Strictly Come Dancing 2017: Meet The Celebrity Contestants

It is that time of year again when you can kiss goodbye to summer and say hello to a long cold winter warmed only by the sequins and jazz hands of Strictly Come Dancing 2017.

Ahead of Strictly Come Dancing starting in September the celebrity line up took to a rather glittery red carpet to launch the show and pay tribute to the late Bruce Forsyth, who died just last week.

As Tess, Claudia, the judges and contestants dust off their dancing shoes here is a run down of everything you need to know about the 15th series of Strictly Come Dancing...

The Strictly Come Dancing 2017 Confirmed Celebrity Line Up

The confirmed celebrities for this year's Strictly are coming in daily and we are keeping our jazz hands at the ready to ensure we don't miss a single announcement. Here is the official line-up thus far...

Mollie King

The former Saturdays singer, Mollie King, is confirmed to be dancing her weekends away for Strictly Come Dancing 2017. Speaking to Nick Grimshaw, the singer said she couldn’t wait, having watched the show for years with her family – she can’t wait to get into the sequins, too, appaz. You and us both, babe! Mollie continued: "I'm a huge fan of Strictly Come Dancing so I can't actually believe I'm lucky enough to be taking part in it this year! I'm literally so excited to learn Latin and ballroom dancing… it's going to be a lot of hard work but I'm ready for the challenge." With a new single about to be released in September, Mollie has certainly got her work cut out for her, especially if she wants to emulate her idol, Britney Spears. You got this girl.

Aston Merrygold

The former lover of the deep V t-shirt and JLS singer, Aston Merrygold is set to bring his jack the lad swing (that’s what JLS stands for FYI) to the ballroom. Aston might just have the edge on the other celebrity competitors given that he has appeared as a judge on Sky 1’s talent show, Got To Dance, and those JLS dance moves that made us think our hear would never Beat Again…

Ruth Langsford

Our TV mum and wife of Eamon Holmes, Ruth Langsford has confirmed she is in this year’s Strictly celebrity line-up. God, we LOVE HER, so we couldn’t be anymore excited that Ruth has signed up and the feeling is certainly mutual. “I have dreamt about doing Strictly for so long, I can't quite believe my dream has come true! The sum of my dance experience is throwing a few shapes at a party; I've never had a dance lesson in my life. It will be a welcome change worrying about my next hot move instead of my next hot flush!” LOL. You go girl!

Gemma Atkinson

The former girlfriend of Christiano Ronaldo and THE pin-up of the noughties, Gemma Atkinson is going to be strutting her stuff on a Saturday night this winter. There is definitely some dance training in this former Hollyoaks actress’s locker so expect a sassy salsa ASAP…

Simon Rimmer

Simon has been our Sunday hangover cure for quite some time on Channel 4’s Sunday Brunch. Now our secret celebrity crush will be slipping into some sequins and some tighter than tight trousers to get our Saturday nights started. YES!

Joe McFadden

I am not going to lie but since I haven’t watched Holby City since the 1990s so I had no idea who this was. But after some light Googling it turns out Joe is a seriously dishy ‘doctor’ who makes scrubs look beyond sexy. Check your pulses…

Davood Ghadami

Again… googling was required. This dashing would-be dancer is currently appearing in Eastenders after a stint on iconic show, The Bill. Davood said upon signing up for the show, “having the opportunity to take part in this year’s Strictly is such an honour. It’s going to be exciting, challenging and terrifying all at once and I am so looking forward to stepping out of my comfort zone and learning to dance. See you under the Glitterball!” We are so excited to see your glitter balls, too, Davood.

Reverent Richard Coles

The writer, broadcaster and Church of England vicar will no longer be taking Sundays off as a day of rest. Reverent Coles is the first man of the cloth to dance his way onto the Strictly Floor and he is also the only Vicar in Britain to have a number one hit single with Don't Leave Me This Way as part of The Communards. The group went on to have three UK top ten hits and the biggest-selling single of 1986… WHO. KNEW?!?

Susan Calman

Blowing the celebrity budget for 2017, the BBC have signed Scottish comedian and broadcaster, Susan Calman up for the 2017 series. Regularly contributing to BBC Radio 4 and her sitcom, Sisters Sarah will be swapping the lolz for sequins.

Brian Conley

All round entertainer, Brian Conley is getting ready to unleash his "dad dancing on national television!" But with a 40 year career in the entertainment industry which includes many West End productions, Brian could be a dark horse contender for the glitter ball trophy.

Charlotte Hawkins

The Good Morning Britain presenter and new mum, Charlotte Hawkins is swapping ITV early mornings for glitzy BBC prime time.

Chizzy Akudolu

Another Holby City actor is hitting the dance floor, Chizzy Akudolu who is best known for playing heart surgeon, Mo Effanga in the BBC One show. Having just left the show after five years, the actress certainly has a lot of time for dance rehearsals.

Debbie McGee

The magic assistant, Debbie and wife of the late Paul Daniels is going to bring her own brand of magic to the BBC One show. WE. LOVE. HER.

Jonnie Peacock

Double Paralympic, World and European T44 100m Champion, Jonnie Peacock is set to become the first disabled contestant on the reality show. But with quite the mantle piece of medals no one can disregard this athlete's determination.

Alexandra Burke

The former X-Factor winner is no stranger to competition and boy does this girl have the moves. Having swapped her pop career for a career in the West End playing the lead role in The Bodyguard, Alexandra might be the runaway favourite for the crown.

Strictly Come Dancing 2017 Judges

The 2017 celebrities join a slightly different Strictly Come Dancing set up, as former head judge Len Goodman hands over his glitter score paddle to Shirley Ballas. The former dancer, known as The Queen of Latin in the industry, joins Darcey Bussell, Craig Revel Horwood and Bruno Tonioli on the judging panel.

Strictly Come Dancing Presenters

The BBC’s highest-earning female presenter, Claudia Winkleman, returns to the ballroom alongside Tess Daly, who is presenting the show for the 15th year running. Zoe Ball also returns to the all female line-up to present the daily BBC2 spin-off show, It Takes Two.

'Strictly Come Dancing' returns to BBC1 in late September.