Ruth Langsford confirmed as third Strictly Come Dancing contestant

The third contestant on the upcoming series of Strictly Come Dancing has been announced – Ruth Langsford, dust off your dancing shoes and make your way to the stage!

The This Morning and Loose Women star announced the news on This Morning, stepping out from behind a star-spangled door and surprising her co-hosts, husband Eamonn Holmes and fellow presenter Rylan Clarke-Neal.

Rylan was predictably excited at the big reveal, and even Eamonn seemed shocked, saying: 'What kind of marriage is this?'

Speaking on the sofa afterwards, Ruth said: 'I'm a bit shaky actually!'

'I'm really relieved, because I've had to keep it a secret for so long and now it's all out in the open.'

Cutting across to the Loose Women panel, host Andrea McLean hinted that they had an idea Ruth would be making appearance, quipping: 'We've already planned your first outfit... because ladies talk, you see.'

Images: ITV/This Morning

Ruth's partner has yet to be announced, but she did express that she's 'worried asbout who's going to be able to pick [her] up!'

Eamonn seemed more than a little miffed, asking 'does the older contestant often do well on the show?' and pointing out she had 'familial responsibilities' she might 'neglect'.

In an official statement to the BBC, Ruth said: 'I have dreamt about doing Strictly for so long, I can't quite believe my dream has come true!'

'The sum of my dance experience is throwing a few shapes at a party, I've never had a dance lesson in my life. Without doubt it will be the scariest yet most exciting thing I've ever done. It'll be a welcome change worrying about my next hot move instead of my next hot flush!'

The smash hit show, which is now in it's whopping 15th series, has welcomed household names like Daisy Lowe, Alesha Dixon and Peter Andre as contestants in the past.

It is consistently one of the BBC's best performing franchises and last year drew its highest ever ratings.

Already confirmed for the latest series is ex-Saturday's star Mollie King, following in the footsteps of her bandmate Frankie Bridge who appeared in 2014, and EastEnders star Davood Ghadami.

'Having the opportunity to take part in this year’s Strictly is such an honour,' said the actor, who plays Kush Kazemi in the soap.

'It's going to be exciting, challenging and terrifying all at once and I am so looking forward to stepping out of my comfort zone and learning to dance. See you under the Glitterball!'