PICK OF THE DAY

STRICTLY COME DANCING, 6.15PM, BBC1

AS the darker nights close in, Saturday evenings are once again set to be brightened by the ever-popular dance contest, which kicks off the 16th series in style tonight with the first of the live shows. Nobody is going home tonight but next week, viewers will be able to vote to save their favourite couples. This year’s celebrities offer a broad sweep, including former pop stars Lee Ryan and Faye Tozer, TV presenter Susannah Constantine and actors Danny John-Jules and Charles Venn. But does Ashley Roberts (pictured with partner Pasha Kovalev) have an edge this series? After all, she used to be a member of the allsinging/all-dancing Pussycat Dolls and a judge on Dancing On Ice... we shall see. Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly are your hosts.