Strictly Come Dancing 2024 line-up rumours, start date and more

Strictly Come Dancing 2024 is two-stepping our way, with a brand new series set to arrive on BBC One and iPlayer later this year.

2023’s edition of the nation’s favourite dancing show came to a close just before Christmas and saw Coronation Street actor Ellie Leach emerge victorious after wowing the judges with her professional dancing partner Vito Coppola.

However, the future of the show has been met with a cloud of controversy following allegations of abuse from some of its professional dancers during training sessions. As a result of this ongoing issue, some pros including Giovanni Pernice and Graziano Di Prima will not be returning for the show’s next season.

That said, a brand new series comes with a brand new list of celebrity dancers — but who will be taking part in Strictly Come Dancing 2024? Read on for all the details you need about the show’s return.

When will Strictly 2024 start?

Strictly Come Dancing 2024 is expected to start in autumn although an official release date has yet to be confirmed.

If previous series are anything to go by, we can perhaps expect to hear about the official lineup in July, while the show will start in mid-September and last until late December.

Either way, news of Strictly 2024’s ETA should be with us soon.

Who could join the Strictly 2024 line-up?

The celebrity line-up for Strictly Come Dancing 2024 is still under lock and key but that hasn’t stopped rumours from making their way online.

TOWIE star Pete Wicks is the latest celebrity rumoured to have signed up for the new series. The reality star is a close friend of Zara McDermott, who took part in the show in 2023.

Piers Morgan has become the latest unlikely contestant to throw his hat in the ring in a jibe at recent controversies over some of the pro cast's conduct during training.

He posted on X: "Memo to Strictly Come Dancing execs: given the snowflake virus is now threatening your sparkly show’s existence, I’m prepared to save the day by being a contestant but only on one condition: that whoever trains me is so tough, brutal and uncompromising that I win."

The BBC has not commented on whether they intend to take Morgan up on his offer, but while we wait for the full list of famous contestants to be unveiled, a wide range of celebrities have hit the rumour mill, with outlets claiming they are in various stages of considering signing up for the show.

From Ted Lasso star Hannah Waddingham, radio host Roman Kemp, Loose Women presenter Sophie Morgan and Lioness Jill Scott, to comedian Alan Carr, Wham’s Andrew Ridgeley and documentarian Louis Theroux, speculation has been as wild as it is varied.

One of the latest names to be thrown into the rumour mix by The Sun are Tommy Fury and Gladiators star Nitro. The UK tabloid claims the BBC is close to signing a deal with 25-year-old Fury, who they hope will draw in younger viewers, while Nitro — real name Harry Aikines-Aryeetey — is also tipped to hit the Strictly dancefloor after making a cameo appearance in the 2023 edition.

British comedian Chris McCausland is strongly tipped to be taking part in Strictly this year and would make history as the show's first-ever blind contestant. British music icon and actress Toyah Wilcox has also added to the growing list of possible dancers.

Burnley businessman Dave Fishwick is also rumoured to be joining the cast of Strictly in 2024. He recently found fame as the subject of the Netflix film The Bank of Dave, which charted the creation of his groundbreaking company Burnley Savings and Loan in 2011. It saw Dave battling the establishment to compete for the first banking licence to be issued in more than 150 years.

Another rumour from The Sun is that social media star Grace Keeling — known online as GK Barry — is being courted by the BBC to take to the Strictly dancefloor. Her huge online presence would be a surefire way to bring in younger audiences to the show.

DIY SOS star Nick Knowles is also rumoured to be lacing up his dancing shoes for a stint on Strictly.

According to a source who spoke to The Sun, the 61-year-old TV star is "going on the show to entertain and to win."

With a few months still to go until the show’s return, we can expect more names to be added to this list as Strictly fever continues to ramp up.

Who will host Strictly 2024?

Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman are set to continue hosting Strictly Come Dancing 2024.

The pair have fronted the show since 2010 and despite the latter’s newfound success presenting The Traitors, there’s nothing to suggest the duo won’t return for Strictly’s upcoming series.

That said, an official announcement on who will host Strictly Come Dancing 2024 has yet to be made, so hypothetically anything could happen.

Who are the judges on Strictly 2024?

It wouldn’t be Strictly without the judges and this year, some familiar faces will be back behind the desk dishing out points and deciding the fate of our celebrity dancers

Hosts Craig Revel Horwood, Anton Du Beke, Shirley Ballas and Motsi Mabuse will once again return to the judging panel.

Horwood has been with the show since its first outing in 2004, with Mabuse being the show’s most recent addition, joining back in 2017 and replacing former judge Dame Darcey Bussell.

Who are the pro dancers on Strictly 2024?

The full line-up for Strictly Come Dancing 2024’s professional dancers was revealed in June, confirming which pros will be taking to the Strictly stage once more.

After missing out on last year's series due to illness and cancer treatment, professional dancer Amy Dowden will be making a return to the show while her fellow dancer Giovanni Pernice will sit this series out and not feature on 2024's edition.

The news comes amid multiple celebrity dancers expressing frustration with his training techniques and some stating that they were “uncomfortable” having him as their partner.

Other professional dancers confirmed to return include last year's winner Vito Coppola, Gorka Marquez, Luba Mushtuk, Jowita Przystal, Karen Hauer, Katya Jones, Neil Jones, Nikita Kuzmin and Dianne Buswell.

Nadiya Bychkova, Graziano Di Primam, Johannes Radebe, Kai Widdrington, Lauren Oakley, Michelle Tsiakkas, Nancy Xu and Carlos Gu will also be lacing up their dancing shoes for more Strictly.

In late July 2024, the group shared a picture of themselves back in the rehearsal room preparing for this year's series. The snap comes amid a growing media storm that has followed in the wake of allegations of abusive behaviour among the show's professional dancers.

As a result, two names directly involved with this scandal were noticeably absent from the group's Instagram picture. These include Giovanni Pernice and Graziano Di Prima.

The former denies any claims of abuse while the latter was let go from the show after a video that appeared to show him kicking co-star Zara McDermott was made public.

Strictly Come Dancing is coming to BBC One and iPlayer in late 2024.