Celebrities and professional dancers of 2023 kicked off the series with a group performance. Photo: Guy Levy
They trained hard. They filled their social media pages with photos of sore feet and sweaty brows. They were plucked, polished, spray tanned and covered in glitter. Now we're going to get our first real look at the Class of 2023.
Our 15 celebrities met their professional partners at last weekend's pre-recorded launch show for Strictly Come Dancing. Now it's crunch time for the new couples as their first live performance approaches. On Saturday night, they will take to the ballroom for their first full routines, which will be critiqued and celebrated by four familiar judges.
Who's in the picture to lift the iconic glitter trophy? And who will receive a shiny wooden spoon, having survived the shame of the first exit? As former judge Anton Du Beke told applicants at presentations last week: «It could last three months, it could last three weeks, so enjoy it.»
To make our predictions, we analyzed the statistics, looked at Strictly history and rewinded last week's group dance a few times. As a result, we've divided the contestants into four categories: early eliminations, mid-series cannon fodder, moving wild cards, and potential finalists. We even made a bold prediction as to where exactly they'll end up. Here's our ranking of runners and racers in reverse order…
Previously 15. Nikita Kanda and Gorka Marquez
The Asian Network DJ, who says she jumps with her hands up, looked panicked when she heard the waltz for her first dance. She may be the least known member of the lineup, which won't help the public vote. Hill Corker reached last year's final with Helen Skelton. This partnership won't be as popular as it follows his earlier breakups with Tameka Empson, Katie Piper and Katie McGlynn.
Nikita Kanda and Gorka Marquez By: Ray Burniston 14. Krishnan Guru-Murthy and Lauren Oakley
Breaking news: We fear the Channel 4 presenter won't last long. Guru-Murthy has a heart condition and jokes that he is “physically decrepit.” His dad dance at last week's curtain raiser event was disturbing. A work trip to Taiwan ate up his training time. Older men generally don't do well, and Bill Bailey is the only man over 50 to ever reach the final. Guru-Murti will not change this.
13. Jodie Cundy and Jovita Przystal
We don't know what made the award-winning Paralympian look more uncomfortable during the presentation: wearing pink trousers or dancing in a disco. Athletes often struggle with their Strictly performance. Kandi faces the additional challenge of having a prosthetic right leg. Polish professional Przystal lifted the glitterball with Hamza Yassin in her debut series but could fall back to earth.
12. Les Dennis and Nancy Xu
Showbiz survivor Dennis and fireworks pro Xu really like him. Unfortunately, the «awww» factor won't help him succeed. Dennis looked every inch of the retiree during the presentation, admitting: «I'm going to be 70. The elevators are going to be a problem.» Our survey shows that he will succeed if he makes Halloween spooky and spectacular.
Les Dennis and Nancy Hsu By: Ray Burniston Confidently in the middle of the table11. Adam Thomas and Luba Mushtuk
The Emmerdale actor's rheumatoid arthritis causes him pain in training and can reduce the number of hours he can devote to training. The fact that Mushtuq's Russian supporters never go beyond the third week is another ominous sign. In a battle of the big three soaps, he is doomed to lose to EastEnders' Bobby Brazier and Coronation Street's Ellie Leach.Luba Mushtuk and Adam Thomas By: Ray Burniston 10. Amanda Abbington and Giovanni Pernice
The Sherlock actress looks like a stylish performer and was lucky enough to have three-time runner-up and one-time winner Pernice as her professional partner. However, Abbington was accused of transphobia earlier this year and has become something of a hate figure on social media. This may come back to haunt her during the public vote.
9. Ellie Leach and Vito Coppola
The Coronation Street starlet could be good value — look at her unguarded reaction when she was told she was doing the jive in week one: «Oh no, it's really hard!» Only in the second series could Coppola's teaching skills be tested. Add to this the fact that Corrie alumni tend not to do well on Strictly (rival shows EastEnders, Hollyoaks and Emmerdale fare better) and Leach could step off the shiny tram in Blackpool.
8. Annabelle Croft and Johannes Radebe
A tennis expert and a popular South African professional make a charming team, with Radebe tenderly helping the recently widowed Croft dance through her grief. «Team Yohanabel» showed off an impressive spinning lift in last week's group dance, but was it a clever cover-up for technical shortcomings? Johannes reached the 2021 final with John Waite, but is otherwise a mid-series trader.
Annabelle Croft and Johannes Radebe Authors: Ray Burniston Wild Cards7. Eddie Cudi and Karen Hauer
During the live presentation, the comedian looked the part. Cudi plans to represent the British-Congolese community with his costumes and Afrobeat songs. He touted his snake-like hip movements, and with Latin major Hauer as his teacher, he should excel at dance parties. The question is whether he can control it for more formal ballroom styles.
6. Angela Rippon and Kai Widdrington
The oldest contestant has some serious credentials, having trained in ballet, starred in musicals and hosted Come Dancing before she was Strictly-fied. The former Charleston newscaster's turn has already amazed hard-to-please Craig Revel Horwood. In the gentlemanly Kai Widdrington, her partner is a ballroom dancing expert. Latin dancing and physical endurance may be major challenges for her. Keep a close eye on this pair, not least because Rippon is this year's Telegraph Strictly columnist and Telegraph Strictly columnists often reach the final (Joe Sugg, Debbie McGee, Jamie Lang, Helen Skelton) or even win (Bill Bailey ).
Eddie Cudi and Karen Hauer Authors: Ray Burniston 5. Leighton Williams and Nikita Kuzmin
A glimpse of Williams in last week's group number was enough to make an impression. He is a seasoned West End veteran with musicality in his veins. His first dance, the samba, is already shaping up to be the star of the show this Saturday. However, the tendency to “laytonize” exercises can lead to disagreements among judges. Voter reaction to his previous pedigree may prevent him from achieving brilliant glory.
Nikita Kuzmin and Leighton Williams: Ray Burniston Potential finalists4. Zara McDermott and Graziano Di Prima
The former government adviser and Love Island alum is elegantly leggy, very pretty and comes from a Strictly family so knows her stuff. If she can control her nerves, the girl from the ballroom is waiting for her. Sicilian pro Di Prima beat friends last year to reach the semi-finals with Kym Marsh. With another promising partner, he hopes to achieve more.
Zara McDermott and Graziano Di Prima Authors: Ray Burniston 3. Nigel Harman and Katya Jones
The actor may be best known for his soap roles in EastEnders and Casualty, but he is an Olivier Award-winning West End stalwart who trained at stage school. At a group dance last week, he looked suavely confident. His professional partner Jones is a tough taskmaster and former champion. If she could make dancers out of Tony Adams and Ed Balls, imagine what she could do with Harman.
2. Angela Scanlon and Carlos Gu
The Meath-born TV presenter was a professional Irish dancer in her teens. Can she make the transition from Riverdance to Rumba? She looks charismatic, rhythmic and reminds viewers of fellow fiery-haired 2018 winner Stacey Dooley. Chinese champion Gu finished second alongside Molly Rainford in his series debut last year. He must make the most of Scanlon's generous promises.
1. Bobby Brazier and Diane Buswell
It's damn hard to call a winner, especially at this early stage, but the EastEnders actor is the bookmakers' favorite and it's easy to see why. Being this year's youngest celebrity, he is 20 years old and has an ardent fan following that propelled him to victory at the recent NTA where viewers voted. He has a cheeky charm and, as the son of the late Jade Goody, an emotional backstory. Australian pro Buswell is a great teacher who reached the final (and found a boyfriend) with Joe Sugg five years ago. Signs point to Brazer returning a second glitterball to Walford in three years, following Rose Ayling-Ellis' triumph two series ago.
Diane Buswell & Bobby Brazier Photo credit: Ray Burniston
Strictly Come Dancing airs Saturday at 6.15pm on BBC One
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