The new season of Strictly Come Dancing began on BBC One on Saturday night with a tribute to the late and much-loved judge Len Goodman.
The show also revealed who the celebrities are paired with and featured a dramatic performance from the professional dancers, who also performed alongside the Judges.
Hosts, Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman, along with Judges, Shirley Ballas, Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, and Anton Du Beke launched the show by remembering Ballroom icon, Len Goodman.
Jessie Ware also performed a rendition of Free Yourself with a spectacular dance routine from Nadiya Bychkova, Johannes Radebe, Michelle Tsiakkas and Neil Jones.
For the last time, the 2022 Strictly winners Hamza Yassin and Jowita Przystał danced their week 4 Salsa from last years' series reminding the audience exactly why they won the competition.
Hamza said: "Strictly was the best thing that’s ever happened to me, it’s changed my life, and taught me so much about myself, and I thought already knew myself pretty well".
One by one, the new couples were revealed. Firstly, Sherlock star Amanda Abbington get paired with her partner Giovanni Pernice
After being paired, and asked by Claudia how happy she was, Amanda said: "I’m ecstatic, we get on really well, same sense of humour, and dedicated to working hard".
Next up was Zara McDermott, and when asked about how she was feeling Zara said "I think I’m probably the most nervous I’ve been in my life. I’m not a natural born performer or extrovert, so this is the biggest challenge of my life!"
She was paired with Graziano Di Prima, before Jody Cundy was teamed with reigning Strictly champion Jowita Przystał.
Being paired next was Krishnan Guru-Murthy who was partnered with professional dancer Lauren Oakley.
The Channel 4 newsreader was extremely pleased and said: "Oh it’s brilliant and she gets me immediately".
Next it was former Come Dancing host Angela Rippon, who was teamed with Kai Widdrington.
She told Tess: "It’s weird not being in your place and being in this place, but I’m going to enjoy it I think, yes!"
Then it was over to Layton Williams, who was paired with Nikita Kuzmin and together they form this series all-male pairing.
After that, it was Nigel Harman’s moment, and he was paired with Katya Jones. Next, Bobby Brazier was partnered with Dianne Buswell, then comedian Eddie Kadi with Karen Hauer.
Annabel Croft was then paired with Johannes Radebe, and actor Ellie Leach with Vito Coppola
Actor Adam Thomas was next, matched with Luba Mushtuk, before our own Angela Scanlon was paired with Carlos Gu.
Angela said: "Thank you universe . . . I think Carlos will be able to teach me, he is direct . . . I feel like there is a directness that I might respond to, like brutal honesty that Carlos has."
Claudia asked Carlos if this is going to be the year he wins, he replied: "Ooh yes I have made a better plan and we are going for the glitter ball…we’ll do it one step at a time, no rush."
The penultimate pairing was Nikita Kanda and Gorka Márquez, followed by Les Dennis, who said: "I love a challenge . . . this is the biggest challenge ever, I am so excited about it, I can’t wait."
It was then revealed that he was partnered up with Nancy Xu. When commenting on the pairing he said "I am so happy . . . as soon as I met Nancy I knew I could learn ome new skills, I’m just like one arm up in the air."
Strictly Come Dancing continues next Saturday September 23 at 18.15 on BBC One.
