'Strictly Come Dancing' 2021: First-look trailer to ramp up excitement for show's return

WARNING: Embargoed for publication until 00:01:00 on 08/09/2021 - Programme Name: Strictly Come Dancing 2021 - TX: 08/09/2021 - Episode: Strictly Come Dancing 2021 - Professional Dancers (No. n/a) - Picture Shows: The Strictly Come Dancing 2021 Professional Dancers - (C) BBC - Photographer: Guy Levy — The pro cast of Strictly 2021. (BBC/Guy Levy) (BBC/Guy Levy)

Strictly season is so close we can almost see the glitter, and the excitement is set to ramp up a notch tonight as the first 2021 series trailer makes its debut.

This autumn, Strictly Come Dancing will introduce four new pro dancers to its line-up.

The new trailer, due to air tonight (Wednesday) on BBC One, will be our first chance to see what they will bring to the dance floor.

Read more: Katie McGlynn cuts foot on glass glitterball

Cast photos of the pros have also been released today, featuring Cameron Lombard, Kai Widdrington, Jowita Przystal and Nikita Kuzmin, the newest stars of the BBC ballroom, who were announced earlier this year.

Watch: Who is Strictly's Greg Wise?

WARNING: Embargoed for publication until 00:01:00 on 08/09/2021 - Programme Name: Strictly Come Dancing 2021 - TX: 08/09/2021 - Episode: Strictly Come Dancing 2021 - Professional Dancers (No. n/a) - Picture Shows: L-R Karen Hauer, Nancy Xu, Nadiya Bychkova, Jowita Przysta?, Dianne Buswell, Oti Mabuse, Katya Jones, Amy Dowden, Luba Mushtuk - (C) BBC - Photographer: Guy Levy — The female pros who'll star in this series. (BBC/Guy Levy) (BBC/Guy Levy)

They'll join established pros Aljaž Škorjanec, Amy Dowden, Dianne Buswell, Giovanni Pernice, Gorka Marquez, Graziano Di Prima, Johannes Radebe, Karen Hauer, Katya Jones, Luba Mushtuk, Nadiya Bychkova, Nancy Xu, Neil Jones and twice-in-a-row series champion Oti Mabuse.

Meanwhile, this is the first year since Strictly began in 2004 that Anton Du Beke won't be competing alongside a celebrity – instead, he'll be filling in on the judging panel for Bruno Tonioli for the whole series.

Read more: Motsi Mabuse 'disappointed and sad' over 'racist' German tabloid headline

Like last year, Tonioli already has filming commitments in the US for its version of the show, Dancing With The Stars, and cannot travel regularly between the two countries because of coronavirus travel restrictions.

Nervously awaiting their debut – and, we imagine, featuring in tonight's trailer – are the celebrity contestants, who this year include Greg Wise, John Whaite, AJ Odudu, Judi Love, Katie McGlynn, Robert Webb, Sara Davies, Adam Peaty, Dan Walker, Nina Wadia, Rhys Stephenson, Tilly Ramsay, Tom Fletcher, Rose Ayling-Ellis and Ugo Monye.

WARNING: Embargoed for publication until 00:01:00 on 08/09/2021 - Programme Name: Strictly Come Dancing 2021 - TX: 08/09/2021 - Episode: Strictly Come Dancing 2021 - Professional Dancers (No. n/a) - Picture Shows: L-R Graziano Di Prima, Giovanni Pernice, Gorka Marquez, Cameron Lombard, Aljaz Skorjanec, Johannes Radebe, Neil Jones, Nikita Kuzmin, Kai Widdrington - (C) BBC - Photographer: Guy Levy — The male pros line up ahead of the series launch. (BBC/Guy Levy) (BBC/Guy Levy)

Former Bake Off winner Whaite is set to be part of the show's first all-male couple after last year's contest saw boxer Nicola Adams and Katya Jones compete in the first same-sex pairing.

It's now just over a week until the series launch show, scheduled for Saturday, 18 September, where the celebrities will be matched with the pro dancers they hope are going to lead them to victory and the glitter ball trophy.

<em>Strictly</em> will begin on 18 September. (BBC) — Strictly will begin on 18 September. (BBC)

As usual, the series will then take a couple of weeks off while the couples rehearse together, before returning to the ballroom for the live shows that will take us up to the grand final in December.

Can't wait for Strictly to begin? Check out our guide to who's who in the 2021 series line-up.

Watch: Who is Strictly's Tilly Ramsay?

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