Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ

The Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ today announced the star-studded line-up for Strictly Come Dancing 2011, revealing an exciting mix of people drawn from the worlds of sport, acting, politics, music and entertainment.

The ninth series, which launches with a red-carpet event at 6.10pm on Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ One, Saturday 10 September, will see the 14 new celebrity contestants battle it out on the dance floor, to win the ultimate glitter ball trophy.

This year's celebrity contestants are:

• Lawyer, writer and entrepreneur, Nancy Dell'Olio
• Former football bad boy, Robbie Savage
• Waterloo Road actress, Chelsee Healey
• Impressionist and comedian, Rory Bremner
• Actress and singer, Holly Valance
• Pop heartthrob, Harry Judd from McFly
• Star of screen and stage, Anita Dobson
• Astrologer and entertainer, Russell Grant
• Musical icon and entertainer, Lulu
• Former professional tennis player and TV presenter, Daniel Lobb
• Former MP, writer and broadcaster, Edwina Currie
• Olympic Gold medallist and boxer, Audley Harrison
• Australian pop and stage star, Jason Donovan
• TV presenter, Alex Jones

Sir Bruce Forsyth and Tess Daly return to guide viewers through the action on Saturday nights, while Tess will once again be joined by Claudia Winkleman for the Sunday night results show. Also returning are our fearsome foursome – head judge Len Goodman and fellow judges Alesha Dixon, Craig Revel Horwood and Bruno Tonioli.

The hour-long launch show will see the celebrities finding out for the first time who their professional partners are. There will also be a group dance by the celebrities and the professional dancers giving viewers at home the chance to see who the early favourites are and who might need to put in a few extra hours of training.

Following last year's smash hit series, 2011 is set to be even more spectacular and includes our biggest ever dance floor and live programme from Wembley Arena, with an audience of around 6,500 Strictly fans, in aid of Children in Need. The programme will also return to Blackpool's famous Tower Ballroom for the Grand Final for the first time since series two, which will be shown in dazzling 3D.

Fans can also get regular updates through Twitter, Facebook and the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ's official Strictly website. Throughout the series, viewers can get all the up-to-date gossip and dancing action over on Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Two on the weekday sister show, It Takes Two, with new presenter Zoe Ball.

Notes to Editors

Strictly Come Dancing is available on Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ One and Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ One HD, and airs this week Saturday 10 September, with the first live shows airing at the end of the month.

Strictly Come Dancing holds several awards including a National Television Award for Most Popular Talent Show voted for by members of the British Public in 2008, and an RTS award for Best Entertainment Programme.

The show appears in the Guinness World Records 2010 as the world's most successful reality television format, and it is estimated that more than a quarter of a billion people watched an international version of the show since its launch.

Publicity Contacts:

Rick Behari, Communications Manager
Sir Bruce Forsyth
Tess Daly
Zoe Ball
Claudia Winkleman

Charlotte Inett, Publicist
Robbie Savage
Russell Grant
Nancy Dell'Olio
Alex Jones
Edwina Currie
Len Goodman
Bruno Tonioli

Selina Govan, Publicist
Harry Judd
Rory Bremner
Dan Lobb
Lulu
Chelsee Healey
Craig Revel-Horwood
Alesha Dixon

Edward Brody, Publicist
Jason Donovan
Audley Harrison
Holly Valance
Anita Dobson