The BBC's Strictly Come Dancing has unveiled the pairings for its 2024 series, with 15 celebrities matched with professional dancers. The launch show, hosted by Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman, featured a group dance and the return of judges Shirley Ballas, Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, and Anton Du Beke.
Among the contestants is comedian Chris McCausland, 47, who becomes the first blind participant in the show's history. He is paired with Dianne Buswell, a former Australian Open champion. McCausland admitted he has no dance experience, saying, "I don't dance, I haven't danced, I can't dance."
EastEnders actor Jamie Borthwick, 30, who won the 2023 Christmas special, will dance with Michelle Tsiakkas. JLS singer JB Gill, 37, is partnered with Amy Dowden, who returns after a year off following breast cancer treatment. Olympian Montell Douglas, 38, known as "Fire" on Gladiators, is paired with Johannes Radebe.
Other pairings include DIY SOS presenter Nick Knowles, 61, with Luba Mushtuk, and former Love Island star Tasha Ghouri with Aljaž Škorjanec. The series aims to move past recent allegations of abusive behaviour as it celebrates its 20th anniversary.
