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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Entertainment
Isobel Frodsham

Strictly Come Dancing 2019: All the new changes for this year's series

Motsi Mabuse who has been announced as the new judge on Strictly Come Dancing. (Picture: PA)

The launch of Strictly Come Dancing 2019 is almost upon us.

Now in its 15th year, the dance competition will return on Saturday and celebrities taking part include broadcaster Anneka Rice, Paralympian Will Bayley and former England pro Alex Scott.

But the famous faces getting their dancing shoes on aren't the only newbies this time around.

This year, the BBC is bringing in a number of changes, including everything from a new head judge to podcast host.

Here are all the brand new additions to look forward to...

Motsi Mabuse is on the judging panel

Fab four: This year's judges are Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, Shirley Ballas and Bruno Tonioli (PA)

In April, Dame Darcey Bussell announced she was leaving the series after being on the judging panel since 2012.

Dame Darcey, 50, said she was "not leaving because of any upset or disagreement", but to focus on "other commitments".

In July, it was announced that Motsi Mabuse, the elder sister of Strictly pro Oti, would be replacing her.

Mabuse, 38, has won plenty of her own trophies around the globe and has judging prowess thanks to a stint as a judge on the German version of Strictly.

She will join returning judges Craig Revel Horwood, Shirley Ballas and Bruno Tonioli.

Pasha Kovalev is being replaced by Nancy Xu

Long-time Strictly pro favourite Pasha Kovalev left fans bereft when he announced his decision to quit the show back in February, but we're excited to see what newbie Nancy Xu brings.

The 28-year-old Latin dancer is more than ready for the Strictly ballroom, having been a finalist in the Under-21s World Championships in 2010.

Thrilled: Nancy previously said she was

She's also competed on So You Think You Can Dance? in her native China and trod the boards in the hit stage show, Burn The Floor.

There are other (sort of) new pros too

Last month, Gorka Marquez, 29, and Graziano Di Prima, 25, both revealed they will not be paired up with celebrities this year, which means that three of the former background dancers will be stepping up to the plate.

Having served as part of the choreography team and appearing in group dances, Neil Jones, 37, Johannes Radebe, 32, and Luba Mushtuk, 29, will finally be taking part in the actual competition.

http://players.brightcove.net/1348423965/default_default/index.html?videoId=6075070387001

Jones – who recently announced his split from wife Katya – joined the Strictly cast in 2016 but has yet to be paired up with a celebrity. Radebe and Mushtuk joined the show last year.

Strictly Come Dancing: It Takes Two will now feature Rylan Clark-Neal

( Ian West/PA Archive/PA Images)

Zoe Ball is set to return to the helm of hosting Strictly Come Dancing: It Takes Two but this year she'll have a co-host to bounce off, in the form of the Bit On The Side presenter.

Clark-Neal, 30, is a occasional presenter for This Morning and was recently announced as the presenter for a revival of Ready Steady Cook,which will air next year.

There's a new podcast host

Strictly 2018 finalist and surprising fan favourite Joe Sugg will be co-hosting the official podcast this year.

The YouTuber, 27, joins television producer Kim Winston who will have the behind-the-scenes gossip thanks to her 10 years working on the programme. There will be new episodes of the podcast twice a week.

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