'Strictly Come Dancing' will reportedly return to screens on September 23.
Strictly Come Dancing will return in September
The BBC Latin and Ballroom competition- which last year was won by 'Countryfile' star Hamza Yassin and professional partner Jowita Przystał - will launch its 21st series in just a matter of weeks, according to The Mirror.
The outlet reports that for the first time ever, the series - which typically opens with a pre-recorded launch show - will present its contestants to the public live on air for the very first time.
It is thought that the Saturday night favourite will run for a total of 13 weeks, and one celebrity will - along with their professional partner - lift the Glitterball Trophy on Sunday 16 December as the final will be broadcast just over a week before Christmas.
The lineup for this year's edition of the hotly-anticipated TV staple includes 'Sherlock' actress Amanda Abbington, television presenter Angela Rippon - who at the age of 78 becomes the show's oldest-ever contestant - and BBC 1Extra host Eddie Kadi.
Former 'Love Island' star Zara McDermott will become the show's first-ever contestant to have initially found fame on the hit ITV2 reality dating show and will join 'Waterloo Road' actor Adam Thomas and BBC Asian Network presenter Nikita Kanda in the competition.
Channel 4 newsreader Krishnan Guru-Murthy will also be in the competition, along with 'The One Show' presenter Angela Scanlon and West End star Layton Williams, who will become the first male contestant in the history of the show to dance in a dress.
Actress Ellie Leach - who recently quit her role as Faye Windass on 'Coronation Street' after more than a decade on the cobble - and 'EastEnders' actor Bobby Brazier will also be hitting the dancefloor, along with fellow soap star Nigel Harman, tennis legend Annabel Croft and Paralympian Jody Cundy.
The final celebrity to be revealed for the lineup was TV legend Les Dennis - who is best known for fronting gameshow 'Family Fortunes' in the 1980s - and the former 'Coronation Street' star admitted that he was "thrilled" to be facing a new challenge ahead of his 70th birthday.
He said: "I’m thrilled to be doing this iconic wonderful show as I approach my 70th birthday! In my career I’ve always gone for challenges outside my comfort zone and this is the ultimate one! Can’t wait."
Tagged in Amanda Abbington Angela Rippon Zara McDermott