It is time to get your glitter and dancing footwear prepared as Strictly is formally again for the twentieth anniversary collection.
After a yr stricken by scandal amid the BBC‘s misconduct investigation, the present returned with all of the bells and whistles on Saturday evening as loyal viewers tuned in.
With 15 new movie star {couples} set to take to the dancefloor, the pairings can be revealed throughout the launch present because the collection formally kicked off.
Pulling out all of the stops for an enormous vibrant sparkly opening, Strictly fever was within the air as hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman welcomed within the new collection.
Tess exclaimed: ‘This yr we rejoice 20 years in your TV screens and if that opening is something to go by we’re in for fairly a journey.’
So who’re our movie star pairings?
Strictly is BACK! The movie star {and professional} pairings are REVEALED as BBC present returns for twentieth anniversary collection
Chris McCausland and Dianne Buswell
Strictly ‘s first ever blind contestant Chris McCausland is partnered with Dianne Buswell
Strictly‘s first ever blind contestant Chris McCausland is partnered with Dianne Buswell.
Australian dancer Dianne, 35, joined the BBC present in 2017 and has reached the ultimate twice, in 2018 and 2023 with Joe Sugg and Bobby Brazier respectively.
Liverpool-born comedian Chris, 47, misplaced his eyesight in his early 20s resulting from a hereditary situation referred to as retinitis pigmentosa and has not watched Strictly earlier than.
He beforehand stated: ‘I’ve by no means seen the present for apparent causes. I am unable to even return and watch it to see what it includes, how intricate the dances are.
‘All we are able to do is determine it out as we’re going alongside as a result of I must be in it and doing it to see what works and what does not.’
Chris has described the coaching course of as a ‘studying curve’ for him and Dianne , and hopes to make folks chortle when he hits the Strictly dancefloor.
Ever the comic, upon being paired with Dianne, Chris joked that Dianne will quickly free to jet off on her holidays as they will not be within the competitors lengthy.
He quipped: ‘She is totally over the moon having me as a result of she [Dianne] actually needs November off. You’ve acquired a vacation booked, haven’t you?!’
When requested to inform her blind associate what he can anticipate throughout their Strictly expertise, Dianne remarked: ‘Firstly, I’m an enormous fan of yours. I’m so excited and honoured to be your associate.
Secondly, I can’t reply that but as I’m unsure myself the way it’s going to work! However we’re going to determine it out collectively.’
Chris added: ‘Sure, we’re going to determine it out collectively. We’re going to make errors and have fun about them. Then we’re going to show up right here and present you all the errors that we’ve learnt!’
Asking Chris if there may be something he’s frightened about, the comic replied: ‘All of it!’
He joked: ‘You bought to the ultimate final yr, that will not be occurring this yr!’
Jamie Borthwick and Michelle Tsiakkas
Jamie Borthwick and Michelle Tsiakkas
Actor Jamie Borthwick is paired up with Michelle Tsiakkas.
Michelle, 29, joined the present in 2022 however that is the primary yr she has a star associate and little question can be eager to indicate everybody what she will be able to do.
Jamie, 30, has appeared in BBC cleaning soap EastEnders as Jay Brown for almost 20 years and can acquainted to Strictly followers after he competed within the Christmas Particular final yr.
He proved his abilities on the time and was topped champion alongside skilled dancer Nancy Xu.
Jamie beforehand stated: ‘I had a ball doing the Strictly Christmas particular final yr, so after I was requested to hitch for this collection it was the best sure! It is a contemporary problem and it is going to be so completely different to be studying a brand new dance each week and for the general public to have their say.’
The cleaning soap star added throughout the launch present that his expertise within the Christmas particular ‘swung me hook, line and sinker’ with Jamie quipping that he did not know the way he ‘managed to win’ the present.
On his probabilities this time round, he stated: ‘It is a entire completely different ball recreation! I don’t suppose I can blag it for a complete 13 weeks.’
Nevertheless, Michelle was extra optimistic about their Strictly stint, telling Claudia: ‘It is a dream come true to lastly be capable of dance on that Strictly dance flooring with a associate and what higher associate than Jamie to bounce with. I’m so joyful!’
Shayne Ward and Nancy Xu
Shayne Ward and Nancy Xu
Shayne Ward is partnered with Nancy Xu.
Nancy, 33, joined Strictly in 2019 however needed to wait two years earlier than being given a star associate.
Shayne, 39, shot to fame in 2005 when he received the second ever collection of The X Factor. He’ll be a part of fellow X Issue star JB Gill, from the band JLS, on Strictly.
Though his first and second album charted at primary and quantity two respectively, his third album obtained a lukewarm reception and disappointing gross sales.
Shifting into the world of appearing, the star joined the solid of Coronation Street as Aidan Connor from 2015 to 2018, a decade after he received the singing competitors.
Talking about participating within the present he stated: ‘I am buzzing to see all the sparkles and magic that’s Strictly in actual life,’ Shayne stated.
‘I am no stranger to reside TV, however dancing Latin and Ballroom in entrance of thousands and thousands is a complete new degree. No guarantees on my dancing capability, however I’ll give it my finest shot!’
On dancing with Nancy, Shayne informed Claudia: ‘I feel Nancy is an outstanding dancer and I really feel so blessed that she’s with me on this journey.’
In the meantime, Nancy may resist making reference to Shayne’s profitable X Issue tune, telling the host of Shayne’s aggressive spirit: ‘Effectively I’ll attempt. Since that’s your objective, that’s my objective!’
Wynne Evans and Katya Jones
Wynne Evans and Katya Jones
Wynne is finest identified for his operatic abilities however he’ll now swap the singing for the dancefloor.
Katya has been a part of the lineup since 2016 and has choregraphed among the most iconic dances on the present, together with Ed Balls’ well-known Gangnam Model.
She additionally received the present with actor Joe McFadden in 2017 and made all of it the best way to the quarter closing final yr with Nigel Harman earlier than he needed to withdraw resulting from harm.
All through Wynne’s 25-year profession he has had two primary classical music albums, has been a principal at a lot of the main opera homes around the globe and has given over 200 performances on the Royal Albert Corridor in London.
Wynne informed Vernon Kay on BBC Radio 2: ‘I could not imagine it as a result of its like cloak and daggers. You are given a code identify and also you audition and meet the celebs and it’s my favorite factor.’
‘The waltz, the traditional ballroom I am trying ahead to. I did loads of opera and I feel that will swimsuit me.’
‘The stuff I am nervous about is those that contain leaping, I do not actually wish to do the jive, I am type of a bit nervous about that however I am taking inspiration from Bill Bailey. I will throw myself into it.’
On being paired with Katya, the star informed Claudia: ‘I didn’t have a clue who I used to be going to get.
‘Clearly, I’m older so I didn’t know who would take me on because it had been, then we went to the venue and in walks the cockney Russian!’
Claudia then requested Katya what her plans for Wynne had been, with the dancer excitedly replying: ‘I feel no plan is sensible. This man was born to win!’
The duo then revealed that their first dance goes to be the Samba to Assist Your self by Tom Jones.