Couples, ready, steady... tango!
Capital DJ Vick Hope and Graziano Di Prima Presenter Stacey Dooley and Kevin Clifton Campaigner Katie Piper and Gorka Marquez BBC News’ Kate Silverton and Aljaz Skorjanec AND with an explosion of glitter, Strictly Come Dancing is back.
The show opened with Anton Du Beke descending from a disco ball and a performance by Nile Rodgers and Chic as this year’s crop of 15 celebrities nervously waited to hear who their professional partners would be.
We caught a brief glimpse of what to expect over the coming weeks. So who could lift that coveted glitterball come December?
Cricketers have done well in previous series – so Graeme Swann is in for a shout.
He’s hoping to bowl people over and with star choreographer Oti Mabuse by his side he’s got a great chance. She’s so good upcoming BBC show The Greatest Dancer have signed her up.
I’m told Aljaz Skorjanec was Comedian Seann Walsh and Katya Jones delighted to get Kate Silverton as his partner – and even picked her as his ideal celeb before the announcement.
Lee Ryan got he wished for in blonde beauty Nadiya Bychkova. Both are big personalities so expect fireworks.
Karen Clifton has yet to win a series, making her even more determined this year. Keen to put her split with fellow pro Kevin behind her, I fully expect her and Charles Venn to go for it full throttle.
And the winner of the most beautiful pairing goes to is... Vick Hope and Graziano Di Prima. Italian champion is a new addition to the pro line-up this year and has got all hearts aflutter.
The hard work starts now, with the celebrities put through gruelling schedules to make sure they’re in tip top shape for their first live show later this month.
All hoping to follow in the footsteps of last year’s winner Joe Mcfadden. TV medic Ranj Singh and Janette Manrara Youtuber Joe Sugg and Dianne Buswell Singer Lee Ryan and Nadiya Bychkova Singer Ashley Roberts and Pasha Kovalev Former cricketer Graeme Swann and Oti Mabuse