From the star-studded lineup to the celebrity judges – here is everything you need to know about Strictly Come Dancing 2023

Stars of this year’s Strictly include Angela Rippon and EastEnders’ Bobby Brazier (Picture: Shutterstock/BBC/Metro.co.uk)

Strictly Come Dancing will soon be back on our screens… and we already can’t wait.

It’s the 21st series of the hit BBC One dancing competition, yet each new round is filled with excitement as a new crop of celebrities and TV personalities take to the ballroom.

This year’s got a cracking line-up, so packed with stars that it’ll silence even the biggest Strictly critic.

Fans will no doubt be itching to see the celebrities improve on their dancing skill week after week, and listen to the panel of judges offer their critiques – as well as looking out for behind the scenes controversy.

While we wait for it to begin, here’s all you need to know about the 2023 series of Strictly.

Who’s taking part this year, and when is the show set to start?

Who are the Strictly 2023 contestants? Full line-up revealed

Strictly 2023 will kick off with 15 contestants – and there are some major names in the line-up.

Expect plenty of soapstars to try their hand at the tango, including Adam Thomas (of Waterloo Road and Emmerdale fame), Corrie’s Ellie Leach (who played Faye Windass), and EastEnders star Bobby Brazier (who you may know as Freddie Slater).

Also gunning for the Glitterball are a former tennis champion, a Paralympic gold medallist, a TV legend (or two), and one of the UK’s best-known newsreaders.

Take a look at the full line-up here…

Who are the Strictly 2023 judges?

Strictly 2023’s judging panel will consist of head judge Shirley Ballas, Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, and Anton Du Beke.

Strictly’s 2023 judging panel (Picture: BBC/Ray Burmiston)

All four judges’ return to the show was confirmed by the BBC earlier this year.

It follows a shake-up in 2021 and 2022 as long-standing judge Bruno Tonioli departed the series, making way for Anton’s arrival.

Bruno had been on the show since its earliest days in 2004, but quit as he tried to balance work in the UK and his role as a judge on Dancing With The Stars in the US.

In 2023, Bruno joined the judging panel of ITV show Britain’s Got Talent, sitting alongside Simon Cowell, Amanda Holden and Alesha Dixon.

Who are the Strictly 2023 presenters?

Also back for Strictly 2023 are top presenting duo Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman.

Tess and Claudia are set to return for 2023 (Picture: Kate Green/BAFTA/Getty Images for BAFTA)

Back in February 2023, it was reported that the pair had inked an ‘even bigger six-figure deal’ to keep hosting Strictly Come Dancing together for two more years.

Tess has been the face of the BBC One hit since 2004, originally hosting with the late Sir Bruce Forsyth.

When Sir Bruce retired from the series after 10 years of hosting in 2014, Claudia joined Tess on the main show having previously helmed the spin-off It Takes Two.

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Speaking of It Takes Two, who’ll be hosting this year? Janette Manrara will be joined by 2022 contestant Fleur East, replacing her original co-host Rylan Clark.

Strictly 2023’s predicted start date – when might it air?

At the time of writing, there hasn’t been a confirmed start date for this year’s Strictly.

However, fans will surely be expecting a September 2023 start date as the series usually kicks off around then.

Potential dates floating around include Saturday, September 9 and Saturday, September 16 – which would mean that we’re just a few weeks away from the launch episode.

Last year’s series started later in September, as it was postponed due to the death of Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

Strictly Come Dancing 2023 returns this autumn.

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Dust off your dancing shoes.