Strictly Come Dancing celebrities at red carpet launch
- Published
Former shadow chancellor Ed Balls got into the swing of things with presenter Laura Whitmore as the pair arrived on the red carpet for the launch of the new series of Strictly Come Dancing.
Ed Balls also posed with model Daisy Lowe, as the stars prepared to dance in the first show of the series, to be broadcast on Saturday. He wrote later on his Facebook page: "Tomorrow we find out our professional dance partners - mine is going to need a lot of patience..."
There are 15 celebrities taking part this year. Will Young accompanied fellow singer Louise Redknapp and BBC Breakfast host Naga Munchetty as they walked out in front of the audience.
Birds of a Feather actress Lesley Joseph, pictured with Judge Rinder (aka Robert Rinder), is the oldest woman to ever take part in the celebrity dancing contest.
The red carpet was strewn with glitter for the celebrities' arrival - the first time they had all appeared together since it was announced they were taking part in this year's show. Greg Rutherford, who recently won a long jump bronze medal at the Rio Olympics, is pictured with model Daisy Lowe.
Singer Anastacia pulled faces for photographers as she made her way down the red carpet with BBC presenter Ore Oduba.
At 18, gymnast Claudia Fragapane - pictured with DJ and presenter Melvin Odoom - is the youngest contestant this year.
Soap stars Danny Mac, formerly of Hollyoaks, and Tameka Empson, who plays Kim Fox-Hubbard in EastEnders, made an entrance together at the event at Elstree Studios in Hertfordshire.
The contestants will all be judged by Bruno Tonioli, Craig Revel Horwood, Darcey Bussell and Len Goodman - who is taking part in the show for the final time.
New professional dancers Oksana Platero, Gorka Marquez, Chloe Hewett, AJ Pritchard, Katya Jones and Neil Jones faced fans for the first time at the launch event.
- Published22 August 2016
- Published22 August 2016
- Published19 August 2016
- Published18 August 2016
