23 August 2023 , 06:34
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Strictly Come Dancing 2023 will be back on our screens in a matter of weeks as the BBC today announces the date this year's season opener will air.
The star-studded line-up has already been revealed and includes well-known names such as Les Dennis, EastEnders actor Bobby Brazier, Coronation Street star Ellie Leach, Channel 4 News anchor and award-winning journalist Krishnan Guru-Murthy and Sherlock star Amanda Abbington.
Love Island star Zara McDermott will make history when she takes to the dancefloor as she becomes the first celebrity contestant to have also previously appeared on the ITV2 dating series. Zara's Strictly stint follows BBC bosses relaxing a past "ban" on signing up reality TV stars.
Legendary broadcaster Angela Rippon will be 79 when she competes to lift the Glitterball trophy - making her the show's oldest ever contestant. "Having been a fan of Strictly since day one, and as a former presenter of Come Dancing, this will be quite an adventure for me," Angela said as the line-up was announced in August. "A scary one, considering I’m about to be 79. But I’m really looking forward to the challenge, and perhaps being able to learn to dance the Argentinian Tango!!"
Angela, Zara and the rest of the hopeful stars will be introduced to fans on Saturday 23 September as Strictly returns for its 21st series on BBC One. It will run for 13 weeks and finish on Saturday December 16. Hosts Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly, as well as the glitzy judges panel, comprised of Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, Anton Du Beke, and Head Judge Shirley Ballas will also appear on the launch show.
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Strictly: It Takes Two will also be returning with the main show this autumn, with new mum Janette Manrara confirming on social media in August that she would be resuming her hosting duties on the spin-off show after the both of her first child. The professional dancer welcomed daughter Lyra into the world with fellow Strictly pro Aljaž Škorjanec on July 28 2023.
During a candid Q&A with her adoring Instagram followers a few weeks on from giving birth, one curious fan asked Janette: "Are you going back on ITT?" To which the Strictly star excitedly replied: "Yes, I am back. I guess there wasn't a huge official announcement but yeah I'm back. Luckily I had more than enough time on maternity leave with Lyra for me to be able to come back and do the show."
Fleur East will be joining Janette Manrara as the new co-host for BBC’s Strictly It Takes Two following Rylan Clark's decision to quit the show earlier this year. Speaking about her new gig in June, former X Factor star Fleur said: "I’m so excited to officially join the Strictly family! I had such an amazing time on the show last year and so cannot wait to be talking to the celebs each week on It Takes Two."
The singer - who competed on Strictly last year - added: "Being a Strictly fan, I’m excited to get all the behind-the-scenes exclusives on the show. I know exactly what the next lot of celebs will be going through. It’s an incredibly fun experience, but it’s tough! Hopefully, I can offer them a bit of support and a friendly face along the way. I’m so grateful for this opportunity and can’t wait to get started!"
Alex McLeod, Commissioning Editor for BBC Daytime said of Fleur's appointment as an It Takes Two host: "Fleur was a fan favourite on Strictly Come Dancing, she rode the waves of the competition and got to the final, so the latest contestants are in safe hands with her to offer reassurance and even more fun and excitement to It Takes Two.”