Strictly Come Dancing has confirmed this year's pairings, with two same-sex couples competing for the first time.
Tonight's (September 23) delayed launch show kicked off Strictly season in style, with an impressive opening ballroom dance from this year's pros.
However, it was the all-important pairings that took precedence in the series premiere, and among them were two same-sex couples – namely Richie Anderson and Giovanni Pernice, and Jayde Adams and Karen Hauer.
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"Could you get anyone better than Mr Giovanni?" Richie admitted upon finding out his partner. "I feel like I'm the envy of the British public right now!"
Giovanni was equally enthused, declaring: "He's got A LOT of energy, I'm very very happy!"
Comedian Jayde noted of her partner: "Karen IS Strictly", while the dancer added: "I'm absolutely excited, I have so many ideas, too many ideas, this is going to be a golden moment for me."
Here are the rest of this year's pairings:
- Ellie Simmonds and Nikita Kuzmin
- Tyler West and Dianne Buswell
- Kym Marsh and Graziano Di Prima
- Will Mellor and Nancy Xu
- Helen Skelton and Gorka Márquez
- James Bye and Amy Dowden
- Fleur East and Vito Coppola
- Hamza Yassin and Jowita Przystal
- Matt Goss and Nadiya Bychkova
- Ellie Taylor and Johannes Radebe
- Molly Rainford and Carlos Gu
- Tony Adams and Katya Jones
- Kaye Adams and Kai Widdrington
Speaking ahead of the launch show, Richie – who was confirmed previously to be part of a same-sex pairing – brushed off trolls targeting him.
"I don't pay much attention to trolls online," he told The Huffington Post UK. "At the end of the day, I'm doing something that I've always wanted to do and enjoying myself. I'm having fun, I'm on Strictly Come Dancing! And I'm so grateful to be here.
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"So people can say what they want, really. It's a shame that people feel that they have to, but [they're in the] minority."
The Strictly launch show, which was pre-recorded, was originally meant to air last weekend, though was delayed due to Queen Elizabeth II's death. The first live show is still going ahead as planned tomorrow night (Saturday, September 24).
Strictly Come Dancing continues Saturday, September 24 on BBC One and BBC iPlayer at 6.45pm.
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