National and European champion dancers are among the new professionals set to put a host of celebrities through their Paso Dobles and their cha chas in the upcoming series of Strictly Come Dancing.
Four new pros will be introduced to viewers in a cinematic dance routine filmed alongside the returning Strictly cast.
The quartet completing this year’s 20-strong professional line-up are European cup winner Vito Coppola, Chinese national champion Carlos Gu, former Under-21 British national champion Lauren Oakley and Latin dance champion Michelle Tsiakkas.
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When does Strictly start?
The routine featuring the new dancers will form part of the Strictly Come Dancing launch show, airing on BBC One on September 17.
Coppola, Gu, Oakley and Tsiakkas will join returning professionals Dianne Buswell, Nadiya Bychkova, Graziano Di Prima, Amy Dowden, Karen Hauer, Katya Jones, Neil Jones, Nikita Kuzmin, Cameron Lombard, Gorka Marquez, Luba Mushtuk, Giovanni Pernice, Jowita Przystal, Johannes Radebe, Kai Widdrington and Nancy Xu.
With the addition of the four new dancers, the 20th series of the celebrity dancing competition will have the show’s largest ever professional dancer line-up.
A total of 15 celebrities will be joining them on the dancefloor.
Strictly celebrities 2022
The celebrity line-up includes TV and radio presenter Helen Skelton, former EastEnders actor James Bye and wildlife cameraman and presenter Hamza Yassin.
The X Factor star Fleur East, former England football captain Tony Adams, Britain’s Got Talent finalist Molly Rainford, and Ted Lasso actress and comedian Ellie Taylor are all also putting their best foot forward on the dance floor of the BBC One competition.
Completing this year’s celebrity line-up is singer Matt Goss, Kiss radio host Tyler West, Paralympic swimming gold medallist Ellie Simmonds, comedian and actress Jayde Adams, actor Will Mellor, Loose Women star Kaye Adams, actress Kym Marsh and TV and radio personality Richie Anderson.
The identity of who each of the contestants will be partnered with for the new series is still unknown.
Last year’s competition was won by actress Rose Ayling-Ellis, the first deaf contestant, and her professional partner Giovanni Pernice.
The forthcoming series will see audiences return to the studio after social distancing restrictions due to the pandemic had prevented it for a few years.
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