'Strictly Come Dancing' reveals cast photos for the professional line-up

Strictly Come Dancing has released brand new photos of the 2022 professional cast ahead of the series launch.

The BBC One celebrity dance contest is set to return to TV on Saturday, 17 September - but with the launch show, the only pre-recorded episode of the series, filming on Wednesday, the pro cast have already been trying on their costumes.

Read more: Vernon Kay says Strictly is 'like a third baby' for him and Tess Daly

Newly-released pictures show a full professional cast of 20 dancers, and photos of the male cast and female cast with 10 dancers in each.

However, fans of the show will know that not every professional dancer competes in the show as they won't all get celebrity partners.

There are 15 celebrities taking part this year, which means that five of the pros pictured will be in the group dances and show performances only.

Strictly has already confirmed that there will be another all-male couple this year, with one of the male pros due to be matched with broadcaster Richie Anderson.

The pro cast includes four new dancers - Vito Coppola, Carlos Gu, Lauren Oakley and Michelle Tsiakkas.

Read more: How to get tickets for Strictly Come Dancing

Completing the pro cast are returning dancers Dianne Buswell, Nadiya Bychkova, Graziano Di Prima, Amy Dowden, Karen Hauer, Katya Jones, Neil Jones, Nikita Kuzmin, Cameron Lombard, Gorka Marquez, Luba Mushtuk, Giovanni Pernice, Jowita Przystal, Johannes Radebe, Kai Widdrington and Nancy Xu.

Long-running stars Oti Mabuse and Aljaz Skorjanec both quit the show at the end of last series and Anton Du Beke has moved full-time to the judging panel.

The celebrity cast this series are Helen Skelton, Will Mellor, Kym Marsh, Richie Anderson, Kaye Adams, Jayde Adams, Ellie Simmonds, Tyler West, Matt Goss, Ellie Taylor, Mollie Rainford, Tony Adams, Fleur East, Hamza Yassin and James Bye.

Giovanni Pernice is the reigning pro champion, having danced his way to victory in the 2021 series with EastEnders star Rose Ayling-Ellis, the show's first deaf contestant.

Strictly Come Dancing returns to TV on Saturday, 17 September at 6.10pm on BBC One.

Watch: Who is Strictly's Richie Anderson?