Strictly Come Dancing has officially returned as this year’s celebrity contestants stepped onto the iconic dancefloor for the first time. Stars from across the entertainment industry are hoping they have what it takes to take home the Glitterball Trophy.

They will be aiming to follow in comedian Chris McCausland’s footsteps, after he bagged the top spot last year with professional dancer Diane Buswell. As reigning champions, the pair are delighting fans as they perform once again before handing the trophy back.

On the bill this year is Doctor Who actress Alex ­Kingston, model Ellie Goldstein, Gladiators star Harry Aikines-Aryeetey and EastEnder Balvinder Sopal. YouTuber George Clarke, drag queen La Voix, former England rugby ace Chris Robshaw and The Apprentice’s Tom Skinner are also taking part.

The contestants will be hoping they can impress the Strictly judges(Image: CREDIT LINE:BBC/Guy Levy)

Neighbours favourite Stefan Dennis, Lioness Karen Carney, reality star Vicky Pattison, ex-Emmerdale actor Lewis Cope, footballer Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, Love Island’s Dani Dyer and TV host Ross King. They will be judged by Shirley Ballas, Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse and Anton Du Beke.

Saturday night’s launch show saw the celebrities matched with their pros for the first time, with fans getting the first look at how they might do in the competition.

The first pairings confirmed were Lewis Cope and Katya Jones, Ross King and Jowita Przystał, Dani Dyer and Nikita Kuzmin, Chris Robshaw and Nadiya Bychkova and La Voix and Aljaž Škorjanec.

The next to be revealed were Vicky Pattison and Kai Widdrington, Alex Kingston and Johannes Radebe, Ellie Goldstein and Vito Coppola, Balvinder Sopal and Julian Caillon plus Karen Carney and Carlos Gu.

The final matches were confirmed as Harry Aikines-Aryeetey and Karen Hauer, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and Lauren Oakley, George Clarke and Alexis Warr, Stefan Dennis and Dianne Buswell as well as Thomas Skinner and Amy Dowden.

Following the announcement, many fans sadly predicted Ross would be first out as one said: “Poor Jowita out first.” Another added: “Sorry Jowita, it’s an early exit for you this year.”

The launch show is pre-recorded and was filmed on the same evening as the National Television Awards. It meant many of the stars were unable to take to the stage at the NTAs and accept their Talent show gong.

Despite the show not being live, many will be keeping a beady-eye on contestant Thomas Skinner, who has brought a lot of controversy since he was announced for this year’s show.

Thomas’ signing didn’t go down well with Strictly fans due to him being an outspoken figure on social media. However, his personal life also hit the headlines of late as he recently confessed to a ‘fling’ with Amy-Lucy O’Rourke just a few weeks after marrying wife Sinead.

He insisted the affair was a ‘one off’ – but Amy-Lucy later spoke out and slammed his claims, in a story which has dominated the headlines in the lead-up to tonight.