Layton Williams and Nikita Kuzmin will form an all-male partnership on 'Strictly Come Dancing'.
Layton Williams will dance with Nikita Guzmin
The BBC Latin and ballroom show kicked off on Saturday (16.09.23) night with a launch show to reveal to the celebrities who they will be dancing with, and the West End star is ready for the Ukrainian hunk to "whip [him] into shape".
He said: “He is going to whip me into shape, and keep me on the straight and narrow because I do like to think I know what I am doing and do the most, but I really don’t have a clue!”
And Nikita insisted Layton's previous dance experience doesn't matter.
He said: “Ballroom and Latin are completely different to anything Layton has done so far, the technique, posture and espcially to co-ordination is completely different, he has a lot to learn and I can’t wait to teach him”.
Meanwhile, Amanda Abbington was "ecstatic" to be paired with Giovanni Pernice.
She said: “I’m ecstatic, we get on really well, same sense of humour, and dedicated to working hard."
Discussing the actress' reaction, Giovanni laughed: “That was a reaction, I have to be honest…and also there was screaming that I enjoyed very much…very very happy days.”
Zara McDermott admitted she was "nervous" about taking part, but her new partner Graziano Di Prima was on hand to reassure her.
He told her: "The sky is the limit! Be positive all the way."
Krishnan Guru-Murthy will dance with Lauren Oakley in the professional's first year with a celebrity partner, and he was delighted.
He exclaimed: "Oh it’s brilliant and she gets me immediately."
Angela Rippon and Kai Widdrington were overjoyed to be matched together.
The show's oldest contestant said: "When I saw it was Kai I couldn’t have been happier I promise you."
Kai added: “I am absolutely delighted to have Angela , I think we are going to be fabulous.”
Dianne Buswell already views her celebrity partner, 'EastEnders' actor Bobby Brazier, as her "little brother".
She gushed: "I am so happy, I have already adopted Bobby as my little brother, and I already care so much about him, I just want him to have the best time ever.”
Annabel Croft hailed Johannes Radebe "the best partner [she] could possibly have wished for", while Adam Thomas was "buzzing" to be paired with Luba Mushtuk.
Les Dennis is looking forward to learning from Nancy Xu - and revealed in return he is teaching her to "speak Scouse".
He added: "I am so happy… as soon as I met Nancy I knew I could learn from her, she is a great teacher and she is so enthusiastic."
Paralympian Jody Cundy will dance with the show's current champion Jowita Przystal - who earlier in the programme had danced with her 2022 partner Hamza Yassin for the final time - while actor Nigel Harman will take to the floor with Katya Jones and Eddie Kadi was matched with Karen Hauer. Ellie Leach has been teamed with Vito Coppola, Angela Scanlon will dance with Carlos Gu, and Nikita Kanda will be working with Gorka Marquez.
Tagged in Les Dennis Layton Williams Angela Rippon