We chatted to the Strictly class of 2018. Swipe to see what they had to say…(BBC Pictures).

Virgin Radio host and DJ Vick Hope says she’s thrilled to join Strictly and try something different.”A lot of the stuff I do is purely musically focused so it is really nice to do something different. It sounds stupid but it will make my mum proud.”
(BBC Pictures)

Hope told us the dance trainings serve as workouts that are ‘beyond intense’ but ones that are very much worth it:”It is the best sweat I have ever tasted down my face! Dancing is great it makes me so happy I always said if I was to ever do one of these shows it would have to be this one!”
(BBC Pictures)

Casualty actor Charles Venn told us he’s determined to remain in the soap throughout his Strictly stint: “I will be juggling both jobs and travelling between here [London] and Cardiff! [where Casualty is filmed] he said.

Venn confessed he has high expectations for his Strictly partner: “I need someone who is Spartan, disciplined, strict, who will pick me up on anything I am doing wrong. You know, great attention to detail but at the same time somebody who can have a laugh and have fun.” (BBC Pictures)

Former Pussycat Dolls band member Ashley Roberst said if she had to pick one Pussycat Dolls song to perform to on Strictly it would their 2005 hit ‘Buttons’ feat Snoop Dogg.
(BBC Pictures).

The trained dancer also defended her right to be on the BBC show: “It is still a new skill that I do not know, that I am going to have to learn, that I really passionately want to learn and get in there and hopefully do alright.” (BBC Pictures)

Steps band member Faye Tozer may have a dancing background but this hasn’t stopped her joining this year’s Strictly. “I’m from Steps. I mean it was going to come up! Essentially it is an audience show and it is the audience that will decide. If you can dance or if you can’t, they decide who they want to see on the telly and they will fall in love with who they fall in love with,” Tozer revealed. (BBC Pictures)

She also told us that her Steps bandmates are very supportive of her Strictly move: “They are really excited! We have our WhatsApp group they’ve already been messaging me and asking how it’s going. They are lovely – they are right behind me. They know how desperate I was to do this and they are over the moon.” (BBC Pictures)

CBBC presenter and This Morning’s resident doctor told us he’s got some advice from Ruth Langsford, who competed in Strictly just last year. “Ruth gave me her number and said ‘Just call me anytime, if you’re going through anything or you’re nervous, just give me a ring.’ And that is Ruth through and through,” he said. (BBC Pictures)

“She said ‘Enjoy it and don’t fall over’ and ‘Don’t feel bad if you don’t have your entire routine by the time you’re on stage because you will work it out, you will do it when you’re there and the adrenaline’s pumping” he added. (BBC Pictures)

Joe Sugg is a YouTube superstar and will be crossing over for his television series debut with Strictly. He told us he is doing Strictly for a very special person, his nan. “I would love to get to the Blackpool stage because that’s where my nan – she is 95 now – danced at when she was in her twenties and so it would really be great to get to that stage and hopefully get her there to watch me,” he said. (BBC Pictures)

As for whether there will be a YouTube audience cross over on this year’s Strictly, Sugg said we’ll just have to wait and see: “We never really know how much of that audience will come across to watch me on this show. The interest has been massive since it was announced the amount of people that have said I can’t wait to watch because you will be on there which is really, really nice,” he said. (BBC Pictures)

Paralympian Lauren Steadman told us she won’t be using a prosthetic limb while competing in the competition. “I haven’t worn one since I was about twelve,” she told us.
(BBC Pictures).

Despite being a Paralympic Silver medallist and double World Champion Steadman said she admits there will be some potential challenges ahead for her on Strictly: “There will be things that will be difficult, but that’s just a discussion with me and my pro, how can we do this? Does it still look good? Is it allowed? All those things,’ she said. ‘It wouldn’t be any less spectacular it’ll just be different.” (BBC Pictures).

Seann Walsh may be a successful comedian both UK and Stateside, but he says he’s ‘petrified’ about joining Strictly: “Having seen videos of me dancing on friends’ phones from the night before, it’s safe to say I’m petrified but also so excited.”
(BBC Pictures).

But he says he’s excited and ‘curious’ about trying out fake tanning for the competition nights: “I’m taking on the fake tan challenge. The waxing frightens the life out of me though – I’ve got a hairy chest. But I’m a puppy, so they can do what they want to me!” he told us.
(BBC Pictures).

Documentary maker and presenter Dooley says she’s hoping to find a bit of ‘escapism’ on the dancefloor: “Typically, work for me is very serious and can be quite hard core so I’m going to soak up the escapism and bathe in the sequins. See you on the dancefloor!”
(BBC Pictures).

She told us she hopes to show her ‘sexy’ side on the show but that her partner certainly doesn’t have to worry she’ll become a victim of the infamous Strictly romance curse: “My partner is used to me working away so the curse of Strictly won’t worry him.” (BBC Pictures).

Broadcast journalist Kate Silverton said she’d turned down Strictly Come Dancing several times before, but that now her children are a lot older it is the ‘right time’ to do it.
(BBC Pictures).

She said the whole rota of contestants are getting along right now, and no rivalries have emerged yet. “We don’t have rivals yet, I don’t think we’re into that, like further down the line!” she joked. (BBC Pictures)

TV presenter Katie Piper was the first announced Strictly contestant this year. She said she can’t wait to show her daughters her new dance moves: “I feel so privileged and excited to be part of my favourite show on TV. I already know how much of an amazing experience it will be for me and I can’t wait to show my girls some of my new dance moves.”
(BBC Pictures)

“I’m nervous to put on my dancing shoes but can’t wait to learn a new skill and have the Strictly tan and makeover!” Piper added.
(BBC Pictures).

Blue bandmember and former EastEnders actor Lee Ryan said he’s honoured to join this year’s line-up: “It is nice to say now that I was on one of the biggest soaps that has ever existed in this country and now I’m on one of the biggest shows in this country so I feel very privileged,” Ryan told us. (BBC Pictures).

Ryan said he’s sort advice from former Strictly competitor and his Blue bandmate Simon Webbe: “The biggest thing he said was to have fun and enjoy myself. Be myself and be happy like I am, I’m a happy go lucky kind of guy, and to enjoy the whole process because it is an absolute mental thing. It is hard to comprehend how huge it is and then when you start doing it you think oh what have I signed myself in for?” (BBC Pictures).

TV presenter and fashion expert Susannah Constantine said she’s letting the Strictly wardrobe have almost full control on her outfits apart from these two exceptions: “I have a couple of things, which is no high necklines, and I don’t want to show my arms. I’ll do anything else,” she told us.
(BBC Pictures).

Constantine said she has huge respect for the wardrobe department: “I mean, they are master seamstresses those women. They are absolutely incredible. That’s part and parcel of the show. Seeing how all the clothes are made, I’m obsessed with the whole design.”
(BBC Pictures).

Former England cricketer Graeme Swann says his wife and children are ‘so excited’ about him joining this year’s Strictly (BBC Pictures).

He added that his wife has nothing to worry about when it comes to the dreaded Strictly curse:
“She knows I’m punching well above my weight already. She’s got nothing to worry about!” he said. (BBC Pictures)

Red Dwarf actor Danny John-Jules defended his place on the series despite having a professional dancing background: “Mate that aint got nothing to do with nothing! Granny Smith and Granny Jones sitting there and having a cup of earl grey with the children the last thing they are going to be talking about is who has dancing experience,” he explained.
(BBC Pictures).

John-Jules concluded by telling us that he’s not worried about being critiqued by the judges at all: “To be judged as someone in show business is just like a milkman delivering milk!” (BBC Pictures)

Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman are returning to their Strictly Come Dancing hosting duties this year. (BBC Pictures).