Strictly Come Dancing 2020: the full confirmed line-up

We couldn’t be more excited for the return of Strictly Come Dancing. In a year that’s seen most of our fave shows like The Apprentice and RuPaul’s Drag Race UK get cancelled or postponed due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, we more ready than even for the much-needed injection of glitz and glam that Strictly brings.

And now that all of this year's contestants have been unveiled, we can safely say the line-up is LIT.

Not only is Made in Chelsea’s Jamie Laing returning after being forced to pull out of last year’s series with an injury, but Olympic boxer Nicola Adams is set to take part in Strictly’s same-sex couple. About bloomin’ time, eh?

Also getting their dancing shoes on are EastEnders actress Maisie Smith (aka Tiffany Butcher), boyband hunk Max George of The Wanted fame, Radio 1 DJ Clara Amfo and Good Morning Britain presenter Ranvir Singh, among others.

CHECK OUT the CONFIRMED Strictly Come Dancing 2020 line-up so far

When does Strictly Come Dancing start?

It’s thought that Strictly will begin later than usual this year, with reports claiming that the first episode will air on Saturday 24th October instead of its traditional September premiere. While it hasn’t been confirmed by the BBC yet, this could mean that the 2020 series will be much shorter at nine episodes.

What celebrities are taking part in Strictly Come Dancing?

The first three celebrities taking part in Strictly 2020 - actress Caroline Quentin, retired American football player Jason Bell and The Wanted's Max George - were announced on The One Show on Tuesday 1 September. Good Morning Britain's Ranvir Singh, Radio 1 DJ Clara Amfo and Olympic boxer Nicola Adams, who will dance in the show's first ever same-sex couple, were confirmed the following day.

Comedian Bill Bailey, Royal Marine turned TV presenter JJ Chalmers and EastEnders actress Maisie Smith were the next three celebrities to be revealed before it was confirmed that Made in Chelsea's Jamie Laing will be returning to the show after being forced to pull out of the 2019 series when he suffered an injury.

Popstar HRVY, real name Harvey Leigh Cantwell, and former Home Secretary Jacqui Smith complete the line-up.

Who are the Strictly Come Dancing judges?

The judges' panel was overhauled in 2019 when Motsi Mabuse (sister of professional dancer Oti) replaced ballet legend Darcey Bussell, who quit the show after seven years as a judge. Motsi joined Craig Revel Horwood and Bruno Tonioli, who have both judged the show since the very first series in 2004, and head judge Shirley Ballas, who replaced Len Goodman in 2017.

The panel looks set for another shake up this year too as Bruno has reportedly been forced to pull out of the show as travel restrictions have meant was has been forced to choose between judging Strictly and its US counterpart Dancing With The Stars. With Bruno choosing to stay in America, it's been rumoured that Strictly could only have three judges this year but it's also been claimed that Cheryl could be lined up to replace him.

Who are the professional dancers on this year’s Strictly Come Dancing?

The professional dancers returning to Strictly this year are Aljaž Škorjanec, Amy Dowden, Anton Du Beke, Dianne Buswell, Giovanni Pernice, Gorka Marquez, Graziano Di Prima, Janette Manrara, Johannes Radebe, Karen Hauer, Katya Jones, Luba Mushtuk, Nadiya Bychkova, Nancy Xu, Neil Jones, and Oti Mabuse, although not all of them will be assigned a celebrity partner.

Two pros who won't be returning are Kevin Clifton and AJ Pritchard, who both quit the show earlier this year.

Kevin announced his departure in a statement, telling fans, "To the entire Strictly family, the past 7 years have been some of the most wonderful years of my life. I am grateful to the BBC and Strictly Come Dancing for giving me the opportunity to have been a part of something truly special."

AJ later revealed he was also hanging up his dancing shoes after four years to pursue presenting opportunities with his brother Curtis.

Will Jamie Laing be performing this year?

Yep, the Made in Chelsea star has confirmed he's returning to Strictly after being forced to pull out of the 2019 series when he suffered an injury in training.

What channel is Strictly Come Dancing on?

Strictly Come Dancing airs on BBC One every Saturday night, while its sister show It Takes Two is on BBC Two every week night.

Who presents Strictly Come Dancing?

Strictly has been hosted by Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman since 2014. Tess has presented the show since the first series in 2004, while Claudia replaced Sir Bruce Forsyth after he quit in 2013.

How can I get tickets for Strictly Come Dancing?

Tickets aren't yet available for the 2020 series and it's not known if the show will go ahead with a live audience as usual due to ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

BBC director of content Charlotte Moore said, "[People think] if it is shiny floor, it needs an audience, and I don't think that's necessarily true. When you look at something like Drag Race, which is a big shiny floor talent competition with all sorts of catwalks, singing, dancing, impressions – it never has an audience.

"The audience is the four judges and I don't think it suffers from that at all. I think it is a brilliant show."

Will Strictly Come Dancing: It Takes Two air this year?

It hasn't yet been confirmed but it's thought that Zoe Ball and Rylan Clark-Neal will return to host Strictly spin-off It Takes Two once again.

Zoe said "Whatever happens with the situation I know that they are going to put that show on somehow. It might not have a studio audience, it might be slightly different."

Who won Strictly Come Dancing in 2019?

Emmerdale actor Kelvin Fletcher, who replaced an injured Jamie Laing, and his dance partner Oti Mabuse took home the Glitterball trophy in 2019.

The actor said to Oti, "Thank you for the most amazing experience of my life. Thank you to Emma and Karim, Anton and Amy, and all the pros and all the celebs, the judges, everybody at home who has supported me, I feel so proud to be part of this, so thank you."

Crying, Oti replied back, "I've been on this show for five years and I have never ever met any celeb who gives his heart, his soul..."

What is the Strictly curse?

Over the past 16 years, many of the celebs and their dance partners have fallen victim to the Strictly curse, which refers to the breakdown of their off-screen relationships during or soon after the show.

One of the most famous examples of the Strictly curse was when Katya Jones was pictured snogging her celebrity dance partner Seann Walsh on a night out during the 2018 series. Katya was married to fellow Strictly pro Neil Jones at the time and although they insisted the kiss hadn't affected their relationship, they later split.

Stacey Dooley also ended her long-term relationship with boyfriend Sam Tucknott shortly after winning the show and is now in a relationship with her dance partner Kevin Clifton.

Speaking about the Strictly curse, Brendan Cole, who had an affair with his celeb partner Natasha Kaplinsky in 2004, said, "Think about it. If you go to work with somebody every single day – hands on – and you’re working towards the same goal and you’ve got chemistry and this incredible experience that everyone loves to talk about, it’s only natural it’s going to happen occasionally."