Strictly season has officially started. We've waited on tenterhooks for weeks while the new Strictly Come Dancing celebrities were revealed, famous face by famous face, and now they are all but ready to start competing for the most elegant footwork and polished smiles on the dancefloor.

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The launch episode, which saw returning champ Caroline Flack perform her final dance and the newbies perform their first ever group number, introduced each of the eager-eyed celebrities to their professional partners, leaving them with just three weeks of training between them and their first live dances.

Aliona Vilani was beyond excited to be paired up with The Wanted's incredibly nervous Jay McGuiness, while Anton du Beke could barely contain himself after being given Proms presenter Katie Derham (and with her a shot at that glitterball trophy.)

Jeremy Vine said he was "chuffed" to have been paired with newly-wed Karen Clifton while Olympic boxer Anthony Ogogo reckons he's "going to have a lot of fun" with newcomer Oti.

An excited Iwan Thomas began training immediately, picking up his shocked parter Ola Jordan for a spin when their pairing was announced, while Jamelia was left grinning from ear to ear after being matched up with Tristan McManus, who she revealed was top of her wish list...

Here's the full list of performing pairs:

Helen George and Aljaz Skorjanec

Jamelia and Tristan McManus

Katie Derham and Anton Du Beke

Kirsty Gallacher and Brendan Cole

Carol Kirkwood and Pasha Kovalev

Kellie Bright and Kevin Clifton

Jay McGuiness and Aliona Vilani

Ainsley Harriott and Natalie Lowe

Jeremy Vine and Karen Clifton

Daniel O'Donnell and Kristina Rihanoff

Peter Andre and Janette Manrara

Iwan Thomas and Ola Jordan

Georgia May Foote and Gionvanni Pernice

Anthony Ogogo and Oti Mabuse

Anita Rani and Gleb Savchenko

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Strictly Come Dancing returns to BBC1 later this month


For more news, articles and interviews from Strictly Come Dancing 2015

17 things Strictly Come Dancing wouldn't be the same without

Who is confirmed for Strictly Come Dancing 2015?


Robin Windsor, Alex Jones and Sir Bruce Forsyth will be at the Radio Times Festival this September.

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