation within the mainstream.”

McCausland will dance alongside other celebrities including Arsenal’s Paul Merson and Love Island’s Tasha Ghouri on this year’s show, which kicks off on Saturday 14 September. Find the full lineup here.

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Strictly Come Dancing is gearing up to return for the show’s 20th anniversary as the show faces an ongoing scandal regarding the conduct of the BBC show’s professional dancers.

The 22nd series arrives as the programme faces scrutiny over the treatment of some of its celebrity participants. Two professional dancers, Giovanni Pernice and Graziano Di Prima, have now left the show following allegations made about their conduct during training.

Pernice has denied allegations of “threatening and abusive behaviour,” while Di Prima said in a statement he “deeply regrets” events that took place with his celebrity partner Zara McDermott during a rehearsal.

The series will begin in September, and will once again be hosted by the glittering duo of Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman.

The eagle-eyed Craig Revel Horwood, Shirley Ballas, Anton Du Beke and Motsi Mabuse will be returning to the judges’ table.

As with previous seasons, Strictly’s celebrity contestants were announced in drip feed announcements by the BBC. The official list is now complete and includes reality stars, singers, comedians and more. Meet them all below…

Jamie Borthwick

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Actor Jamie Borthwick is known for his long-term role in the BBC soap EastEnders, having starred as Jay Brown/Mitchell since 2006. He is now one of the longest-serving actors on the show. Borthwick previously appeared on the Strictly Christmas special in 2023, and took home the trophy for his slick moves and impressive stage presence.

”I had a ball doing the Strictly Christmas special last year, so when I was asked to join for this series it was the easiest yes!” he said. “This is a fresh challenge and it will be so different to be learning a new dance every week and for the public to have their say.

“I’m hoping to be Salsa-ing around Albert Square in no time and I’ll be asking my Walford Strictly alumni for some words of wisdom. See you on the dancefloor!”

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Tom Dean

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Althete Tom Dean is is a three-time Olympic champion. At the Tokyo 2020 Olympics he made history as the first British man to win a gold medal for the men’s 200m swim freestyle in over 100 years, going on to win a further gold medal in Tokyo and become England’s most decorated athlete at the subsequent 2022 Commonwealth Games, winning a total of seven medals.

At the Paris Olympic Games this year, Dean brought home his third gold medal for Team GB in the team 4 x 200m freestyle relay and spilled the news he was a Strictly contestants afterwards in a live interview.

In a follow-up statement, he said: “I am taking part in Strictly Come Dancing 2024! You may have heard me accidentally say it poolside first… but now I can officially talk about how excited I am to get stuck into something new, meet some brilliant people and get dancing. Bring it on!”

Shayne Ward

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Singer Shayne Ward was catapulted to fame when his debut single and album topped the UK charts. His song “That’s My Goal” made it to Christmas number one after he won the second series of The X Factor in 2005. Ward is also known as Aidan Connor in the ITV soap Coronation Street and has appeared in a number of musicals including the West End’s 1980s show Rock of Ages.

Ward said of his upcoming Strictly appearance: “I’m buzzing to see all of the sparkles and magic that is Strictly in real life. I’m no stranger to live TV, but dancing Latin and Ballroom in front of millions is a whole new level. No promises on my dancing ability, but I will give it my best shot!”

Sarah Hadland

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Actor Sarah Hadland is best known for her role as Stevie in the BBC comedy Miranda, which she starred in alongside the show’s creator Miranda Hart. She is also one of the original cast members of the children’s series Horrible Histories and has appeared in numerous films, including the Bond epic Quantum of Solace.

“I cannot believe I am part of Strictly!” Hadland said. “I feel particularly excited to be part of such an iconic show in its 20th year. I’m so ready for the glitz, glam and glitter and hopefully I can make everyone watching at home proud!” 

Tasha Ghouri

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Love Island contestant and model Tasha Ghouri appeared on the ITV reality show in 2022, becoming its first deaf contestant. She trained as a dancer at Creative Academy and has since competed at major dance events and performed in music videos. Ghouri also hosts the podcast Superpowers with Tasha and released the book Hits Different in June, about a girl who is an aspiring dancer and goes on tour with a global superstar.

The Love Island star said of her inclusion on the show: “Pinch me, I can’t believe I’m going to be on Strictly Come Dancing! I’ve been watching the show since I was little – it’s a firm Ghouri family favourite – so this is a total dream come true. I know it’s going to be an unforgettable experience and I hope to represent and make everyone proud out on that dance floor.”

Pete Wicks

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Only Way is Essex star Pete Wicks rose to fame on the Brentford-based reality show in 2015, with storylines revolving around his relationships with Megan McKenna and Chloe Sims. He has since appeared on shows including Celebrity MasterChef, Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins, The Real Full Monty and Celebs Go Dating, and co-hosts the Staying Relevant podcast with his best friend and Made in Chelsea star Sam Thompson.

“Dancing live in front of the nation every Saturday? Absolutely terrifying,” Wicks said. “But anyone who knows me knows I love a challenge and trying new things, so I’m genuinely looking forward to getting stuck in.”

Wynne Evans

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Tenor Wynne Evans, who is widely known for featuring in the theatrical Go Compare adverts as an opera singer, has had two number one classical albums and has given more than 200 performances at the Royal Albert Hall in London. He also hosts a regular show on BBC Radio Wales and is filming a series with Gavin and Stacey’s Joanna Page about the Welsh coastline.

“I am honestly still pinching myself, a portly balding opera singer, me, taking part in Strictly Come Dancing?!” he said. “I’m not entirely sure how I’ll get along, if all else fails I’ll just have to learn the art of distraction.

“What I do know is I will give it my all and aim to make Wales proud. I’m definitely going to try and combine my love of opera into one of my routines. Plus, after winning Celebrity MasterChef last year, maybe the route to the judges’ hearts will be through their stomachs!”

Toyah Willcox

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Singer and actor Toyah Willcox has 13 top 40 singles including “It’s a Mystery”, “Thunder in the Mountains” and “I Want to Be Free”.  She fronted the eponymous band Toyah from 1977 before becoming a solo artist in 1983. The singer has also featured in films including The Corn is Green and Derek Jarman’s 1979 adaptation of The Tempest.

Willcox said in a statement: “Wow Strictly Come Dancing, can you believe it! This is going to be a wild and wonderful ride, and I’m here for every sparkly second. I’m used to performing for big crowds but this is completely fresh for me. How I will do, it’s a mystery… I just want to get cracking and learn some dance routines now!”

Dr Punam Krishan

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Dr Punam Krishan is a resident GP on BBC Morning Live and BBC Radio Scotland. She regularly covers health topics for newspapers and TV shows and has also written the children’s book How to Be a Doctor and Other Live-Saving Jobs.

She said: “This still doesn’t feel real, I am overjoyed to be a contestant on this year’s show. I have watched Strictly every year with my family and it feels extra special that it’s the 20th year, I can’t believe I will be the one getting Strictly-fied now. This is so out of my comfort zone, but I’m up for the journey and will give it my absolute all.”

Chris McCausland

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Comedian Chris McCausland is a regular face on flagship comedy shows like Have I Got News for You and Would I Lie to You?. He is also known for playing Rudi in the CBeebies show Me Too!

The 46-year-old will be the first blind contestant to compete in the show. He lost his eyesight in his early twenties as a result of retinitis pigmentosa, a hereditary condition. The diagnosis resulted in him leaving his job in web development, before joining the entertainment industry and finding success.

“I don’t dance, I haven’t danced, I can’t dance, I can’t see the dancing I will have to do. What can possibly go wrong? Ok don’t answer that!” he said. “If anybody out there is thinking ‘How the hell is he going to do that?’ then rest assured that I am thinking exactly the same thing.”

Asked how he feels about taking part, McCausland added: “Apprehensive, massively apprehensive. I don’t know what I’m getting myself into, I’ve never watched it, obviously. It’s just some music. I don’t dance, I have never danced. I grew up with headbanging and mosh pits.”

JB Gill

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Singer JB Gill shot to fame in the X-Factor-founded band JLS alongside Marvin Humes, Aston Merrygold and Ortise Williams, who are known for their hits “Everybody in Love”, “She Makes Me Wanna” and “One Shot”. The pop group released four albums before splitting in 2013.

Gill said of joining this year’s Strictly contestants: “I danced in the Strictly Christmas special over a decade ago and LOVED it, so when I got the call to join Strictly this year, it was an immediate yes from me. I’m raring to go to and looking forward to showing off some new skills to the JLS boys.”

Montell Douglas (AKA Fire from Gladiators)

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Douglas, who won over audiences when she competed as Fire on the rebooted series of Gladiators, will be bringing her sporty background to the dancefloor.

She previously competed as an Olympic Bobsledder and Team GB Sprinter, becoming the first female UK athlete to compete at both the Summer and Winter Olympic Games.

The athlete previously held a British woman’s record for fastest 100m sprint and won a Commonwealth Gold in the 4x100m relay race in 2010.

“Strictly ARE YOU READY, Fire is here to light up the Ballroom,” she said.

“Wow I am so honoured to have been asked to do the show. It is such an amazing thing to be a part of and I can’t wait to get started. Hopefully a few of my Gladiator moves will come in handy with the Tango or Paso Doble!” she said.

Paul Merson

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Merson, who made his debut for Arsenal aged 17, played 424 times for the Gunners and scored 99 goals during his time on the team.

He now works as a football pundit and commentator and says he is up for the challenge of learning a new skill for Strictly.

Merson said of his signing: “Joining Strictly is a whole new ball game for me, but I’m going to tackle this challenge head on.

“I’m ready to swap the pitch for the Ballroom floor, so here’s hoping my two left feet can learn some moves and you never know, maybe I’ll be taking home the Glitterball Trophy!”

Sam Quek

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Former England and Team GB hockey player Sam Quek has won 125 international caps for the England and Great Britain women’s hockey teams, including a gold medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics.

The Olympian said the thought of dancing on the ballroom floor is “quite daunting”.

“I’m chuffed to be a part of this legendary show and Quickstep into the shoes of a performer, it feels absolutely surreal but I’m ready for every bit of the adventure,” she said.

Nick Knowles

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TV presenter Nick Knowles, best known for fronting BBC’s emotional building show DIY SOS, will be swapping his overalls for sparkly jackets on Strictly.

On DIY SOS, Knowles helps transform the homes of families who are nominated by their community.

“I’m so, so excited to be doing Strictly this year,” Knowles said. “People may be more used to me getting stuck in on a building site or travelling the world, but dancing live on TV will be a whole new adventure.

“I’ve spent my whole life learning new skills and I’ve never been afraid of a challenge. I’ll give it my everything… and try not to embarrass my kids of course!”