Meet this year's Strictly Come Dancing couples as partners announced

Start dancing... Strictly kicked off in style

The launch show of Strictly Come Dancing has revealed who is partnered with who ahead of the first dances next week.

It featured a big group dance with all the celebrities and the professionals, as well as a return performance from last year's winner Chris McCausland.

After waltzing to You'll Never Walk Alone with his dance partner Diane Buswell, Chris told the celebs: "Take the dancing seriously, don't take yourself too seriously."

So, who is partnered with who in this year's Strictly Come Dancing? Read on to find out...

We now know who'll be dancing with who

Harry Aikines-Aryeetey - aka Nitro from Gladiators - is paired up with Karen Hauer, who said "This is so exciting... I am very, very happy."

The former Team GB sprinter said to Karen that the couple will have to try and get his Nitro energy into the dances.

Model Ellie Goldstein, who made her acting debut in CBBC show Malory Towers this year, has Vito Coppola as her professional dancer.

Ellie told Strictly that she's been watching dance videos to help prepare for the show, which she says is everything she thought it would be.

"Spray tan, the glitz, make-up and the hair... everything."

There are also some brand new dancers in the show too

YouTuber and social media star George Clarke isn't the only newbie in his pairing.

He joins new professional Alexis Warr, who is one of two new dancers joining Strictly along with Julian Caillon.

George said to Alexis: "It's very nice to be going through together as a newbie... although I believe you've danced before!"

Speaking about the new couples, judge Anton Du Beke said: "This is going to be an epic year."

Who do you think will be walking home with the glitterball trophy?

The full list of Strictly celebrities and their partners are:

• Alex Kingston and Johannes Radebe

• Balvinder Sopal and Julian Caillon

• Chris Robshaw and Nadiya Bychkova

• Dani Dyer and Nikita Kuzmin

• Ellie Goldstein and Vito Coppola

• George Clarke and Alexis Warr

• Harry Aikines-Aryeetey and Karen Hauer

• Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and Lauren Oakley

• Karen Carney and Carlos Gu

• La Voix and Aljaž Škorjanec

• Lewis Cope and Katya Jones

• Ross King and Jowita Przystał

• Stefan Dennis and Dianne Buswell

• Thomas Skinner and Amy Dowden

• Vicky Pattison and Kai Widdrington