Strictly Come Dancing 2023 launch date revealed – and it’s just weeks away

STRICTLY Come Dancing will be returning to our screens in just a matter of weeks.

The stars of this year’s dancing competition will be officially introduced alongside their dance partners on Saturday 23 September.

The BBC show – hosted by Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly - will run for 13 weeks and finish on Saturday December 16.

Last week Les Dennis was the final name announced for the upcoming series.

He will join soap stars past and present on the dancefloor, including former Coronation Street star Ellie Leach, EastEnders actor Bobby Brazier, former EastEnders star Nigel Harman and Waterloo Road star Adam Thomas.

The Strictly line-up also includes Paralympic champion Jody Cundy and former British number one tennis player Annabel Croft as well as BBC Asian Network's Breakfast Show host Nikita Kanda, actress Amanda Abbington, Bad Education star Layton Williams and broadcaster Angela Rippon.

They will be joined by journalist Krishnan Guru-Murthy, comedian Eddie Kadi, Irish TV presenter Angela Scanlon and former Love Island star Zara McDermott.

The Sun previously told how the show’s professional dancers are already at odds - because they all want to be paired with the same two celebrities.

After early training sessions, the lads are all keen on partnering Love Island's Zara McDermott.

And the ladies are squabbling over soap star Bobby Brazier. A source said: "Zara and Bobby are absolutely the favourites. All the dancers want to be paired with them because they both have serious potential on the dance floor.

"There's a battle going on between the pros as they all try to convince bosses to get the best pairing.

"They know their airtime is largely dependent on how talented their celebrity pairing is, so everything is to play for at this stage."

Ex-Emmerdale star Adam Thomas is also a favourite.

Strictly's early training begins with group routines, so bosses can test different pairings and spot any sparks of chemistry.

The group met earlier this month to get started and the dancers began to make their hopes clear.

Judges Shirley Ballas, Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, and Anton Du Beke, will all be back on the panel.