Launch Show Strictly Come Dancing

It's a good line-up. Really interesting line-up. It is a belter.

A new line-up is announced. I am so excited! So this is Strictly. Wow!

Sparkle! Bigger, better, more. Classy, classy. There's so many

stars. Not even Russell Grant can keep up. I have played before

50,000 people before, this is ridiculous. Reality is kicking in!

What am I doing? That is Jason Donovan! I had a poster of him.

Sta-r-r-t-t dancing! Nice to see you... Nice to see you... Nice to

see you... Nice! You know Rory Bremner is coming? I just want to

dance. Ladies and gentlemen, this is Strictly Come Dancing: The

Launch Show. Please welcome our MUSIC: "Born This Way"

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 126 seconds

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE Please welcome your hosts, Sir

How about that. What a crowd. Thank you, thank you. Oh. Please, please.

Good evening, ladies and gentlemen and children, welcome to Strictly

Come Dancing: The Launch Show. It is nice to see you, to see you...

Nice! First thing is first, congratulations on the knighthood.

CHEERING Thank you. Thank you so much. I wasn't going to mention it.

LAUGHTER But everyone has been so kind, even the head of BBC came up

to me today and congratulated me. That was nice. Yes. He said he was

so pleased that I had finally been recognised along with my

contemporaries - the people I grew up with. I said, you mean Sir

Michael Caine? He said, no people like Sir Lancelot. What are you

laughing at? I have grown up with Sir Lancelot - and I would be 900

years old. LAUGHTER That's not funny! Wait a minute - how about

Sir Dancelot? APPLAUSE He's off! Save yourself. I used to be able to

do that! Save yourself. All right. Tonight, we meet our brand-new

celebrities and pair them up right here with their professional

partners. Yes! I can't wait. They are desperate to find out. We have

got plenty of stunning dance routines from our professionals,

but they are not the only ones who will be dancing. At the end of the

show, our celebrities will take to the floor while the rest of us take

cover! Yes. LAUGHTER He is right. 14 novice dancers creating mayhem!

We will be joined by the queen of country, Dolly Parton. What a

night! APPLAUSE This is Strictly Come Dancing 2011, in case you are

counting! Now, of course, it is time to meet the stars of our show.

Stage and screen superstar, Jason Donovan. Waterloo Road straight-

talking starlet, Chelsee Healey. Comedian and impressionist, Rory

Bremner. Singing legend, Lulu. Olympic gold medallist boxer,

Audley Harrison. Former MP and novelist, Edwina Currie. Boyband

McFly's Harry Judd. The One Show's Alex Jones. Astrologer to the stars,

Russell Grant. Actress and pop princess, Holly Valance.

presenter, Dan Lobb. Leading lady and queen of the soaps, Anita

Dobson. Premiership football's Robbie Savage. Finally, Italian

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE What about that lot! Look at them.

Oh! You look marvellous. Don't they just? Thank you for being here. All

I can say is you don't have to be an astrologer to see where the

laughs are going to be this year! LAUGHTER I won't... I won't mention

any names, just follow my eyes! LAUGHTER We haven't worked together

for 40 years. A long time. And they are all about to meet their

professional dance partners very soon. Then they have three weeks'

training starting on Monday getting ready for the first live shows.

Tonight, there is no phone votes, just lots of lovely match-making.

Wooh! Let's say hello to the judges who I haven't seen for eight months.

Bruno, it's been too long. Thank you. Alesha, it's been FAR too long.

Len, it's been WAY too long! Craig, it hasn't been long enough! I

tried... Another couple of months. A year would have been lovely!

Let's get down to it. Len, you are our Head Judge. What are your first

impressions of this bunch of people? I am so excited. I tell you

this, it takes a lot to get me going at my age! This has really

got my juices flowing. I think it is without doubt the best group we

have ever had. APPLAUSE I really do. We have Audley Harrison there, a

gold medallist and this is truly a golden group and I'm so excited.

That is wonderful. We all are! APPLAUSE Alesha, you look beautiful.

What do you think is going through their minds right now? Scared.

Nervous. When you come on the show you want to get the first dance out

of the way and get on with it. You do all look incredible. I wish you

the best of luck. Good luck. They do. APPLAUSE Thank you. Bruno, you

look beautiful, too. Thank you very much, Bruce. So are you! It is all

love tonight. What are you looking for about the match-making? I tell

you, this is the most tasty pick- and-mix I have ever seen. It's got

endless possibility of wild romances, bitter rivalries and lots

of fun! Have fun, guys. Make it a great show! CHEERING Bruno, how we

have missed you! Craig, given the choice, who would you like to be

paired with? They would have to be tall because I'm 6ft 2in and fit,

so Dan! He is tall. APPLAUSE He is definitely fit. I wouldn't mind

chucking Harry about, too! I like the chaos and madness of Nancy!

don't mince your words. Just my walk! LAUGHTER I was feeding you

the line! Thank you, darling. let the ballroom match-making begin.

Let's find out more about our first three male celebrities - Robbie

McFly's Harry Judd has drummed up plenty of success - seven number

ones, a BRIT award and a place in pop history. We are the youngest

band to debut at number one. The bands are very supportive. I have

had a bit of experience with Strictly. I did Strictly Come

Dancing Children In Need Special. I'm glad it is over. I am meant to

have rhythm, which I do, for drumming. For dancing, we will see.

He is a sports reporter and presenter, but is Dan Lobb about to

make his own headlines on the Strictly dancefloor? I did have a

dream - breaking news, Lobb wins Strictly. It was a dream. There

have been a couple of opportunities for me to show what I've got. I

danced with Diversity. Hit it! I showed them the running man! A

couple of other moves, including a new one. There's your shopping

trolley. Going along and picking things off. I'm not in the right

frame of mind to do it properly. The thing that scares me the most

is the dancing. I am starting to sweat up now. This is just the

interview stage! Is it too late to pull out? Bad boy of football,

Robbie Savage has turned football pundit. Footballers get a bad name

because of people like you. Will he turn savage on the dancefloor?

goodness me. I'm the most booked player of all time. People call me

the Marmite man, I'm loved or hated. My hair and my teeth are the two

most important things in my life. I'm going to train that hard

whoever my partner is I want to move her in. It will be from 8.00

in the morning till 8.00 at night. My wife might not be too happy! It

would be great for me having two beautiful women in the house.

then, I'm standing here with Robbie Savage. Now when I told Len one of

the celebrities was a feisty- looking blonde with long hair, he

was thrilled. How do you feel now? I'm a bit disappointed. I thought

you would be. Anyway, Robbie Savage, you will be tackling your dances

with... Ola Jordan. Oh look at this! Oh I say! APPLAUSE Who's a

lucky boy! Who's a lucky girl! at her. My husband will be so

jealous. Look into those eyes. Good luck the pair of you. A lovely

start. CHEERING There you are. Off they go. Come on. Very good. Now,

let's welcome Dan Lobb. Now, Dan, we have had many, many disasters

with celebrities from GMTV. LAUGHTER I mean, haven't they? But

you are from Daybreak so you have got more of a chance of winning.

Good luck. Thanks very much. It is time to reveal your Strictly

partner. Katya Virshilas. Oh! is like being on a date! What did

he say? This is like Blind Date! Isn't she gorgeous? Absolutely.

have struck oil there! I wasn't digging! You will! She will make

you dig a bit. Off you go the pair of you. Lovely. What a nice couple.

APPLAUSE Welcome now, Harry Judd. The

drummer from McFly. I would like to remind you, last year Alesha had a

hit single with a song called I Need A Drummer Boy. Just a tip.

LAUGHTER If she invites you to her room, be careful. I know only too

well! Anyway, Harry, your partner will be Aliona Vilani. APPLAUSE

Lovely. Just a minute, would you like another hug? Another hug.

She's such a great dancer. She will teach you things you never knew you

could do! LAUGHTER I hope! Anyway, off you go and good luck to you

both. Thank you for being with us. Over to you, Tess.

Yes, so Strictly 2011 has properly kicked off. Are you happy with your

partners? Yes. Feeling good? Very. Robbie and Ola, Premiership and ex-

Strictly champ. Look at that gorgeous hair and fake tan. Robbie

you look fantastic! You are all feeling good. Let's hope the judges

are as happy as you lot are. What did you make of our first three

couples? All of our pros and the celebrities... These all should be

very, very happy. I think they have got paired up beautifully. With

Robbie, he was an aggressive full- on footballer. If he can bring that

sort of attitude on to the ballroom floor, he will be great. Dan, hunky,

dunky doughnut... And then we have Harry, great drummer, must have

plenty of rhythm. Those pros should be happy with who they have got.

all have our fantasies! Tell me about it! She's mine! Over to you,

Tess. Thank you. With a new Strictly

comes a new dancer. The first day of a new job can be nerve-wracking.

The Strictly girls make a warm welcoming party. Forget the warm,

they are hot! Ladies and gentlemen, please give it up for the new boy

on the Strictly block, Pasha APPLAUSE

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 126 seconds

MUSIC: "Ain't No Other Man" CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

Yes! What about that! Something tells me Pasha will be pretty

popular. I can think of three ladies who might like to be paired

up with him - Anita Dobson, Chelsee Healey and Lulu. You are truly a

legend when one noise gives you away. I started working in the

business when I was 15. Now I'm 62. My first record was a hit called

Shout. I worked with The Beatles and the Rolling Stones. I have

worked with Elton John. I have worked with Take That in the '90s.

So many things happened in my life, I don't remember them half the time.

Well, you can see I have a few moves. I'm not a dancer! I need to

train hard. Oh no, help me! Waterloo Road's bubbly babe Chelsee

Healey will be hoping to be top of the class. She went through every

year in school until she left and now she's back as a secretary.

you have that when I interviewed you? I sort of popped out over the

summer. Being able to get dressed up, that is probably one of the

most things I am looking forward to. It's a bit of a treat to be paired

up with a hunky dancer. I am single so a bit of eye candy would be

nice! I am a good girl. Queen of the soaps and rock star husband,

but can Anita Dobson claim the Strictly Crown? People best know me

for playing Angie Watts in EastEnders. The episode that

everybody talks about - the divorce papers. It was an iconic moment.

This, my sweet, is a letter from my solicitor. I'm married to Brian May,

the lead guitarist with Queen. Which, even as I say it, still

amazes me. When I told Brian that I was going to accept the offer to do

Strictly, he was, he went pale. He said, "I will support you 100%. It

is something you have always wanted to do." Here I am. APPLAUSE She's

here. She's here. Please welcome, Anita Dobson, ladies and gentlemen.

APPLAUSE Lovely to have you on the show. Thank you for joining us. You

said to me, "I can't believe I'm here." I'm in denial. You are about

to meet your partner. You are a leading lady in the West End. What

do you look for in a leading man? need somebody who is going to teach

me, be gentle, encourage me. LAUGHTER And a bit easy on the eye

would be good! That always helps. Time to reveal your Strictly

partner. Never mind Dirty Den, the man you will be dirty dancing with

is Robin Windsor. APPLAUSE Brilliant. Swept you off your feet

already! It is like royalty - the House of Windsor meets the Queen

Vic. Are you happy? I am so happy. Thank you. Thank you. This will be

amazing. Promises, promises. Go and get acquainted. Anita and Robin.

APPLAUSE Welcome to the show, Chelsee Healey. Chelsee, you are

extra excited about being paired up tonight. A little. Why is that?

Because I'm single and - no, no - I'm ready to mingle! She is single

and ready to mingle! The man you will be getting close to on the

dancefloor is Pasha Kovalev. APPLAUSE

Oh, look at that. Happy days! is ready to migle. She is off. Off

you go, don't mind us. Off you go. APPLAUSE Chelsee and Pasha. Ladies

and gentlemen, let's hear it for Lulu.

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE Great to have you with us. So great to be here.

You said you were nervous earlier. I am. You have performed with Take

That and The Beatles. Who do you fancy performing with out of this

lot? They are all so brilliant. Look at him making eyes at me. What

is he like?! Lulu, time to reveal your Strictly partner. The man you

will want to shout about is Brendan Come on.

APPLAUSE Lulu and Brendan, off you go! They

are off! Come on, on the cheek! Bruno, what are you making of these

couples? Can you feel the heat? am melting! The characters are

brilliant. You have Anita, the first and best queen of Albert

Square. Then you have Chelsee, the hot crumpet. In Pasha, the sizzling

Siberian, they could go all the way. They do. Lulu and Brendan, more

explosive than nitro! Bruce. dear. Something has started there.

Now, later tonight, our celebrities will be taking to the floor for the

first time in a special group performance. Let's have a look at

how they got on in their first-ever Today is the first day of group

dance rehearsal. Hey! The celebs are about to learn a dance routine.

Oh my God! Wow! I'm so nervous. This is like the first day of

school. They will have the shock of their lives. A five, six, seven,

go! I'm hot and bothered already. I have only been here five minutes.

In one corner you have Jason Donovan. In the other, you have

Holly Valance. It is almost like having a really weird dream.

thought it would be much easier. It is not that easy. It's so fast.

like in the central reservation of a motorway. Are we half-way through

yet? No! I'm sweating me head off! Who do you think you will be paired

with? There's four babes. It is like speed-dating. Harry is cute.

He will do anything that I would say to him! Flirting? Is there

flirting? I love watching you. is great being in a room of dancers

who are fit! Sorry, love. I like sweaty men. That will be the one

line you use. When Audley walked in, your eyes go up-and-up - I hope he

doesn't fall on me, or maybe I do! Look at the size of the man! There

is a lot of banter going on. Did you have a left foot when you

played for Derby? Oh! That's a yellow card, Robbie. One more and

you will get a red card! The one person who doesn't take a minute's

break is Jason. You can see how much he is practising. It is

brilliant. There's a catchphrase I have which is fail to prepare,

prepare to fail! It is that simple. I have nailed it! Doing it in a

room like this is one thing. Doing it in a studio is a completely

different kettle of fish. It will be a miracle, frankly, if we get to

the end without any hitches. That is all there is to it! APPLAUSE

who is now asking themselves what have I let myself in for? Show of

hands. Surreal indeed! What is going to happen when Lulu and

Brendan get into a training room? Brilliant. He swept you off your

feet! Jason, you have done the rehearsals. Any first night nerves?

We are all feeling apprehensive. You want to get on and do it and

have some fun. Russell, any regrets? No, I have returned to

theatre. I have lost ten stone in weight and I have come on this...

Brilliant. To do my thing and to lose a bit more weight and get fit!

Wait till we finish with you! saw you in action - very good.

Robbie, I hope you are wearing shin pads in the group dance. I need

them. I'm nervous. Everyone else will need the shin pads! I can't

wait to see you altogether on the dancefloor for the very first time.

What awaits us? Ballroom heaven or ballroom hell? We will soon find

out. Bruce? Thanks, Tess. Lovely. Now, she interrupted her World Tour

for us. Ladies and gentlemen, with Together You And I, a song from her

new album, please give a Strictly welcome to the wonderful, Dolly

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE # Oooh Oooh # Oooooh Oh

# My love for you is deeper # Than the depths of any ocean

# And as faithful as the stars that grace the night

# As constant as the sun making # Its journey through the heavens

# And we'll always be together you and I

# Together you and I can stop the rain and make the sun shine

# Paint a pretty rainbow brushed with love across the sky

# Together you and I belong # Like a songbird and a song

# And we'll always be together you and I

# Life with you is sweeter than the fragrance of the flowers

# And as happy as the laughter of a child

# As peaceful as a river and as lasting as forever

# You know we'll always be together you and I

# Together you and I can stop the rain and make the sunshine

# Paint a pretty rainbow brushed with love across the sky

# Together you and I belong like a songbird and a song

# And we'll always be together you and I

# I'll always be beside or close behind you

# Wherever you go you'll always know I'll always find you

# Together you and I can stop the rain and make the sunshine

# Paint a pretty rainbow brushed with love across the sky

# Together you and I belong like a songbird and a song

# And we'll always be together you and I

# We'll always be together you and # Forever together

# Together forever # You and I

# (Together you and I) # Forever together

# Together forever you and I will always be

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE Thank you so much!

Dolly Parton! Brilliant. And now we are about to find out about four

more celebrities, all of them desperate to meet their dancing

partners. Jason Donovan, Rory Bremner, Audley Harrison and

Russell Grant. # There's a star man... #

Russell Grant has become astrology's biggest star. It was

the first astrologer to be publicly introduced to a member of the Royal

Family and do a reading for them. Then I got a call and they said

would I be a presenter on BBC Breakfast? Morning. Nice to see you

all. I became very well-known for wearing gay colourful jumpers. Oh

no! Look at me. I look like Leo Sayer! This is so me! I'm so not

going to have this... No, I'm not doing that. My ideal dance partner

would be Pisces. They would bring the best out of me and I would

bring the best out of them. I would do their stars, for free! Olympic

boxing gold medallist, Audley Harrison hopes his feet are as

light on the dancefloor as they are in the ring. People know me from

the Sydney Olympics, becoming the first British boxer to win a gold

medal in 32 years. The gold medal is Audley Harrison's. You have to

get into that mean mode and be serious and I'm not that way. I

know the judges don't want this face! They want this face. Both my

parents are from the Caribbean. I have natural rhythm. Being 6ft 6in

and having size 17 feet, I could be a liability. It could be

interesting having my dance partner who will be far smaller than me.

Judges, I'm coming for you so be nice! Always keen to make a good

impression, Rory Bremner is the king of political satire. I started

out with Roger Moore. He gave me something to cure this. John Major,

I'm looking forward to seeing Edwina. She did the boss a favour!

Then Tony Blair. It is all Gordon's fault. I'm looking forward to

perfecting Bruno, Len and Craig. Brucie, I have known forever. Nice

to meet you, to meet you nice. I haven't been following the show,

but once I have got the skates on, I should be OK. That is right,

isn't it? '80s heart-throb Jason Donovan.

Four UK number ones, 13 million albums sold and everyone's

favourite neighbour. # Neighbours... #

Neighbours was a life-changing moment for me. The wedding is

interesting. It's become this iconic moment. I think what people

are fascinated in is the chemistry between Kylie and myself. My

singing career began as an extension of my television career.

# Too many broken hearts in the world. #

# Too many dreams can be broken in two. #

Thank you very much. Dancing is foreign to me. Henceforth comes the

guitar. Do you know what I mean? But this might be my chance to

prove them wrong. APPLAUSE I'm here with Jason Donovan. You are a

fantastic singer. I have always loved you. Thank you. And you have

always been a lady's man? comment. We are going to get on

well. We have so much in common. Anyway, Jason, the dancer we have

chosen for you, especially for you - that was your big hit! A lot of

trouble has gone into this. Especially for you is Kristina

Rihanoff. Oh! APPLAUSE I think she is excited! I think she is happy.

You better get her off the floor quick. Off you go, the pair of you.

What a couple! There they are. APPLAUSE Beautiful. Thank you for

doing the show, Rory. What a pleasure to have you here. Before

we find out who you are with, who are you going to be? I'm having

trouble being myself. I wish I could be you. I can't do it as me,

I could do it as you. You are still got it! APPLAUSE I would like to

borrow some for the next few weeks. I don't talk like that. I really

don't talk like that, any more! The dancer you will be hoping to make a

good impression with - oh, good impression - is Erin Boag. APPLAUSE

You have got a tough one there! You have got a good one. Are you

pleased? Very pleased. I wanted him! Look him in the eyes. Try a

little twirl. That's it. That's all right. Not too much! Don't give

anything away. Off you go. Every picture tells a story. What a pity

you are not dancing together! Is it too late?! Welcome, come down here,

Audley. APPLAUSE Cor blimey. None of that with me. You can have

anyone you like! Any partner is yours. Really? I'm not going to

argue. There's only two left. Look at them. I know. A couple of

darlings. The lovely girl you will be sparring with - sparring with -

is I think we have an idea! Natalie Lowe. Yes! APPLAUSE There we are.

Give him another hug. What a man! I'm so happy. What are you up to?

How do you know you are with him?! Come here the pair of you. Come

here. Heel! I thought it was a Jack Russell! How short are you? I was

once the mayor of the munchkins! All of you go and get ready for the

group dance. Leave in an AUDERLY fashion! Craig, you have your

pensive look. Are you feeling the chemistry between those four

couples? Not entirely. I think I would give three ticks to Jason and

Kristina, just for the obvious bounce action. Two ticks to Rory

and Erin. Audley and Natalie's pairing is rather obvious because

of the height issue. I'm going to miss the Argentine tango from

Flavia, darling, with that little pairing. You never know. We haven't

seen him dance. Give him a chance! He is very quick on his feet. A

landlady told me that! LAUGHTER Anyway, over to you, Tess. Thank

you, Bruce. Now, later on in the show, our star also be taking their

first tentative steps on this very dancefloor -- our stars will be

taking their first tentative steps on this very dancefloor in the

group routine. I think you are going to like this. Please welcome

our professional dancers. APPLAUSE MUSIC: "Sweet Child O' Mine"

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 126 seconds

As usual, great choreography and presentation by our professional

dancers. There are more ballroom matches to be made - Alex Jones and

Edwina Currie. Former Conservative MP turned author and broadcaster,

Edwina Currie. She will be hoping more than most not to end up with

egg on her face! My connection with eggs is that by the autumn of 1988

we had a problem with food poisoning. My job, as Minister of

Public Health was to try and warn the public. My colleague said, "No,

we don't have a problem." One of us had to go. I have been known as

Eggwina. There are no skeletons in my cupboard! I have always been

outspoken. If I don't like what my partner is doing, I will say so. If

he shouts at me - I have been shouted at by Margaret Thatcher.

I'm looking forward to the make-up. Want to turn me into something

gorgeous, go ahead! Best-known for chatting on a sofa, it is time for

Alex Jones to stand up and let her feet do the talking. SHE SPEAKS IN

WELSH Welcome to your Friday One Show... Matt Baker came second last

year. When the phone call came, he was like, you've got to do it!

Everybody in the office is now saying, "You have to do better than

Matt." That means winning it. I have already held the trophy once.

This is the one you want to win! it is not. I did nearly drop it.

Now, Alex and Edwina, it looks like a win-win situation - four men and

two of you. Don't be greedy. You are not going to have two each!

Shame. Shall we make things easier? James and Artem, step forward.

Vincent and Anton, take a step backwards. You won't find out who

your partners are until the next round. Now, Alex, it is time to

reveal your Strictly partner. The one you will be putting on a show

with is James Jordan. APPLAUSE are happy. Over here, James. Very

happy. APPLAUSE Edwina! Hold on. Hold on a minute. Dear me. She is

chomping at the bit! Edwina, stay where you are. Artem, you stay

where you are. You will find out who your partner is shortly. Good

luck to him! We have made 11 brand- new ballroom couples, so let's find

out about Holly Valance and Nancy Dell'olio. Delightful, Nancy

Dell'olio is the glamorous Italian lawyer and Former First Lady of

football. The interest with me started ten years ago because of my

ex-partner. We were a glamorous and unusual couple. I have taken on the

role of the most famous Italian in the UK. How would I describe

myself? Someone to spend time with. Dancing is glamorous. Expect that

it will suit me. I do hope I will not be a nightmare. It probably

will happen. I do hope for the best. Pop princess, pin-up and Hollywood

star, Holly Valance's scorching career took off playing Flick in

Neighbours. I still rock that uniform! I I didn't think I would

squeeze into it any more. I had a number one hit with Kiss Kiss! Then

I moved to Los Angeles and I was in such shows as CSI: New York, Prison

Break. The only thing I regret by sexy polls is that I'm not ranking

higher any more. What happened, UK? Where's the love? APPLAUSE Three

celebrities and three dancers remain. Who is dancing with who?

Holly Valance, if my name was in this envelope, what would you say?

I'm a lucky girl! Really? I didn't expect that! Make a note of that.

Likes older men! OK. We will see. Who will your partner be? Artem

Chigvintsev. What about that! Who's a lucky boy?! APPLAUSE By the way,

Holly, if you feel two holes burning at the back of your head,

it's Kara Tointon! Be careful. APPLAUSE Off you go. Welcome, Nancy.

Nancy cast your eyes over here. What a choice. You can't lose.

Italian stallion or English gent. Nancy Dell'olio, your partner will

be Anton Du Beke. What a pairing! Anton, come back here a minute. For

goodness sake - you can't have them all, dear! You can't have everyone!

Vincent, go and get her! I want you to run!

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE Bella, bella! Edwina, are you happy? Yes.

does she know? You can't demand a recount! I can pick him up at

least! Another happy couple. What a match! A match to be reckoned with.

Did you see it coming? In that frock, from quite a way! You have

been dreaming about this. You knew that? Has he told you? I heard.

Don't eat any cheese before you go to bed! Many, many years he's been

dreaming. Off you all go. Thank you very much. Thank you very much.

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE What is going to happen? So that is that. Who is

going to be the belle of the ballroom and who is going to be the

Latin letdown. Judges, starting with you Len. Any stand-out

pairing? I tell you what, I think the pairings are fantastic. It is

so - what I love is it's intriguing, the anticipation, who is going to

come out and who is going to do well. When you think three weeks

from tonight they will be live dancing on this very floor. It's so

exciting. We will see the improvement as the weeks go on.

Hopefully. Alesha, what awaiting them? Pain and hard work. They need

to focus because they will learn all their basic Latin and ballroom

steps. If they work hard and put the time in, it will serve them

well later on. Once it starts, they will only have a week to turn

around a routine so they should enjoy this period. Some bonding,

too. Get to know each other quickly. People don't realise how much hard

work goes in. Bruno, who is your outside tip? It's got to be Russell

Grant! LAUGHTER I'm telling you, he's got the potential of taking

off like the spinning TARDIS! And taking us all into a new dimension

of dance, or dementia! He will be entertaining. He will be. Craig,

any early names on your hit-list? Two names? Russell and Flavia and

Lulu and Brendan. Not probably on the dancefloor, but backstage we

might see some tiaras and tantrums! Thank you very much. Now it is the

moment you have been waiting for and the moment our celebrities

could wait a bit longer for. It's the group dance. Yes, this is...

This is the very first time our celebrities will take to the floor.

They have only had a couple of practice sessions and at the time

they didn't know who they would be paired with tonight. Please welcome

the cast of Strictly Come Dancing CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 126 seconds

MUSIC: "Can You Feel It" CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

What about it?! Oh, well... Can you feel it?! All I can say, that

looked like a badly-organised wedding! LAUGHTER It really did.

Anyway, on paper, this looks like the best series yet. APPLAUSE

well be. On the dancefloor, who knows! LAUGHTER We will find out in

just three weeks when they come back here to perform live in front

of the whole nation. That is on Friday 30th September. There is

plenty to satisfy your Strictly cravings at bbc.co.uk/strictly.

Remember, we will be back in three weeks with a weekend of Strictly on