Strictly Come Dancing unveils new professional dancer

Karen Hauer joins Strictly Come Dancing from show Burn The Floor

Strictly Come Dancing will have a new dancer for the next series of the show.

Karen Hauer, 30, is a former World Mambo Champion and the only new professional dancer joining the contest.

Last month Katya Virshilas was dropped ahead of the 10th series, which starts in the autumn.

Ms Hauer, who's originally from Venezuela, said: "If I could dance how I feel about joining Strictly then you'd be able to see how excited I am."

The newcomer has recently been performing as the main dancer in Burn The Floor, an international touring dance show.

She joins last year's winning professional Aliona Vilani, along with Erin Boag, Flavia Cacace, Kristina Rihanoff, Natalie Lowe, Ola Jordan, Anton Du Beke, Artem Chigvintsev, Brendan Cole, James Jordan, Pasha Kovalev, Robin Windsor and Vincent Simone.

BBC Controller of Entertainment, Katie Taylor, said: "We're thrilled to have such a fresh and talented professional join us and I can't wait to see what she will bring to the ballroom this autumn."

The first star to sign up for Strictly 2012 is former England cricket captain Michael Vaughan.

The 2005 Ashes-winning player joins former England cricket stars Darren Gough and Mark Ramprakash, who have previously been contestants.

The show also has a new judge, Darcey Bussell, who takes over from Alesha Dixon who left to join Britain's Got Talent on ITV.