STRICTLY Come Dancing is back on our screens this autumn, and fans are keen to know who will be strutting their stuff on the dance floor.
The 2024 line-up of celebrities has been released — here we take look at which professional dancers will be joining them.
Who are the Strictly Come Dancing 2024 professional dancers?
Amy Dowden
Amy Dowden made history by being the first professional dancer from Wales to join the Strictly line-up in 2017.
She was paired with funnyman Brian Conley, but they only made it to week four.
Amy and Danny John-Jules fared better the following year, getting through to the eighth week before being eliminated, despite the actor being warned over ‘bullying’ his dance partner.
She reached the final with CBBC presenter Karim Zeroual in 2019, before making the quarter-finals in 2022 with JJ Chalmers the following year.
Amy made it to Musicals Week alongside McFly’s Tom Fletcher in 2021, and was sent home with partner James Bye during Halloween Week in 2022.
But she was sadly diagnosed with stage three breast cancer in May 2023, forcing her to miss that year’s Strictly.
Just a couple of months later she was told she had another type of cancer, which was found elsewhere in the body.
And then in August 2024, her return to Strictly was thrown into chaos when concerns were raised by doctors about abnormalities in her breast following a check-up.
But she’s been given the all-clear to compete this year, and as of September 4, 2024, her cancer is currently in remission.
Aljaz Skorjanec
Aljaz Skorjanec is making e a sensational comeback to the ballroom in 2024 after two years away from the show.
He first joined the programme in 2013, when he lifted the Glitterball trophy at the first time of asking alongside model Abbey Clancy.
In subsequent years Aljaz has been paired with stars including Call the Midwife star Helen George, model Daisy Lowe, Emmerdale’s Gemma Atkinson and Emma Weymouth.
Aljaz will be hoping to replicate the glory of his first year on the show when he is paired up with a new famous face for this year’s competition.
Dianne Buswell
Dianne Buswell made her debut on Strictly in 2017, when she was partnered with Reverend Richard Coles — the two were sent home in week three.
However, things took a turn for the better when she was paired with Joe Sugg in 2018 — not only did the pair find their feet on the show, reaching the grand finale, they also found love.
She then partnered with Max George in 2020.
In 2021, her dance partner was Robert Webb, but early on in the series the comedian had to pull out due to health reasons.
She took to this dance floor in 2022 with radio DJ Tyler West, making it to week nine.
In 2023, she was paired with Bobby Brazier, and the duo made it all the way to the final, just missing out on top spot by two points.
Dianne has also starred on So You Think You Can Dance Australia and Dancing With The Stars Australia.
Gorka Marquez
Another big Strictly name is Gorka Marquez, who joined the back in 2016.
A year later, the pro dancer made it to the final with partner Alexandra Burke.
In 2018, Gorka was paired with TV presenter and charity campaigner Katie Piper – but the duo were sent home in week four.
In 2019, he wasn’t partnered up with a celeb, but in 2020 he returned to the dance floor alongside EastEnders actress Maisie Smith, with the pair making it all the way to the final and finishing runners-up.
Gorka’s celebrity partner for 2021 was Katie McGlynn, but they were sent home after four weeks.
In 2022, he made it to the final with Countryfile star Helen Skelton.
He was partnered with Nikita Kanda in 2023, but they were the second couple to be eliminated in week three.
Johannes Radebe
Johannes Radebe got his first celebrity pairing in 2019 with Coronation Street star Catherine Tyldesley.
He got his second shot at the Glitterball Trophy in 2020 with Caroline Quentin, but the pair made an early exit.
Johannes was in a pair with comedian Ellie Taylor in 2022, making it to week 10 of the competition.
In 2023, his dancing partner was fan favourite Annabel croft, but their journey on the show came to an end just a week before the grand finale when they were the 10th pair to be eliminated.
Johannes is a two-time Professional South African Latin Champion and three-time South African Amateur Latin Champion.
Carlos Gu
Carlos is a Chinese National Champion who joined the show in 2022.
Before Strictly he placed third at the German Open Championship and became Amateur Latin Rising Star Runner Up at the UK Open in 2017.
Carlos also has experience in ballroom, ballet and contemporary dance.
He was paired up with CBBC star Molly Rainford on the 2022 series.
In 2023, Carlos paired up with presenter Angela Scanlon and they came sixth.
Lauren Oakley
Lauren Oakley, from Birmingham first learned to dance when she was just two-years-old.
She was one of four new dancers to join the pro line-up in 2022, but did not partner up with a celebrity and only took part in the professional group routines.
In 2023, she was partnered with Channel 4 broadcaster Krishnan Guru-Murthy — they were the seventh pair eliminated from the competition.
The star has won Latin and Ballroom competitions throughout her career.
She has toured across the globe and has also worked with Giovanni Pernice and Anton Du Beke.
Jowita Przystal
Jowita Przystal won BBC show The Greatest Dancer in 2020 – mentored by Oti Mabuse and bagged the prize of performing on Strictly Come Dancing.
She said at the time: “This is my biggest dream come true. No words can describe how I feel right now.
“I’m still pinching myself to check if this is real but I am beyond excited to be joining the Strictly Come Dancing family and I can’t wait to give all of my heart and soul on that dance floor!”
Jowita then won Stritcly 2022 with and cameraman Hamza Yassin.
But she could not retain her crown the following year when paired up with Paralympian Jody Cundy, and they were sent home in week four.
Kai Widdrington
Kai Widdrington danced on Britain’s Got Talent when he was 16 in 2012, making it to the final.
He’s been a professional dancer on Strictly’s Irish spin-off since 2018.
When he joined Strictly, he said it was his “childhood dream come true”.
In 2022, Kai was partnered with Loose Women panellist Kaye Adams, but they were voted off first.
He more than made up for that later the same year when he won the Strictly Christmas special alongside Alexandra Mardell.
Kai was paired up with Angela Ripon in 2023, but they were eliminated in week nine.
Karen Hauer
Karen Hauer is Strictly’s longest serving female pro dancer, first hitting the dance floor in 2012.
In her third Strictly series, Karen was paired with Essex boy Mark Wright and made it to the final.
In 2019, she made it to the semi finals with comedian Chris Ramsey.
Jamie Laing was her 2020 partner and the pair made it all the way to the final, and the following year she teamed up with Greg Wise.
In 2022, she was paired in a same-sex couple with comedian Jayde Adams, but they were voted off in week five.
And the following year she left the show during the same week, this time teamed up with Eddie Kadi.
Katya Jones
Katya Jones first waltzed onto the Strictly dance floor in 2016.
The following year she claimed the Glitterball prize in 2017 along with Holby City actor Joe McFadden.
The Russian pro was previously married to Strictly professional Neil Jones.
But she became widely known after THAT kiss with 2018 dance partner Seann Walsh.
In 2019, Katya made it to week eight with Mike Bushell, but she was forced to pull out of the 2020 series after testing positive for coronavirus.
She also made history by being part of the show’s first same-sex pairing with Nicola Adams.
Katya was paired with Adam Peaty in 2021, and then alongside football legend Tony Adams in 2022.
In 2023, Katya was paired up with Nigel Harman, but they were forced to withdraw from the competition after Nigel sustained an injury.
Luba Mushtuk
Luba Mushtuk waltzed onto the Strictly dance floor in 2018.
In 2019, she had her first celebrity pairing, with Olympic rowing champion James Cracknell.
However, the pair only made it to week two.
She was partnered with Jason Bell, with the pair were dumped from the competition in week three.
In 2023, Luba and Adam Thomas made it to week seven, but lost out in the ‘closest ever’ dance-off to Angela Rippon and Kai Widdrington.
Vito Coppola
Vito Coppola is an 11-time Italia Latin American Champion and joined Strictly in 2022.
He began dancing at the age of six and won winning national championships when he was just 10.
The dancer is a three-time World Championship finalist and European Cup winner.
In 2021 he stopped competing to take part in and win Ballando con le Stelle, the Italian version of Strictly Come Dancing.
Vito was partnered up with singer Fleur East in 2022, with the pair making it all the way to the final.
In 2023, he and Ellie Leach lifted the Glitterball Trophy, along the way sparking romance rumours with fans convinced they were together.
Michelle Tsiakkas
Michelle Tsiakkas began dancing when she was just six in her native Cyprus, and specialises in Latin dance.
She then became an undefeated champion, winning national titles between 2001-2011 before moving to London to study.
After moving to the UK, Michelle represented England at international championships and then joined the world touring dance show Burn The Floor.
She was one of four dancers who joined the Strictly pro line-up in 2022, but has yet to be paired up with a celebrity partner.
Nadiya Bychkova
Nadiya Bychkova made her debut in 2017 and made it to week 11 with EastEnders star Davood Ghadami.
She exited the show in week three in 2018 with partner Lee Ryan.
In 2019, Nadiya and celeb partner David James made it to week five, but she failed to bag a celeb in 2020.
She was paired with BBC Breakfast host Dan Walker in 2021, and then Matt Goss the following year.
In 2023, once again she didn’t get coupled with a star dance partner.
Neil Jones
Neil Jones has been a Strictly dancer since 2016.
However, he only got his first celeb partner in 2019 with ex-footballer Alex Scott.
After going without a celeb partner in 2020, Neil failed to find success in the 2021 series — he and his dance partner Nina Wadia were eliminated in the second week.
And since that early exit, Neil missed out on celebs to share the dance floor with in the following years.
Nancy Xu
Nancy Xu joined Strictly in 2019, but 2021 was the first year she got a celebrity partner.
In 2022, Nancy took to dance floor alongside actor Will Mellor, before missing out on a celebrity pairing the next year.
Away from Strictly she has been a finalist on So You Think You Can Dance in China, as well as starring in West End and Broadway show Burn The Floor.
Nikita Kuzmin
Ukranian-born Nikita Kuzmin, was a pro dancer on Let’s Dance, Germany’s version of Strictly Come Dancing.
Upon joining the show in 2021, he said at the time: “I’ve always been amazed by the magic Strictly Come Dancing brings.
“No matter what country I have found myself living in, I’ve never missed a chance to watch it.”
In 2022, Nikita was paired with gold medal-winning Paralympic swimmer Ellie Simmonds, before being eliminated in week seven.
He was paired up with Layton Williams in 2023, with the duo going deep into the competition, making it all the way to the final.
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Source: USA Today
