Strictly Come Dancing

The pro-celebrity ballroom contest returns, as a fresh selection of stars take to the dance floor in the first round of the BBC’s flagship autumn talent contest. The line-up this year features former Holby City star Chizzy Akudolu, Emmerdale and Hollyoaks alumnus Gemma Atkinson, 2008 X Factor winner Alexandra Burke, TV and radio comedy star Susan Calman, Radio 4 broadcaster the Rev Richard Coles, TV presenter Brian Conley, EastEnders’ Davood Ghadami (Kush Kazemi), Good Morning Britain’s Charlotte Hawkins and The Saturdays’ singer Mollie King. Also treading the boards are This Morning’s Ruth Langsford, Holby City actor Joe McFadden, JLS’s Aston Merrygold, Paralympian Jonnie Peacock, TV chef Simon Rimmer, and Debbie McGee, whose late husband and performing partner Paul Daniels previously took to the dancefloor in 2010. This year, the `Queen of Latin’ Shirley Ballas will be replacing Len Goodman on the judges’ panel, with Bruno Tonioli, Craig Revel Horwood and Darcey Bussell all returning to appraise the talents of the amateur dancers and their professional partners.