Strictly Come Dancing
"My dance skills are currently at the level of ‘1970s disco vibe’ but I’m ready to work hard."
"I can’t wait to get my dancing shoes on!"
"The lure of the sequins and the call of the Salsa has me swapping my battered old football boots for a set of Strictly soft shoes."
There are now 10 stars officially confirmed for the new series of the BBC ballroom show.
"At the moment I'm focusing on the excitement and glitter and choosing to ignore the fact that I have the dancing ability of a newly born giraffe."
“I’m extremely nervous and excited, but I’m optimistic because I’m very supple from the knees down.”
"It’s going to be one crazy incredible journey which will no doubt be SO far outside my comfort zone."
"I will never get my head around the ‘never heard of them’ crew."
“I’m a tad nervous too, well more than a tad… I’m absolutely petrified!”
"Queer inclusion isn’t a box-ticking exercise for one series, it’s a fundamental shift in the narrative for life."
About Strictly Come Dancing
Strictly Come Dancing' is a celebrity-pro ballroom dance competition, which launched on BBC One in 2004. It's inspired by former BBC show 'Come Dancing', and shares its name with 1992 film 'Strictly Ballroom'. Being one of the most popular shows on TV, it goes head-to-head with ITV's 'The X Factor' from September to December every year on Saturday and Sunday nights. It was originally hosted by Sir Bruce Forsyth and Tess Daly, but Claudia Winkleman has taken over from the veteran entertainer since he stepped down in 2014. The current judges are Craig Revel-Horwood, Darcey Bussell, Bruno Tonioli and Shirley Ballas, who has replaced Len Goodman as Head Judge. Alesha Dixon and Arlene Phillips have both previously sat on the panel. The show is now its 15th series, with the 2017 line-up made up of Alexandra Burke, Aston Merrygold, Brian Conley, Charlotte Hawkins, Chizzy Akudolu, Davood Ghadami, Debbie McGee, Gemma Atkinson, Joe McFadden, Jonnie Peacock, Mollie King, Richard Coles, Ruth Langsford, Simon Rimmer and Susan Calman. Last year's competition won by BBC sports presenter Ore Oduba and his partner Joanne Clifton, who followed in the footsteps of previous winners like Jay McGuiness, Caroline Flack, Louis Smith, Alesha Dixon, Harry Judd and Abbey Clancy. The 2017 series saw the departure of professional dancers Natalie Lowe, Joanne Clifton and Oksana Platero who all quit the show. Among the current line-up are Brendan Cole, Anton DuBeke, Kevin and Karen Clifton and Pasha Kovalev and Oti Mabuse.