Strictly Come Dancing 2015: Everything You Need To Know About The Contestants As Official Photos Are Released

After waiting for what’s felt like approximately 50 years, the start date for this year’s Strictly Come Dancing is ALMOST upon us, and to quench our excitement just a little bit more, the very first official, sparkly, glamorous photos of the celebs have arrived.

Coincedentally, it’s around this time that we take our annual trek to buy ourselves a sparkly pair of heels and a cheap fake tan so that we can pretend we’re in the show.

ANYWHO. With some fancy new photos, here’s everything you need to know about this year’s contestants.

Ainsley Harriott, 58

Famous for: Being a celebrity chef extraordinaire.

He says: “I certainly love a boogie and once the music starts I’m usually one of the first out there on the dance floor. Although I haven’t had any formal dance training, and something tells me I’m really going to notice the difference.

“I’d rather have fun and lose than simply win for the sake of winning.”

Anita Rani, 37

Famous for: Presenting a variety of TV shows, including Countryfile.

She says: “I’d like to impress all the judges – they are all terrifying! My only dancing skills are the ones I think I have in a club or at a wedding when I’ve had a few drinks.

“I’m certainly not competitive with the other people. I just want to go for it and learn and see how far I can get in the competition.”

Anthony Ogogo, 26

Famous for: He’s an Oympic boxer who won bronze in the 2012 London games.

He says: “I’m the most competitive person in the world.

“My dancing experience is zilch so when I’m watching Peter Andre in rehearsals, I feel like a stiff ironing board and he looks sexy, smooth and is wiggling his hips. Even when we put on our outfits he looked so cool and like a Spanish bull fighter, and I stood there in my little baby blue number feeling very awkward.”

Carol Kirkwood, 53

Famous for: Presenting the weather on the BBC.

She says: “I’m not the fittest person you’ll ever meet so I don’t fancy my chances but I’m going to give it everything I have. I have no dance skills whatsoever.

“I want someone strong because I don’t want to flatten them and ruin their career after the first week. I also need somebody who is patient and will recognise that I don’t know my right and my left because that’s a big concern for me.”

Daniel O’Donnell, 53

Famous for: Selling over ten million records as an Irish singer and entertainer.

He says: “I could have the whole of Ireland come down and support me! The biggest challenge will be remembering the steps. When I dance on stage during my shows, I am never on the same spot two nights in a row so I obviously have to be a little bit more choreographed for Strictly and remember to be at the right place at the right time.

“I want to go as far in the competition as I’m good enough to go.”

Georgia May Foote, 24

Famous for: Being a fab actress. Best known for playing Katy Armstrong in Coronation Street before leaving earlier this year.

She says: “I used to dance when I was younger. It was massively different to ballroom and the technical dancing on Strictly is going to be quite difficult.

“I have done such a long stint on Coronation Street that it’s nice to do something completely different and I absolutely love a challenge so that is why I want to take part in Strictly this year.”

Helen George, 31

Famous for: Playing Nurse Trixie Franklin in Call The Midwife.

She says: “We did learn a bit of swing dancing on Call the Midwife which was fun. I did ballet when I was younger but it is so different from the ballroom and Latin dances.

“When I did do ballet years ago, Darcey Bussell was my hero. Firstly I can’t even believe that I’m going to be meeting Darcey Bussell, let alone dancing in front of her! I had posters of her up on my wall so it’s going to be completely intimidating.”

Iwan Thomas, 41

Famous for: Iwan is an Olympic athlete who won Olympic silver for Team GB in the 400m relay in Atlanta in 1996. He’s now a sports commentator.

He says: “I’ve always watched Strictly but I honestly can’t dance!

“I am mega competitive but I’m playing it down as I truly can’t dance. I did Celebrity MasterChef a few years ago and ended up runner-up purely as I hate not being the best.”

Jamelia, 34

Famous for: Being a singer and a Loose Women panellist.

She says: “My biggest challenge I think is going to be learning the routines.

“The experience I have is working with a choreographer for my pop videos, but what any other pop artist will tell you, it’s a lot of smoke and mirrors. I wouldn’t rate myself highly, I am not the most confident of dancers but I love dancing and if dancing in my kitchen counts I’m very, very experienced!”

Jay McGuiness, 25

Famous for: Being one of the five heart-throbs in The Wanted.

He says: “I’m the only member of The Wanted who had danced before, at a college in Nottingham, but I did contemporary dance so am looking forward to now learning different types of dance.

“I’m taking part in Strictly to experience a challenge and to come back home to the UK as I have been living in Los Angeles recently. Also to meet new people and to be judged by Len (Goodman), which I think will make me a real man!”

Jeremy Vine, 50

Famous for: Being a BBC broadcaster and journalist with a show on Radio 2.

He says: “My wife will be nervous watching me, my eldest daughter is ready to be extremely embarrassed but my younger daughter is very excited and screaming at the TV!

“I would like to get to at least one tense moment in the competition but I am so polite, I will just wave the others past me on their way to the trophy and later think to myself, I wanted that!”

Katie Derham, 45

Famous for: Presenting the BBC Proms and hosting a show on Radio 3.

She says: “We are a Strictly household. I did ballet as a kid and I love to dance but most is done in private. If I could impress judge Darcey Bussell I would feel very proud of myself. I think she’s amazing and she is the most beautiful dancer.

“I’m hoping that I’ll be in such good hands that it will all just happen. I’m really up for it and I hope I’ll find a way of making it work for me.”

Kellie Bright, 39

Famous for: Playing Danny Dyer’s on-screen wife Linda on EastEnders.

She says: “My biggest challenge is going to be all the other things going on in my life outside of Strictly – a family, a job, a renovation. There’s not going to be much time for sleep.

“I talked to Emma Bunton about taking part in Strictly because she’s a really good friend of mine. She said it was amazing and one of the best things she’s ever done.”

Kirsty Gallacher, 39

Famous for: A sports news anchor who won the third series of The Games.

She says: “I am quite competitive with sport but dancing is a bit unknown to me so I don’t yet know my limitations. Maybe to get in the last four would be amazing!

“Caroline Flack is a friend of mine and she said the whole experience is an adventure and life-changing. Gabby and Kenny Logan said the same and said it’s such a great journey, you have got to be a part of it and you will love it!”

Peter Andre, 42

Famous for: Being a singer and TV personality.

He says: “I want someone who will be strict with me but will also have fun and enjoy our training. My biggest challenge is going to be remembering the moves as they are so technical and I wouldn’t want to let my partner down.

“The competition is more with myself, to prove whether I can still move like 20 years ago. But this is a whole new area of dance, so I have a lot to learn.”

Strictly Come Dancing launches on BBC One this Saturday (5th September) and we can’t wait!

Copyright all photos [BBC]