Strictly Come Dancing could be on its way back sooner than we think with the professional team already back at work.
Stars including Dianne Buswell, Gorka Marquez and Giovanni Pernice are now holed up in a hotel together in order to bubble.
The team will now be busy learning the professional dance routines that kick off every Saturday and Sunday show, ahead of the return of the live performances.
The BBC has confirmed that this year’s Strictly will launch this September, but it was previously assumed that this would be on the tail end of the month, likely the 25th.
But with the team now hitting the rehearsal studio and the cast already announced, this could be brought forward even sooner.
This year, there are four new pros joining the ranks and participating in the fight for the glitterball.
Kai Widdrington, who previously starred on Dancing With The Stars Ireland; Let's Dance Germany professional, Nikita Kuzmin; reigning South African Latin Champion, Cameron Lombard; and winner of BBC One's The Greatest Dancer 2020, Jowita Przystal will all be putting on their dancing shoes and hitting the iconic dancefloor this year.
They join returning stars Aljaž Škorjanec, Amy Dowden, Dianne Buswell, Giovanni Pernice, Gorka Marquez, Graziano Di Prima, Johannes Radebe, Karen Hauer, Katya Jones, Luba Mushtuk, Nadiya Bychkova, Nancy Xu, Neil Jones, and Oti Mabuse.
Fan favourite Janette Manrara has stepped back from the series after seven years, instead becoming the new face of BBC Two's spin-off chat show, It Takes Two.
Long-standing pro Anton Du Beke has also been promoted this year, becoming a judge to replace Bruno Tonioli, who is remaining at his home in the US due to Covid travel constraints.
Du Beke has made no secret of his desire to get the position, but it currently stands that he will be judge for this series only.
It’s still not known who will be competing in the competition, and who will be performing as a reserve and group dancer.
Who’s competing in this year’s Strictly Come Dancing?
This year, fourteen celebrities are putting on the glitz and giving ballroom dancing a go in a bid to become glitterball champions.
They are:
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Tom Fletcher (McFly star)
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Robert Webb (Comedian and Peep Show star)
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AJ Odudu (TV presenter)
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John Whaite (Bake Off star and TV chef)
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Rhys Stephenson (CBBC presenter)
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Sara Davies (Dragons’ Den entrepreneur)
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Katie McGlynn (Corrie and Hollyoaks actress)
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Dan Walker (BBC Breakfast host)
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Tilly Ramsay (TV Chef)
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Greg Wise (Actor)
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Nina Wadia (Actress and Comedian)
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Rose Ayling-Ellis (Eastenders star)
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Adam Peaty (Olympic gold medallist)
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Judi Love (Loose Women star)
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Ugo Monye (sports pundit and former rugby player)
It’s expected that the show will continue with tradition, and have all the stars perform in week one.
The scores will then rollover, with the dance-offs and knockouts happening from week two onwards.
Last year’s winners were Bill Bailey and Oti Mabuse, who made Strictly history twice over with their victory.
Bailey is the oldest celebrity to win the glitterball, while Mabuse became the first professional to take home two consecutive wins.
Can she make it three…?
Strictly Come Dancing returns in September on BBC One.
