It's Strictly SPECTACULAR!

Strictly Come Dancing is back for its 20th series! We take a look at the new faces and bid a fond farewell to old favourites

- MITYA UNDERWOOD

Put On Your Dancing Shoes!

We think the Strictly W producers have hit it out of the park with this year's contestants. There's a good mix of young and old, men and women, and some wonderfully familiar faces. Bookies have already picked their favourites with former X Factor singer Fleur East at number one, followed by one of the most like-able actresses and presenters on television at the moment, Kym Marsh.

The 46-year-old Morning Live presenter has revealed that her foray onto the dancefloor has been a long time coming.

"I've considered doing Strictly for years but the timings never worked out. I'm so delighted that this year they have! I'm a huge fan of the show and can't believe I'm going to go from watching at home in my pyjamas to actually dancing in front of the judges in a glittery dress, it's unreal!"

Kym joined Coronation Street in 2006, playing barmaid Michelle Connor for more than a decade, departing the show in 2019, saying it was the "right time for me to take a break and explore some other roles".

With her background in music (Kym was in the band Hear'Say after winning the ITV show Popstars in 2001) we have high hopes for her!

Other very familiar faces joining Kym this year include Loose Women's Kaye Adams, who is turning 60 at the end of the year.

"I said I wanted to make the last year of my fifties memorable," she says, "and I can't think of a better way of doing it than showing the world my two left feet. Pray for me!"