Strictly 2024: Everything you need to know

It's time to dust off your dancing shoes, and find your sparkliest outfit, because a new series of Strictly Come Dancing is just hours away.

The famous dancing TV show is back tonight and this year is its 22nd series, and 20th birthday, since it first appeared in 2004

Each year a new group of celebrities pair up with a professional dancer on the show, to perform fabulous dance routines in front of a panel of judges, in the hope of winning the famous Glitterball trophy at the end.

So when is it on, and who is in it? Well fear not, we've got everything you need to know below.

When is Strictly Come Dancing on?

The 22nd series of Strictly Come Dancing is on iPlayer and BBC One from 7.20pm, tonight, Saturday 14 September.

Which celebrities are in Strictly this year?

Meet this year's Strictly celebs

This year 15 celebrities are taking part in the series.

The list includes comedian Chris McCausland, who is the first blind contestant to take part in the show; JLS singer and TV presenter JB Gill, and Olympian Montell Douglas (who you might know better as Fire from Gladiators).

Also taking part are TV presenter Nick Knowles, model Tasha Ghouri, media medic Dr Punam Krishan and singer and actress Toyah Willcox.

Sport stars such as Olympic and European hockey gold medallist Sam Quek, Olympic swimming champion Tom Dean and former footballer Paul Merson will also be joining the show.

Eastenders star Jamie Borthwick, Corries' Shane Ward and Sarah Hadland from Horrible Histories will also be competing, alongside radio presenter Pete Wicks and opera singer Wynne Evans.

Who are the judges on Strictly?

The awesome foursome are back!

This series will see the return of judges Shirley Ballas, Motsi Mabuse, Craig Revel-Horwood and Anton Du Beke.

Nicknamed the Queen of Latin, Shirley Ballas is one of the most well-known and decorated professional dancers in the world. She retired in 1996, to become a dance coach and a judge on Strictly.

Motsi Mabuse has a passion for ballroom and Latin dance, and appeared on the cast of the German version of Strictly called Let's Dance, before becoming a Judge there. She joined the Strictly judging line-up in 2019.

The sharp-tongued Craig Revel-Horwood has starred in many West End musicals and dance shows over the years and always makes sure the dancers follow the rules.

After working as a professional dancer on the show for 18 series, Anton Du Beke jumped from the ballroom floor to the judging panel in 2020, to become the newest Strictly judge.

Who are the professional dancers on Strictly?

Which pros are back this year?

Returning to the series this year will be professional dancers: Dianne Buswell, Nadiya Bychkova, Amy Dowden, Karen Hauer, Katya Jones, Neil Jones, Nikita Kuzmin, Gorka Marquez, Luba Mushtuk, Jowita Przystal, Johannes Radebe, Kai Widdrington, Nancy Xu, Carlos Gu, Lauren Oakley, Michelle Tsiakkas and Vito Coppola.

They'll also be joined by Aljaž Škorjanec, who will be returning to the show after a two-year break.

Strictly fans will be excited to see pro-dancer Amy Dowden make a return to the show after receiving treatment for cancer in May 2023.

To mark her return, there will be a special group dance featuring all of the professional dancers.

Why has there been controversy this season?

Graziano Di Prima and Giovanni Pernice have left the show

Missing from the professional dancer line-up this year are Graziano Di Prima and Giovanni Pernice.

The dancers received complaints about their behaviour and teaching methods on the show.

Graziano said he had "deep regrets" and Giovanni said he was surprised by the allegations and rejected "any suggestion of abusive or threatening behaviour".

Strictly Come Dancing has said it is making changes to the way the show is run, as a result of the complaints.

There will now be a member of the production team in rehearsals at all times as well as two new producers looking after both the celebrities and dancer's welfare.

Strictly aims to be 'most accessible yet'

According to the show's producers, this series of Strictly will be the most accessible yet, with live signing of the show available on BBC iPlayer and Red Button.

Sign language is used mainly by people who are deaf or experience hearing problems, and is a way of communicating using hands, facial expression and body language.

The show is also using audio description - a feature which can be used by blind and partially sighted people, to describe what is happening - as well as subtitles - which displays the words people are saying on screen.