A first look at the full line-up of celebrities taking part in the 20th series of Strictly Come Dancing has been revealed (Image: BBC Studios/Ray Burmiston)Love Love Island? Our Factor 50 email brings all the goss direct to your inboxMore Newsletters SubscribePlease enter a valid emailSomething went wrong, please try again later.More NewslettersWe use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. More infoThank you for subscribing!We have more newslettersShow me See OurPrivacy Notice See OurPrivacy Notice×Group 28 Love Love Island? Our Factor 50 email brings all the goss direct to your inboxInvalid emailSomething went wrong, please try again later.Sign UpNo thanks, closeWe use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. More info×Group 28Thank you for subscribing!We have more newslettersShow MeNo thanks, closeSee our
Privacy NoticeThe full celebrity line-up for the new series of Strictly Come Dancing has been unveiled just days before the show’s launch, marking the 20th anniversary of the BBC dance competition. The show, which recently faced controversy over alleged abusive treatment of stars by professional dancers, will see 15 celebs battling it out for the coveted glitterball trophy. In first look pictures, ladies are all glammed up in sequinned dresses, while the gents are looking dapper in suits of white, blue and yellow. The first episode airs on September 14, when we’ll finally discover who’s paired with whom.
Pete Wicks can be seen rocking a pastel ensemble in the new pictures
(Image: BBC/Ray Burmiston)
While Tasha Ghouri is a vision in blue sequins
(Image: BBC/Ray Burmiston)
Among the stars set to light up the dance floor this year are Love Island’s Tasha Ghouri, TOWIE’s Pete Wicks, Olympian Sam Quek MBE, actors Shayne Ward and Jamie Borthwick, presenter Nick Knowles, and JLS star JB Gill. Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly will be back as hosts for the 14-week run, culminating in a live final on December 14. Also joining the line-up are eighties icon Toyah Wilcox, Wynne Evans, Paul Merson, Sarah Hadland, Tom Dean MBE and Montell Douglas. The BBC has already released the first trailer for the upcoming series, featuring the pro dancers and celebs showing off their moves to the Vengaboys’ We Like to Party. It comes after two professional dancers will not be in the upcoming series amidst controversies centring around Giovanni Pernice and, more recently, Graziano Di Prima. The situation escalated after actress Amanda Abbington spoke out last year about Giovanni’s conduct during rehearsals, reports the Mirror.
Sam Quek also follows the blue theme as she looked stunning in a Strictly-esque ensemble
(Image: BBC/Ray Burmiston)
While Nick Knowles, who is swapping DIY for dancing, looked dapper in bright colours
(Image: BBC/Ray Burmiston)
Her revelations prompted support from other celebs including Laura Whitmore, who admitted to a tough time with Giovanni in 2016, saying she “cried everyday.”Giovanni has branded allegations about his teaching methods “simply false”. The sparkling line-up of returning professional dancers features fan favourites like Dianne Buswell, Nadiya Bychkova, Amy Dowden, Karen Hauer, Katya Jones, Neil Jones, Nikita Kuzmin, Gorka Marquez, Luba Mushtuk, Jowita Przystal, Johannes Radebe, Kai Widdrington, Nancy Xu, Carlos Gu, Lauren Oakley, Michelle Tsiakkas, and newcomer Vito Coppola, ensuring the show must go on! After a two-year hiatus, Aljaz Skorjanec is set to return. In the meantime, Amy Dowden expressed her excitement about returning to the series.
JLS’ JB Gill is also in the line-up, years after his success on The X Factor
(Image: BBC/Ray Burmiston)
The dancer couldn’t compete last year as she was undergoing treatment for breast cancer. She recently shared: “I am so excited for every element of being back with my Strictly family. I am so grateful to get this opportunity, especially as it’s such a special year for this legendary show. It feels like it’s my first year again. She went on to say: “I’m buzzing to see the whole team, for costumes, for dance routines, to meet the celebrities, the judges. Everyone’s laughing at me because I am just smiling constantly. I’d like to dedicate this dance to my pink sisters who have supported me through the past year and to all those currently facing cancer.”Story SavedYou can find this story in My Bookmarks.Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right.Follow OK! MagazineFacebookTwitterCommentMore OnClaudia WinklemanGiovanni PerniceGorka MarquezJB GillKatya JonesLaura WhitmoreNeil JonesNick KnowlesPete WicksShayne WardTess DalyZara McdermottAljaz SkorjanecJLSLove IslandStrictly Come DancingDrama
