First-look photos have been released from the Strictly Come Dancing launch show ahead of the series' return on Saturday evening.
The hit BBC One dance show is back on screens on Saturday evening for its 23rd series.
The sneak-peek photos capture the new celebrity hopefuls, including The Apprentice contestant Thomas Skinner, reality TV star Vicky Pattison, Neighbours actor Stefan Dennis, and Love Island winner Dani Dyer-Bowen.
Packed with confetti, glitter, and spotlights, the photos feature the show's professional dancers, Strictly hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman, and judges Shirley Ballas, Motsi Mabuse, Craig Revel Horwood, and Anton Du Beke.
Earlier this week, Strictly head judge Ballas teased some "exciting changes" and "twists and turns" ahead of the new series.
The first-look pictures see singer Jessie J, real name Jessica Cornish, joining the launch show as a special guest.
Sporting a red suit, the singer's performance comes after the mother of one announced in early June that she had been diagnosed with early breast cancer, with her first surgery taking place weeks later.
She revealed in August that she had to undergo a second surgery before the end of the year and therefore had to postpone her upcoming tour.
Cornish has battled ill health throughout her life, having been diagnosed with a heart condition aged eight, suffering a minor stroke aged 18, and having briefly gone deaf in 2020.
The first-look pictures also show the other celebrity dancers who have joined this year's line-up, including Doctor Who and ER star Alex Kingston, EastEnders star Balvinder Sopal, former England rugby captain Chris Robshaw, model and CBBC actress Ellie Goldstein, podcast host George Clarke, and Gladiators star Harry Aikines-Aryeetey.
The line-up is completed by former footballers Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and Karen Carney, drag queen and singer La Voix, Emmerdale actor Lewis Cope, and entertainment reporter Ross King.
Two new professional dancers, Alexis Warr and Julian Caillon, join returning favourites Aljaž Škorjanec, Amy Dowden, Carlos Gu, Gorka Márquez, Johannes Radebe, Jowita Przystal, Kai Widdrington, Dianne Buswell, Nadiya Bychkova, Karen Hauer, Katya Jones, Neil Jones, Nikita Kuzmin, Luba Mushtuk, Nancy Xu, Lauren Oakley, Michelle Tsiakkas, and Vito Coppola.
The new series of Strictly Come Dancing begins on Saturday at 6:40pm on BBC One.
Source: Press Association
