Star-studded line-up for Strictly Come Dancing 2011
The BBC has announced the star-studded line-up for Strictly Come Dancing 2011, revealing an exciting mix of people drawn from the worlds of sport, acting, politics, music and entertainment.
The ninth series, which launches with a red-carpet event at 6.10pm on BBC One, Saturday 10 September, will see the 14 new celebrity contestants battle it out on the dance floor, to win the ultimate glitter ball trophy.
This year's celebrity contestants are:
Lawyer, writer and entrepreneur, Nancy Dell'Olio
Former football bad boy, Robbie Savage
Waterloo Road actress, Chelsee Healey
Impressionist and comedian, Rory Bremner
Actress and singer, Holly Valance
Pop heartthrob, Harry Judd from McFly
Star of screen and stage, Anita Dobson
Astrologer and entertainer, Russell Grant
Musical icon and entertainer, Lulu
Former professional tennis player and TV presenter, Daniel Lobb
Former MP, writer and broadcaster, Edwina Currie
Olympic Gold medallist and boxer, Audley Harrison
Australian pop and stage star, Jason Donovan
TV presenter, Alex Jones
Sir Bruce Forsyth and Tess Daly return to guide viewers through the action on Saturday nights, while Tess will once again be joined by Claudia Winkleman for the Sunday night results show. Also returning are our fearsome foursome – head judge Len Goodman and fellow judges Alesha Dixon, Craig Revel Horwood and Bruno Tonioli.
The hour-long launch show will see the celebrities finding out for the first time who their professional partners are. There will also be a group dance by the celebrities and the professional dancers giving viewers at home the chance to see who the early favourites are and who might need to put in a few extra hours of training.
Following last year's smash hit series, 2011 is set to be even more spectacular and includes our biggest ever dance floor and live programme from Wembley Arena, with an audience of around 6,500 Strictly fans, in aid of Children in Need. The programme will also return to Blackpool's famous Tower Ballroom for the Grand Final for the first time since series two, which will be shown in dazzling 3D.
Fans can also get regular updates through Twitter, Facebook and the BBC's official Strictly website. Throughout the series, viewers can get all the up-to-date gossip and dancing action over on BBC Two on the weekday sister show, It Takes Two, with new presenter Zoe Ball.
