'Strictly Come Dancing' bosses are using superheroes as code names for contestants.

Catherine Tyldesley

Catherine Tyldesley

The team behind the BBC ballroom competition are trying to keep the official lineup under wraps for now, and they are using some comic book monikers as the nicknames for this year's batch of celebrities to keep their identities a secret until the big reveal.

An insider told The Sun newspaper's Bizarre TV column: "he code names are a fun way of keeping everything hush hush ahead of the reveal.

"They try to mix it up every time and this year it will be a load of Batman, Superman and of course, Superwoman."

Last year, the likes of Katie Piper and reigning champion Stacey Dooley were named after cheeses.

This time round, the likes of former 'Coronation Street' actress Catherine Tyldesley and Radio 1 DJ Dev Griffin are said to be featuring in the lineup.

Meanwhile, the next series will feature a new face on the panel after Dame Darcey Bussell revealed she was stepping down from her role as a judge.

Her replacement is yet to be announced, but Craig Revel Horwood - who will be back critiquing the stars with the mystery newcomer alongside Bruno Tonioli and Shirley Ballas - recently weighed in on who he believes bosses should be considering for the upcoming series as he admitted Nicole Scherzinger would have been his first choice.

He said: "They must have chosen by now but, no, I haven't been consulted. I would have loved Nicole Scherzinger but she's been snapped up [by 'The X Factor'].

"As long as the new person has an opinion, that is the most important thing. And also can dance ...

"The worst thing would be someone who sits there without an opinion. They have to be entertaining."