YouTube star Hrvy confirmed as contestant on Strictly Come Dancing - but who is he?

Singer and YouTube star Hrvy has joined the line up for this year's Strictly Come Dancing .

The YouTuber and singer, 21, whose real name is Harvey Leigh Cantwell, joins the likes of actress Caroline Quentin, comedian Bill Bailey and made in Chelsea star Jamie Laing.

'I really want to win'

Hrvy told the hosts of Kiss Breakfast, “I’m proper nervous but I’m buzzing. I don’t think it’s the dancing – it’s the tight shirts and the tight trousers,”

“I’ve grown up watching it. I can’t wait for the challenge."

He added that although he is nervous, he felt confident in his abilities, saying “I’ve got it in me… My hips can move!”

“I really want to win… If I go out on the first week I’ll have to change my name and leave the country!”

The YouTuber continued, “Being on Strictly is going to be such an amazing experience and I’m so thankful to be taking part this year.

“I think my mum is more excited that she’ll be able to see me every Saturday night now.”

Who is Hrvy?

While popular with the younger generation who are more familiar with YouTube, older generations of Strictly fans may not have heard of the star before his confirmation on the show.

A source told The Sun, “Hrvy brings a massive youth audience, which the BBC craves."

Harvey Leigh Cantwell was born in Kent and was a student at the Leigh Academy in the Dartford area.

He  found a growing following on Social Media after he began to upload videos of himself singing covers of popular hits to Facebook back in 2013.

He also started posting Vlogging and singing content to Youtube.

Cantwell occasionally appeared as a guest presenter on the CBBC television show Friday Download, while still studying, before he was hired as a full-time host in 2015 after leaving school for good the same year.

Over the years he has gained over a billion combined streams to his name on all of his platforms, and now has a combined social media following of over 10 million globally.

While he found fame online, he has had experience in performing live to large crowds after accompanying the girlband Little Mix on their UK tour as well as supporting the boyband The Vamps on their Night and Day Tour alongside Conor Maynard.

In 2017 he signed to his record label, Virgin EMI.

In November 2017, he released an EP, titled Talk to Ya, which included the single "Personal" which reached number 62 in the UK charts.

His song "Me Because of You" released this year  reached number 3 in the Scottish charts.

He also has a debut album coming out later this year.

Who are the other contestants?

The full list of contestants officially announced by the show are as follows:

Former home secretary Jacqui Smith

Soap star Maisie Smith

Boxer Nicola Adams

TV presenter JJ Chalmers

Good Morning Britain presenter Ranvir Singh

The Wanted singer Max George

DJ Clara Amfo

Former NFL player Jason Bell

Reality star Jamie Laing

Comedian Bill Bailey

Actress Caroline Quentin