Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ

The Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ today announced the first celebrity names lining up to trip the light fantastic for this year's Let's Dance For Sport Relief.

Katy Brand, Rufus Hound and Shappi Khorsandi represent the world of comedy, alongside some of the nations favourite Grumpy Old Women, Jenny Eclair, Linda Robson, Lesley Joseph and Susie Blake.

Also taking to the dance floor will be sporting greats such as footballers Peter Shilton and Rodney Marsh and snooker legends Willie Thorne and Dennis Taylor.

This year's contestants will be judged by an all-new and exciting panel that sees the judging line-up change for all four shows. The panel of three will predominantly feature faces from the world of comedy and celebrities who performed last year.

Together the viewers and the panel will vote for their favourite dancers to go through to the final.

Comedians confirmed so far are Jack Dee and Frank Skinner.

Claudia Winkleman and Steve Jones return to host the show which kicks off Saturday 20 February 2010 on Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ One.

The series will run over four weeks, comprising three heats and culminating in a spectacular final dance-off on Saturday 13 March.

The show will see some of the nation's favourite celebrities pay homage to iconic dance routines in a bid to wow viewers with their moves and a chance to be crowned champion of the dance floor.

Each week a celebrity act (a mix of solo dancers, duos and groups) will perform a number of famous dances such as Single Ladies (Beyonce), Greased Lightning (Grease), Smooth Criminal (Michael Jackson), Bad Guys (Bugsy Malone) and Jai Ho (Slumdog Millionaire).

They will work with a team of top choreographers to master the dance moves and with a team of stylists to represent their dance icon's look.

Will they rise to the Sport Relief challenge when they take to the floor and give the performance of their lives in front of a live studio audience and the panel?

Who goes through and who gets a chance to compete in the final will be down to the public and the panel.

The final will see six celebrity acts dance with the hope of being crowned the Let's Dance For Sport Relief Champion on Saturday 13 March.

Proceeds from the voting will go to Sport Relief.

Jo Wallace, Executive Editor, Comedy Entertainment, Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ, said: "Saturday nights on the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ are all about eventful, big, fun, family entertainment and Let's Dance For Sport Relief absolutely fits that bill.

"Following on from the last series, the celebrity-packed show aims to have audiences singing and dancing along in their living rooms and, no doubt, in fits of laughter, as the stars of the show try to impress them and the judges with their dance moves, all in the name of charity."

Malcolm Gerrie, CEO, Whizz Kid Entertainment, said: "Last year's series exceeded all expectations and Robert Webb's brilliant interpretation of Flashdance captivated the entire nation: young and old!

"This year, Let's Dance For Sport Relief hopes to do the same again with some of the most iconic dances of all time being performed by some of the country's most-loved entertainers and sport stars."

Comedian Robert Webb was crowned champion last year after he wowed the public and judges in the grand final with a spectacular dance routine to Flashdance: What A Feeling.

Tune in to see who dances off with viewers' hearts to be crowned Celebrity Let's Dance Champion for 2010.

The show will be produced by Whizz Kid Entertainment for the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ.

Notes to Editors

About Sport Relief

As one of the UK's biggest fundraising events, Sport Relief brings the entire nation together to get active, raise cash and change lives.

The Sport Relief Weekend takes place from Friday 19 to Sunday 21 March 2010 including a night of Sport Relief telly on Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ One and the Sainsbury's Sport Relief Mile events across the UK on Sunday 21 March.

Since its launch in 2002 over a million people have taken part in Sport Relief, helping to raise more than Β£80million.

Sport Relief has a unique history of dedicated people doing extraordinary things to rise to the challenge, from David Walliams' astonishing swim across the English Channel to Eddie Izzard's amazing marathon-a-day around the UK.

All the cash raised will help transform the lives of those in desperate need across the UK and in the world's poorest countries.

Further information is available at www.sportrelief.com.

Sport Relief is an initiative of Comic Relief, registered charity 326568 (England/Wales); SC039730 (Scotland).

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