Who will win Strictly Come Dancing 2020? Predict the winner

Prepare those opinions on everything from why the Rumba is the most difficult dance to score a perfect 40 to whether the Cha-Cha-Cha is is really that hard to get right. Yes, Strictly is back and, the 18th series will be a series like no other with a live studio crowd ditched for the first time.

The pandemic backdrop has already given this year's series a unique feel, but the 2020 lineup still promises to be one of the most interesting years yet.

Made in Chelsea star Jamie Laing returns to the ballroom after having to pull out just weeks before last year's show, while social media sensation HRVY follows in the footsteps of Saffron Barker and Joe Sugg as the latest influencer to get a shot at BBC's glitterball.

Former Home Secretary Jacqui Smith, Eastenders actress Maisie Smith, award-winning comedian Bill Bailey and Radio 1 DJ Clara Amfo are also among this year's packed lineup.

The launch episode of this year's show was watched by an average of 8.6 million viewers and some were evidently impressed by original outsider Bill Bailey whose odds to win reduced to 16/1 from 66/1.

Former Royal Marine JJ Chalmers had been backed into 22/1 from 33/1 to win the new series but now the Invictus Games medallist has been eased slightly to 25/1. ITV's Good Morning Britain presenter Ranvir Singh saw her odds cut in half into 25/1 from 50/1 post launch show. Another notable mover is retired American footballer Jason Bell who is now 7/1 from 14/1.

The current odds for this year's contestants as the competition enters the first live show stand as:

7-4       Maisie Smith                 

5-2       HRVY

5-1        Max George

7-1         Jason Bell

9-1         Jamie Laing

9-1         Nicola Adams

10-1       Clara Amfo

14-1       Caroline Quentin

16-1       Bill Bailey

25-1       Ranvir Singh

25-1       JJ Chalmers

66        Jacqui Smith

But who is your money on?

Who's your favourite Strictly contestant of 2020? And who do you think will eventually lift the glitterball trophy? Cast your vote here with our handy predictor tool:

Strictly Come Dancing is on Saturdays and Sundays on BBC One

Share your predictions on how you think this year's Strictly series will unfold in the comments section below.