[officialleafan]

Former EastEnders star Letitia Dean is hoping that Strictly Come Dancing will help her to get over a love split.

The actress, who played Sharon Rickman on the BBC One soap, recently parted from media executive Jason Pethers after five years of marriage.

A friend told the Daily Star Sunday: "Strictly Come Dancing is a chance for Letitia to move on and look to the future. She's a great actress and a big star. I'm sure she'll be a massive success on the show. She certainly deserves it."

TV presenter Kate Garraway, Mis-Teeq star Alesha Dixon, model Penny Lancaster and former Coronation Street actor Brian Capron are among the other stars taking part in the new series.

From DS