Strictly is embroiled in another row over arrangements when contestant Sarah Hadland’s West End background is revealed, but the actress insists it is “fabulous to watch” the dancers trained on the BBC show.

Actress Sarah Hadland, who is set to be announced as one of this year’s Strictly Come Dancing contestants, is a trained dancer with West End experience.

Hadland began her dance career training from the age of three and went to Laine Theatre Arts College in Epsom, where she was a contemporary of Victoria Beckham, who also learned to dance and sing there.

Hadland danced in West End productions of Cats and Grease before breaking into fame as an actress and it can be revealed the BBC has been asking her to take part in the show for a decade.

Hadland, 53, who rose to fame as Miranda’s partner Stevie in the hit BBC comedy, admits she is a “superfan” of the show and can understand why contestants with a dance background, like her, come under fire.

In 2015, he said: ‘I enjoy watching people go on a journey, but it’s also nice to see people who have been educated and are good.

“I know people get really upset about that, but you want them to have a certain level of skill because it’s nice to see people who are really good.”

She added: “I think the dream is what they have, which is that they are some celebrities who have obviously done a bit of training, but who cares, it’s fabulous to watch, and equally there are people like Jeremy Vine who I will vote for every week because to me he epitomises what dance is, which is someone who goes out and dances regardless of their ability and loves it, which clearly he is.”

“So how can I not enjoy it and get excited about dancing myself because I just think ‘that’s fantastic!'”

In 2014, she wrote and starred in a comedy mockumentary about a dance school, Born to Dance, which was based on her experiences in the dance world. One of the characters was based on a choreographer she knew: “who was so aggressive and bitter that I found him fascinating.”

She said: ‘I’ve been asked to do Strictly a few times, which I’m deeply flattered by. I still have to pinch myself a little to remind myself that I’ve been asked, but it’s a bit of a challenge for an actor.

“I’m never quite sure if it’s a good thing to do or not. Plus, I’m such a big fan of the show that I don’t know if I’d actually want to do it because I enjoy watching it so much. So far I’ve been reluctant, but if I were to do a reality show, that would be the only one I’d consider.”

On her prospects on the show, she said: “I think I might be on the fence. I haven’t danced for a long time, so I think I might fall into that category of people who think I’m better than I actually am.”

Miranda Hart, her co-star and friend, is also a big Strictly fan. Hadland said: “We love watching him and being fans of him. I think there’s something about that – it’s lovely to have a conversation about Strictly.”

Hadland has appeared in the audience on Strictly several times and has also taken part in the spin-off, It Takes Two.

Contestants officially announced this year so far include pop star Toyah Willcox, Tasha Ghouri, the former Love Island contestant who is also a trained dancer, reality TV star Pete Wicks, Go Compare opera singer Wynne Evans, JLS star JB Gill and blind comedian Chris McCausland.

A total of six women and nine men are believed to be taking part, an unusual gender split which may reflect problems in recruiting female stars following the scandal involving Graziano di Prima “punching” and “kicking” his co-star Zara McDermott last year.

The BBC has investigated allegations that dancer Giovanni Pernice abused his celebrity partner Amanda Abbington last year and a report is expected imminently.