Strictly Come Dancing contestants are preparing for the first live show of the series.
As some battle nerves and others face complaints of previous dance experience, here is a glimpse of what could be in store in week one.
Danny John-Jules
At 58, the Red Dwarf and Death In Paradise star is the oldest contestant this year.
When your Foxtrot needs to be the Cats Pyjamas, there's no better taskmaster than @dowden_amy, @DannyJohnJules! 😆 pic.twitter.com/Ajd2id1LMD
— BBC Strictly✨ (@bbcstrictly) September 16, 2018
“People say, ‘You look so fit’,” John-Jules, who will be dancing the Foxtrot with Amy Dowden, said.
But he told Good Morning Britain: “My legs are just like lead.”
Susannah Constantine
Bookies make the former What Not To Wear star, partnered with Anton Du Beke, favourite to get the axe first on the TV show – although everyone will be safe until week two.
She has already injured herself while training for her Samba, telling Radio Times magazine she “pulled a muscle in my ribs”.
"I haven't had this much fun with my clothes on for years…" 🤣 #Strictly rehearsals are going well then Susannah and @TheAntonDuBeke? pic.twitter.com/d8o7z3DVWp
— BBC Strictly✨ (@bbcstrictly) September 18, 2018
Constantine has pledged to stand up to judge Craig Revel Horwood but is suffering from nerves, saying the prospect of dancing live in front of the judges and audience “liquefies my bowels”.
Dr Ranj
Dr Ranj, partnered with Janette Manrara, is “terrified” of the Strictly judges.
He's got the shoes, but has @DrRanj got the moves? 🤔 Four days to go until we find out! #Strictly pic.twitter.com/MwKXMLKQJ2
— BBC Strictly✨ (@bbcstrictly) September 18, 2018
But he told the Press Association that rehearsing for the Cha Cha Cha had given him a confidence boost.
“I’m not necessarily the most physically confident person and this really has forced me to get my body to do what I need it to do,” he said.
Katie Piper
Piper has been struggling to remember her steps, saying that Strictly has made her realise her short term memory is “dreadful”.
Injuries suffered from an acid attack, including being blind in her left eye, will make dancing more difficult but “won’t hold me back”, she said.
Keep all thoughts on the Waltz 🙌 @KatiePiper_ and @gorkamarquez1's mantra for #Strictly Week One! pic.twitter.com/zl8A9NIy5Y
— BBC Strictly✨ (@bbcstrictly) September 19, 2018
After it emerged recently that the man who threw acid over the TV presenter is to be released from prison, Piper, who will be dancing the Waltz with Gorka Marquez, has described Strictly as a “positive distraction”.
Graeme Swann
There is one thing the former England cricketer says he will not do on Strictly.
He has promised a “fight to the death” if anyone suggests waxing his chest.
🤨😊 @Swannyg66's gotta get serious for the Samba… if @OtiMabuse can get him to focus for more than a minute, that is! #Strictly pic.twitter.com/4gousvH68g
— BBC Strictly✨ (@bbcstrictly) September 17, 2018
“That’s not happening,” Swann, who will be dancing the Samba with Oti Mabuse, said.
So, no shirt slashed to the navel, then.
Lauren Steadman
Aged 25, the Paralympic athlete is the youngest contestant on this year’s series.
She has revealed her trepidation at taking on the Waltz, saying it was the dance she least wanted to attempt first.
Yay! @LaurenSteadman's brought home that paratriathlon World Champion title, so now it's time to focus on bagging a #Strictly trophy… 🏆✨ @Aj11Ace pic.twitter.com/zkiUnJnZoo
— BBC Strictly✨ (@bbcstrictly) September 17, 2018
Steadman, partnered with AJ Pritchard, has said: “Obviously, being an athlete, muscles are sore. I think with the waltz it’s the position, it’s the head and the slowness of it.”
Faye Tozer
Steps star Tozer, who will be performing the Cha Cha Cha with Giovanni Pernice, has been “knocking on Strictly’s door for years” and is thrilled to finally get on the BBC show.
Teaching steps to Steps' @Faye_Tozer 👏 Sounds like your dream job @pernicegiovann1! #Strictly pic.twitter.com/iudbXyI0cT
— BBC Strictly✨ (@bbcstrictly) September 18, 2018
Her bandmate Claire Richards has defended Tozer’s dance experience, telling the Press Association: “Just because she’s a dancer and she’s got experience, it doesn’t mean she’s gonna be amazing at doing the tango or the salsa. It’s a very different type of dancing.”
Lee Ryan
The Blue singer and ex-EastEnders star will be battling to put the focus on his steps in his first dance, a waltz, instead of speculation about chemistry with Nadiya Bychkova.
How do you turn a ball of energy into a ballroom dancer? Nadiya's got her work cut out for her with @OfficialLeeRyan! 🕺🏻 #Strictly pic.twitter.com/vPyw3Xj6YE
— BBC Strictly✨ (@bbcstrictly) September 19, 2018
Asked whether any of Blue’s dance moves could help him in Strictly, he joked to What’s On TV: “Have you seen Blue perform? We’re like a ‘dad dance’ band!”
He has praised his dance partner, saying: “She’s kicking my derriere right in shape,” and added: “The hardest thing for me might be not singing along.”
Charles Venn
The Casualty actor, who boasts an impressive six-pack, has been paired with Karen Clifton and the couple are dancing the Cha Cha Cha on Saturday.
It’s official, we’re dancing the cha cha Charles this Saturday 22/09/18Let’s go!!!@bbcstrictly @karencliftonofficial #charlesvenn #karenclifton #chachacha #strictlycomedancing pic.twitter.com/AuD5UESgs0
— CharlesVenn (@ChuckyVenn) September 20, 2018
He said that there are “parts that are struggling to stick” while his dance partner has told him: “Don’t be Beyonce!”
Seann Walsh
The stand-up comic, performing the Tango, is partnered up with Katya Jones.
He's bringing SexyBack… with a very sweaty back 😅 You'll be in #Strictly shape in no time @seannwalsh 😉 @Mrs_katjones pic.twitter.com/Row0rVweKG
— BBC Strictly✨ (@bbcstrictly) September 21, 2018
He told the Daily Star: “I’ve not actually seen any whips just yet, but boy she’s tough. ”
Kate Silverton
Unlike some of the names in this year’s line-up, Silverton, who has been partnered with Aljaz Skorjanek, will benefit in the early weeks from being a famous face.
She will be performing the Cha Cha Cha as her first dance and has joked that being on the show could reverse the Strictly curse.
*#Strictly voice* 🎤 Dancing the Cha Cha Cha: @katesilverton1, @AljazSkorjanec and… Penelope?! 👀💃🏼 pic.twitter.com/Az7QPnclHE
— BBC Strictly✨ (@bbcstrictly) September 20, 2018
Her husband has sent her texts saying: “You looked really hot today babe” with Silverton writing in the Daily Mail: “I’m all for it! I reckon we’ll reverse the Strictly curse. It may even end up Strictly marriage magic!”
Ashley Roberts
Like Tozer, Roberts has enjoyed dance experience as one of the Pussycat Dolls.
But she has defended her inclusion on the BBC1 show, telling Radio 2 DJ Chris Evans: “The Latin and ballroom world is foreign to me.”
Roberts, who could have also picked up a few tips as a judge on rival show Dancing On Ice, will be performing the Viennese Waltz with Pasha Kovalev.
Stacey Dooley
Stacey Dooley has one powerful motivation – she really does not want to be first to get the boot.
TWO DAYS……. pic.twitter.com/tY7W4d6r08
— Stacey Dooley (@StaceyDooley) September 20, 2018
“If I go out first, I’ll be so beside myself I’ll have to emigrate,” she told Radio Times.
A well-known face with younger viewers for her BBC Three documentaries, Dooley will be performing the Quickstep with dance partner Kevin Clifton.
Vick Hope
Despite being a lesser-known name when it was revealed she had joined the show, Hope is now a favourite to win.
The Capital FM DJ has been teamed up with one of the new dancers, heartthrob Graziano Di Prima, and the couple will be performing a Jive on the first week.
She has had some contemporary dance experience although not of the kind usually seen on Strictly – “pretending to be a rock”.
Joe Sugg
A YouTube star, Sugg is an unknown to many Strictly viewers, sparking more complaints about a lack of big names on the series.
But show bosses hope the 27-year-old will pull in a young audience.
You can't floss your way out of this one @Joe_Sugg… #Strictly is BACK in one day! 🕺🏻 pic.twitter.com/imr7duI8DG
— BBC Strictly✨ (@bbcstrictly) September 21, 2018
Sugg, who will be dancing a Jive with Dianne Buswell, previously told Radio 1 he will be wearing a Cuban heel.
“I’m not the tallest. So I’m going to really embrace that,” he said.