Strictly Come Dancing professionals line-up: Meet the 2024 dancers

While the celebrity pairings are yet to be announced, fans and dancers alike are excited nonetheless, with a new season right around the corner - even more so as the series celebrates its 20th anniversary!

As you count down the days until Strictly is back on screen, read on for everything you need to know about the professionals taking to the dance floor once more!

Strictly Come Dancing professionals line-up: Meet the 2024 dancers

Aljaž Škorjanec

Instagram: @aljazskorjanec

Twitter: @AljazSkorjanec

Won: Season 11 (Abbey Clancy)

Aljaž hasn't been in Strictly for five years after departing in 2019, but fans will be buzzing to learn he has returned!

The last time he was on our screens, he came eighth alongside Dragon's Den star Sara Davies.

On returning to the ballroom, Aljaž said he hoped to make his daughter "proud".

"I had an absolute ball during my nine-year stint on Strictly, during my time away I became a parent, which has been an exciting challenge in itself, and now I’m ready to experience the Strictly magic again.

"It feels so right to be coming back, I missed the fun, glitter and the judges of course, and I hope to make my daughter Lyra proud!”

Kai Widdrington

Instagram: @kaiwidd

Twitter: @Kaiwidd

Won: N/A

Kai is World Junior Latin American Champion 2010 and a former Dancing with the Stars Ireland professional. He has previously featured in group numbers and toured with a number of the current Strictly pros.

He was previously partnered with AJ Odudu, and was guaranteed a place in the finale in 2021 had she not sustained an injury. In 2022, Kai was paired with Kaye Adams and they were the first elimination of the series.

In 2023, Kai was paired with broadcaster Angela Rippon, and the pair were eliminated in seventh place.

Nikita Kuzmin

Instagram: @nikita__kuzmin

Won: N/A

Nikita joined Strictly from Germany's Let's Dance and is a six-time Latin and Ballroom National Champion in Italy.

He was partnered with Paralympic champion swimmer Ellie Simmonds in 2022, and they were the sixth couple to be eliminated.

Last year, he was partnered with actor Layton Williams in a same-sex pairing, and they finished in second place.

Jowita Przystał

Instagram: @jowitaprzystal

Won: Season 20 (Hamza Yassin)

Jowita, who won the BBC’s The Greatest Dancer in 2022, was the Polish Open Latin Champion in 2014.

After Jowita became reigning champion, alongside Hamza Yassin, in 2022 when they took home the Glitterball last year, there's no doubt she'll try and get it back in her grasp in 2024.

Though she wasn't so lucky last year as she and cyclist Jody Cundy placed 13th.

Amy Dowden

Twitter: @dowden_amy

Instagram: amy_dowden

Won: N/A

British national champion Amy Dowden grew up watching Strictly from her native Wales, finally achieving her dream of joining the show in 2017.

Amy Dowden wasn't part of the main line-up in 2023 following her breast cancer diagnosis. The Welsh dancer said at the time that doctors had found another type of cancer, and she was having chemotherapy.

Though she didn't compete, she did make an appearance on the programme when she danced in the opening number of the final.

She told Hello! Magazine about potential appearances: "I've been on the phone to the Strictly team today. They said they're getting me some fabulous wigs ready [for any appearances]. The team are being guided by me – they've been utterly amazing."

However, she's set to return to the show after having a mastectomy, chemotherapy and fertility treatment, and there "being no evidence of disease".

She said in an Instagram post in June: "I’m so happy and grateful to be back on @bbcstrictly MY HEART IS SO HAPPY,' she said. 'The best team on and off the dance floor.

"I can't wait to be back doing what I love most in the world, dancing! Feel blessed and more excited than EVER. Bring it on! Thank you @bbcstrcitly for your support always. Eeeeeekkk #amysback."

She has previously been partnered with celebrities such as EastEnders actor James Bye and McFly singer Tom Fletcher,

Dianne Buswell

Twitter: @dbuzz6589

Instagram: diannebuswell

Won: N/A

Australian Open Champion Dianne Buswell honed her skills on Strictly Come Dancing Down Under before joining the British edition in 2017. She was eliminated third with radio DJ Dev Griffin in 2019 but had better luck the year before when she reached the final with vlogger Joe Sugg.

Dianne and Joe have been dating ever since and even launched their joint YouTube channel, In The Pan.

In 2020, she was partnered with Max George, but they only made it to week four. Dianne was then forced to stop competing a little earlier than planned with her celeb partner Robert Webb, who had to withdraw in week four citing medical reasons.

She then competed with radio DJ Tyler West in 2021 before finding success again last year with Bobby Brazier when the pair came second. Will she strive for gold this time?

Gorka Márquez

Twitter: @gorkamarquez1

Instagram: gorka_marquez

Won: N/A

Spanish dancing sensation Gorka Márquez is back for another shot at the Glitterball trophy after coming runner-up with Alexandra Burke in 2017.

And while he hasn't won the competition, he did win the heart of contestant Gemma Atkinson – the two welcomed baby Mia in July 2019 and danced together in the 2019 Christmas Special that year. In July 2023, the couple welcomed their second child.

In 2020, Gorka made it all the way to the finals with EastEnders actress Maisie Smith – however, they just missed out on the Glitterball as Bill Bailey was crowned the 2020 winner. Gorka made it to the final with Helen Skelton in 2022, but missed out on the Glitterball once again.

In 2023, he placed much lower with radio presenter Nikita Kanda at 14th.

Johannes Radebe

Twitter: @jojo_radebe

Instagram: johannesradebe

Won: N/A

Two-time Professional South African Latin Champion Johannes Radebe reached the final of Strictly South Africa twice and joined the British edition in 2018. He was given his first celebrity partner Catherine Tyldesley in 2019 but was eliminated in week six.

In 2020, he was partnered with actress Caroline Quentin, but unfortunately, they only made it to week five in the competition. He did a lot better in 2021 when he was paired with runner-up John Whaite.

In 2022, he danced with comedian Ellie Taylor and they landed in seventh place, and then last year he danced with former tennis player Annabel Croft, and they came fourth.

Karen Hauer

Twitter: @karen_hauer

Instagram: karenhauer

Won: N/A

The longest-serving female professional on Strictly, Professional World Mambo Champion Karen Hauer has had memorable partnerships with celebrities such as Jeremy Vine, Mark Wright and Charles Venn.

She came tantalisingly close to the Glitterball trophy when she reached the final with Made in Chelsea star Jamie Laing in 2020. In 2022, she was partnered with Jayde Adams and they were the fourth pair to be voted off.

Last year, she and comedian and presenter Eddie Kadi were voted off in 12th place.

Katya Jones

Twitter: @Mrs_katjones

Instagram: mrs_katjones

Won: Season 15 (Joe McFadden)

World Professional Latin Showdance Champion Katya Jones has had many memorable moment on Strictly, from dancing to Gangnam Style with Ed Balls to winning with Joe McFadden in 2017.

Katya was part of the show's first-ever same-sex pairing in 2020 when she danced with boxer Nicola Adams.

She teamed up with Olympic champ Adam Peaty in 2021, but the pair only managed to come ninth.

In 2022 she placed ninth with footballer Tony Adams and last year fifth with actor Nigel Harman.

Luba Mushtuk

Twitter: @LubaMushtuk

Instagram: lubamushtuk

Won: N/A

Four-time winner of the Italian Dance Championship, Luba Mushtuk was an assistant choreographer on the show for several years before finally being given celebrity partner James Cracknell in 2019. Unfortunately, they were voted first.

She managed to get a little further in 2020 when she was partnered with Jason Bell, but only made it to week three. Luba didn't get a partner in 2021 or 2022.

Last year, however, she did have a partner. She danced with Waterloo Road and Emmerdale actor Adam Thomas and they placed ninth.

Nadiya Bychkova

Twitter: @NadiyaBychkova

Instagram: nadiyabychkova

Won: N/A

A two-time World Champion and European Champion in Ballroom and Latin '10' Dance, Ukrainian-born Nadiya Bychkova is back for her fifth year on the show. She has been partnered with Davood Ghadami, Lee Ryan and David James.

Nadiya performed well with Dan Walker, coming in a respectable fifth place in 2021. In 2022, Nadia was partnered with Matt Goss, but they became the third pair to be eliminated.

The dancer didn't have a celebrity partner last year.

Nancy Xu

Twitter: @Nancy_xuxi

Instagram: nancy_xuxi

Won: N/A

A new addition in 2019, Nancy Xu performed in the group numbers and was partnered with EastEnders actor Rudolph Walker in the Children in Need Special.

Xu was a finalist in So You Think You Can Dance in her home country of China, and was a finalist in the U21 World Championships in 2010. The pro dancer teamed up with Rhys Stephenson in 2021 and came in fourth.

In 2023, she and comedian and actor Les Dennis were first to be eliminated.

Neil Jones

Twitter: @Mr_NJones

Instagram: mr_njonesofficial

Won: N/A

World Professional Latin Showdance Champion Neil Jones has won 45 titles around the world during his competitive career, though is yet to claim that of Strictly Come Dancing champion.

After acting as a stand-in for several years, Neil got a celebrity partner in 2019 and reached the fifth place with professional footballer Alex Scott. He wasn't given a celeb partner in 2020, but teamed up with Nina Wadia in 2021 – the pair were eliminated first, unfortunately.

In 2022 and 2023, Neil didn't have a professional partner, so here's to hoping he gets one this year.

Carlos Gu

Instagram: @gkx_carlos

Won: N/A

Carlos Gu is a Chinese National Champion with a number of dance accolades under his belt. Gu was the Amateur Latin Rising Star Runner Up at the 2017 UK Open and came in third place at the German Open Championships.

Carlos made his Strictly debut in 2022 alongside Molly Rainford. The pair were the runners-up behind winners Hamza Yassin and Jowita Przystał, while in 2023 he was partnered with Irish TV presenter Angela Scanlon.

Lauren Oakley

Instagram: @laurenmayoakley

Twitter: @laurenmayoakley

Won: N/A

Lauren Oakley started dancing when she was just two years old and soon enough she began competing. Some of Lauren's successes include Under-21 British National Champion and Juvenile Champion at the Blackpool Dance Festival, winning across both ballroom and Latin disciplines.

Lauren joined Strictly in 2022 but did not have a celebrity partner. Last year, she was partnered with journalist Krishnan Guru-Murthy. The pair were eliminated in eighth place.

Michelle Tsiakkas

Instagram: @michelle_tsiak

Won: N/A

Latin dance champion Michelle Tsiakkas began dancing at the age of six in her home country of Cyprus. It was in Cyprus where she became an undefeated champion, winning titles consecutively from 2001 to 2011 before moving to London.

She has yet to have a celebrity partner.

Vito Coppola

Instagram: @vitocoppola

Won: Season 21 (Ellie Leach)

Vito Coppola is an 11-time Italian Latin American Champion who has been dancing since he was six years old. Just some of Vito's accolades include being a three-time World Champion finalist and European Cup Winner.

In 2022, Vito was partnered with singer and radio host Fleur East, meanwhile in 2023 he lifted the glitterball trophy with Coronation Street actress Ellie Leach.

After their win during the final, Vito said: "I mean this is like the cherry on the cake.

"You have been so amazing, you are Strictly, you represent Strictly. You are finally, you know, the diamond I was talking (about)."

Strictly Come Dancing 2024 starts Saturday 14th September on BBC One and iPlayer.

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