Alexandra Burke, Mollie King and Debbie McGee join Strictly Come Dancing

A reverend, a former magician’s assistant, a talent contest star, a soap actor and a chef. They may sound like the subjects of a long-winded joke, but these are just some of the contestants who will be featuring in the next series of Strictly Come Dancing.

The lineup, which seems more eclectic than ever, will pit figures such as Debbie McGee, the widow and former assistant of magician Paul Daniels, against former Saturdays singer Mollie King, broadcaster the Rev Richard Coles and X Factor winner Alexandra Burke.

Also cajoled on to the dancefloor this year is Paralympic sprint champion Jonnie Peacock, who has a below-the-knee amputation. Peacock said the “opportunity to be the first contestant with a disability to take part in Strictly’s main show was too good to turn down. I’ve got no previous dance history outside of the occasional ‘worm’ at a mate’s party, and I know this will be a challenge and a new experience.”

The lineup is particularly heavy on soap stars this year, with contestants including EastEnders actor Davood Ghadami, Hollyoaks and Emmerdale actor Gemma Atkinson, and Holby City’s Joe McFadden and Chizzy Akudolu. Also competing are This Morning presenter Ruth Langsford, Good Morning Britain host Charlotte Hawkins, comedian Susan Calman, entertainer Brian Conley and chef and Sunday Brunch host Simon Rimmer.

The most controversial contestant so far is Aston Merrygold, a former member of the band JLS, which came second to Burke in The X Factor in 2008. Some have argued he has too much dancing experience for Strictly.

This is the 15th series of Strictly Come Dancing and its producers will be hoping to replicate last year’s success. That was the BBC1 show’s most popular series yet, with 13.1 million viewers watching Ore Oduba win the glitterball trophy. Other highlights, such as the former MP Ed Balls dancing to Gangnam Style, became national talking points.

A new judge is also making her debut in the 2017 series: Shirley Ballas is taking over from Len Goodman, who has retired. Goodman, who taught Ballas and her husband, gave his replacement the seal of approval. “There’s no one who knows their ballroom and Latin like her,” he said. “Fantastic, wonderful dancer – far better than I ever was.”