Strictly Come Dancing is back next month, bringing the nation some solace as we hunker down for the long winter nights ahead.

In a year full of unwanted breaks with tradition, the show is thankfully still a mainstay of the calendar and will be followed keenly each week by (most of) our Sports & Entertainment underwriting team, who make it their business to support the diverse motor insurance needs of entertainment professionals across the UK.

In fact, one bright spark in our team has pointed out a surprising number of car connections to this year’s Strictly team, so we thought we’d do some digging and see just how far these connections could take us.

Let’s start with the regulars. While Claudia Winkleman professes to have little interest in ‘fashionable motors (which has previously caused something of a challenge for her co-presenter Tessa Daly), the same was not true of the show’s former presenter, the late, great Bruce Forsyth, who owned a 1971 Corniche Convertible Rolls Royce. On the judging panel, Craig Revel Harwood owns a Triumph Stag that he lovingly restored in honour of a departed friend, and of the show’s dancers, while Anton du Beke claims to enjoy the practical benefits of his Mercedes CLK, recent evidence courtesy of the online car spotters suggests he’d prefer a sportier ride.

The car connections continue with this year’s contestants. Nicola Adams was almost tempted to make the unlikely switch from boxing to motor racing after attending a track day in Teeside. She keeps things sensible on her day to day travels courtesy of a Hyundai Tucson. Bill Bailey, a man better known for his cover of ‘Cars’ than for his love of automobiles, is in fact a bona fide enthusiast and owner of a fully restored 1971 Citroën DS 21 which he describes as “a thing of rare beauty.”

Until a few years ago, Made in Chelsea star Jamie Laing didn’t hold a driving license, before making national news after he was challenged to learn to drive by Hyundai, a challenge he documented in an eight week online video series. While we’re not entirely sure what multiple Invictus Games medal-winner JJ Chalmers drives, our guess is it’s a Land Rover. Chalmers is a proud ambassador for the brand, which has been sponsoring the Games sine their inauguration in 2014.

And finally, there’s youthful singing sensation Hrvy, who is managed by Blair Dreelan, former lead singer in 90s boy band East 17. We don’t know what Hrvy drives either, but we hope he has a better time on the road than Blair’s band mate Brian Harvey, who famously once ran himself over in his own car after consuming too many baked potatoes.

So, there you have it. Strictly Car Connections aplenty, and a timely reminder that in the world of entertainment, whatever your role or job title, getting a motor insurance policy that’s fit for purpose is easier said than done. Sadly, mainstream insurers tend to classify all entertainment professionals as ‘high risk’, without ever delving into their profiles, how they use their cars or where they’re stored.

At ERS, we do things differently. We have a team of dedicated, specialist underwriters to create bespoke policies built around every individual and their specific needs. Policies that give these tireless professionals one less thing to worry about in their busy lives.

Unfortunately, our Strictly car connections don’t provide much of an insight into the contestants’ dancing credentials or whether a Bailey Waltz will be better than a Chalmers Cha Cha Cha, so it’s best not to come to us for any betting tips. But if you’re a broker who caters for dancers, presenters and eccentric comedian-musicians, or you look after the thousands of behind-the-scene professionals sustaining the industry in these difficult times, our Sports & Entertainment team should be your first port of call next time a policy is needed.