Strictly Come Dancing 2024 LIVE: Giovanni Pernice breaks silence ahead of launch

Strictly Come Dancing is back for another series (Image: BBC)

Strictly Come Dancing is back tonight with a bang, as the hit BBC series returns to mark its 20th anniversary.

With the pairings announced last week, the 2024 celebrities must now prepare themselves for a nail-biting live performance with their professional partners.

Several stars will also be making highly anticipated returns to the show, with Aljaz Skorjanec and Amy Dowden both confirmed to be performing.

Amy's return is sure to be an emotional one, as it follows her treatment for breast cancer, as she was forced to pull out of the last series after being diagnosed in 2023.

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She has said about her return: "I literally can't keep still. I have to keep moving, I can't sit down. I'm like a bottle of pop waiting to burst with nerves and energy."

Follow this live blog to get all of the latest news and updates for series 22.

13 mins ago15:02Sasha MorrisShirley Ballas transformation

Strictly head judge Shirley Ballas revealed her incredible weight loss ahead of the show's return. She told her fans that she could now fit into the same jeans she was wearing when she was just 20 years old.

She said in an Instagram clip: “These are the trousers I had when I was 20. As you can see, they’re not quite zipped up but they will be by Strictly I can assure you.”

Five months after recording the first clip on April 14, she revealed she’d successfully fit back into the pants before the show return.

She said: “Thursday the 19th [of September] just before Strictly and I did say I wanted to get into these little trousers. So here they are.”

Shirley lifted up her floral vest to reveal the zipped-up black suit pants as she said: “They’re zipped up but it’s been some hard work."

26 mins ago14:49Sasha MorrisWhat time is Strictly on tonight?

Strictly Come Dancing will be airing on BBC1 at 7pm on Saturday September 21.

Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman will be returning as presenters.

Craig Revel-Horwood, Shirley Ballas, Motsi Mabuse and Anton du Beke will also be returning as judges.

Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman will be back as judges (Image: BBC) 44 mins ago14:31Sasha MorrisFirst song choices

Here are the songs and dances each celebrity is performing tonight.

Wynne Evans and Katya Jones - Samba to Help Yourself by Tom Jones

Sarah Hadland and Vito Coppola - Quickstep to 9 to 5 by Dolly Parton

Chris McCausland and Dianne Buswell - Cha Cha to Twist and Shout by The Beatles

Toyah Willcox and Neil Jones - Tango to Ray Of Light by Madonna

Sam Quek and Nikita Kuzmin - Foxtrot to Where Did Our Love Go by The Supremes

Jamie Borthwick and Michelle Tsiakkas - Viennese Waltz to Beautiful Things by Benson Boone

JB Gill and Amy Dowden - Waltz to When I Need You by Leo Sayer

Shayne Ward and Nancy Xu - Samba to Do I Do by Stevie Wonder

Tom Dean and Nadiya Bychkova - Tango to Golden by Harry Styles

Montell Douglas and Johannes Radebe - Foxtrot to Is You Is or Is You Ain’t My Baby by Dinah Washington

Nick Knowles and Luba Mushtuk - Jive to We Built This City by Starship

Tasha Ghouri and Aljaz Škorjanec - Cha Cha to Espresso by Sabrina Carpenter

Paul Merson and Karen Hauer - American Smooth to Vindaloo by Fat Les

Pete Wicks and Jowita Przystał - Paso Doble to Breathe by The Prodigy

Punam Krishan and Gorka Márquez - Cha Cha to Love At First Sight by Kylie Minogue

47 mins ago14:28Sasha MorrisStar issued devastating blow

Paul Merson has been given some bad news just hours ahead of the live launch.

He has been named as the favourite to leave first, as bookmaker Betway spoke exclusively to Express.co.uk to reveal the starting elimination odds.

Spokesperson Chad Yeomans said: “With the news on Saturday night’s show that Paul Merson’s first dance will be an American Smooth to the World Cup anthem Vindaloo, many punters think there will be nothing smooth about it whatsoever, and he is now the hot favourite at 6/4 to be packing his Strictly bags first."

1 hour ago14:08Sasha MorrisGiovanni Pernice breaks silence

Disgraced star Giovanni Pernice has broken his silence on social media ahead of the Strictly launch.

He is currently starring on the Italian version of Strictly, Ballando con le Stelle with Bianca Guaccero.

Sharing a video of them discussing their latest performance, Giovanni penned: "This is us talking about the judges... what they can expect from us and what Bianca feels about it.

"Very excited and will take everything on board to make the next dance better."

1 hour ago14:06Sasha MorrisStrictly pairings

Here are the confirmed Strictly pairings for the 2024 series.

Jamie Borthwick and Michelle TsiakkasJB Gill and Amy Dowden MBEMontell Douglas and Johannes RadebeNick Knowles and Luba MushtukPaul Merson and Karen HauerPete Wicks and Jowita PrzystałPunam Krishan and Gorka MárquezTasha Ghouri and Aljaž ŠkorjanecTom Dean MBE and Nadiya BychkovaToyah Willcox and Neil JonesSam Quek MBE and Nikita KuzminSarah Hadland and Vito CoppolaShayne Ward and Nancy XuWynne Evans and Katya Jones

Chris McCausland and Dianne Buswell

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