This year’s Strictly Come Dancing contestants have shared their reactions after being paired up with professional dancers during the launch show of the popular BBC One series.
Coronation Street star Catherine Tyldesley, who will dance with Johannes Radebe, said she was “overjoyed” in an Instagram post.
Alongside a photograph of her and Radebe, she wrote: ““My heart could honestly explode with joy!! Thankyou all so much for your support already – @johannesradebe and I are so thrilled with your love for #Catjo 😄😄We are gonna do you guys proud promise! *Cathgulps* Here we go!!! #Catjo #strictly #strictlycomedancing.”
Shortly after their pairing was announced she posted an earlier Instagram message, saying: “BUZZING!!!! I have the most phenomenal partner!!! All hail the BRILLIANT @johannesradebe 🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻 promise I’ll graft my backside off my darling!!! Here’s to having the time of our lives!! @bbcstrictly#strictly @bbcone #ballroom#strictlylaunch #Catjo”.
Paralympic champion Will Bayley said of his pairing with Janette Manrara: “Delighted to have this one by my side. Let’s go all the way! @jmanrara #strickly”.
Manrara shared a photograph of Bayley and her husband, fellow Strictly professional Aljaz Skorjanec, on Instagram.
She captioned it: “Here are the 2 men in my life for the next 4 months! Haha! I’m over the moon to have @willbayleyttas my partner! I know the message he wants to send across to everyone is sincere & heart felt, and do you know what?
“With his attitude, positivity, determination, & enthusiasm, I know he will become an awesome dancer as well! Watch this space everyone! Love ya already partner!!! #StrictlyComeDancing #TeamNameSoon #MyBoys”.
Skorjanec will dance with Viscountess Emma Weymouth and posted on Instagram writing: “My partner is… @emmaweymouth !!! We are going to have so much fun partner :)”.
Viscountess Emma Weymouth posted a short video of the pair practising some basic dance steps after the launch.
She said: “A model couple right here!”
New judge Motsi Mabuse, who was a judge on the German Strictly equivalent Let’s Dance, thanked her European fans for tuning in to watch her in her new role.
She said: “I just reallllly want to thank everyone @bbcstrictly for such a warm welcome and really such great energy and the goal is too keep it up til the end !!!
“My German fans you guys are incredible you found a way to watch the show (I don’t know how but some of your messages left me in tears I feel your energy and I know you got my back !!!
“Can’t wait to see what everyone has got prepared for the first week !!!! This number was sooooo much fun ! Lets do it again soon !! Woop Woop May the best dancer win ! Good luck everyone!! #anzeige #lawofattraction#loveandlight #letsdothis”
Former England number one David James tweeted he was “buzzing” to be partnered with Nadiya Bychkova.
YouTube star Saffron Barker enthused in a tweet about her pairing with AJ Pritchard.
She tweeted: “JUST SO HAPPY!!”.
Anneka Rice will dance with last year’s winner, Kevin Clifton, and tweeted that she was “so chuffed”.
RuPaul’s Drag Race and Ireland’s Got Talent judge Michelle Visage will dance with Giovanni Pernice.
Writing on Instagram, he said: “And there she is. The boss is in town. Beyond excited to start training with @michellevisage . Here we gooo #striclty @bbcstrictly #yasskween”.
Strictly Come Dancing returns to BBC One on September 21.