The brand new season of Strictly Come Dancing kicked off last night as the sparkling cast of celebrities coupled up with their professional partners for the first time in a show packed with glitter, laughs and fabulous dance moves.

THERE will be a familiar face in the line-up of dance professionals as family favourite Strictly Come Dancing returns to our screens this weekend.

A spokesperson for the BBC One show has said that production will be following "strict government guidelines" to ensure the safety of all cast and crew.

For the first time in Strictly Come Dancing history, there will be three South African professional dancers in the new season of the reality competition show.

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PROUD Lancashire lass AJ Odudo has met her match in dance partner Kai Widdrington.

Strictly is back and we now know which professional is dancing with which celeb! Find out more here!

STRICTLY Come Dancing’s Greg Wise was paired with Karen Hauer as the new celebrity contestants and their professional partners were revealed during a glittering launch show. The 15 celebritie…

'Congratulations. Good luck to you both,' enthused Gordon before adding: 'Nikita, can you do your shirt up?'

The singer had fans flocking to Twitter to have their say

'Johannes and John already have my heart without dancing a step.'

STRICTLY Come Dancing fans went wild for 55-year-old actor Greg Wise this evening as he became the unlikely series heartthrob. Viewers were blown away when photos of the star in his 20s in Sense &a…

STRICTLY COME DANCING returned to BBC One tonight for its 19th series. Based on first meetings and impressions, which couple had the best chemistry?

Emotional scenes.

The sparkliest contest on TV has returned to brighten up our weekend evenings, with the likes of Robert Webb, AJ Odudu and Tom Fletcher taking to the floor in search of Glitterball glory

Bake Off winner John Whaite will dance the tango with Johannes Radebe in week one

There were also performances from the starry cohort.

15 celebrities make launch show line-up