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Strictly Come Dancing couples sparkle in new official pictures

So much glitter and sparkles!

Strictly Come Dancing has released sparkling new official pictures of the celebrities and their dance partners ahead of the first live show – exciting!

Check out the new portraits of the celebrities and the professionals looking glamorous before they take to the dancefloor on Saturday.

Steps star Faye Tozer and Giovanni Pernice

Strictly Come Dancing 2018
Faye Tozer with her dance partner Giovanni Pernice (Credit: BBC/Ray Burmiston)

TV presenter and campaigner Katie Piper and Gorka Marquez

Strictly Come Dancing 2018
TV presenter Katie Piper with her dance partner Gorka Marquez (Credit: BBC/Ray Burmiston)

Blue singer and EastEnders star Lee Ryan and Nadiya Bychkova

Strictly Come Dancing 2018
Lee Ryan with his dance partner Nadiya Bychkova (Credit: BBC/Ray Burmiston)

YouTube star Joe Sugg with Dianne Buswell

Strictly Come Dancing 2018
Joe Sugg with his dance partner Dianne Buswell (Credit: BBC/Ray Burmiston)

BBC newsreader Kate Silverton and Aljaz Skorjanec

Strictly Come Dancing 2018
Kate Silverton with her dance partner Aljaz Skorjanec (Credit: BBC/Ray Burmiston)

Former cricketer Graeme Swann and Oti Mabuse

Strictly Come Dancing 2018
Graeme Swann with his dance partner Oti Mabuse (Credit: BBC/Ray Burmiston)

Former Pussycat Dolls star Ashley Roberts and Pasha Kovalev

Strictly Come Dancing 2018
Ashley Roberts with her dance partner Pasha Kovalev (Credit: BBC/Ray Burmiston)

Casualty actor Charles Venn and Karen Clifton

Strictly Come Dancing 2018
Charles Venn with his dance partner Karen Clifton (Credit: BBC/Ray Burmiston)

Radio DJ Vick Hope and new Strictly professional Graziano Di Prima

Strictly Come Dancing 2018
Vick Hope with her dance partner Graziano Di Prima (Credit: BBC/Ray Burmiston)

Red Dwarf actor Danny John-Jules and Amy Dowden

Strictly Come Dancing 2018
Danny John-Jules with his dance partner Amy Dowden (Credit: BBC/Ray Burmiston)

Fashion writer and TV presenter Susannah Constantine and Anton Du Beke

Strictly Come Dancing 2018
Susannah Constantine with her dance partner Anton Du Beke (Credit: BBC/Ray Burmiston)

Comedian Seann Walsh and Katya Jones

Strictly Come Dancing 2018
Seann Walsh with his dance partner Katya Jones (Credit: BBC/Ray Burmiston)

TV presenter and journalist Stacey Dooley and Kevin Clifton

Strictly Come Dancing 2018
Stacey Dooley with her dance partner Kevin Clifton (Credit: BBC/Ray Burmiston)

This Morning’s Dr Ranj Singh and Janette Manrara

Strictly Come Dancing 2018
Dr Ranj Singh with his dance partner Janette Manrara (Credit: BBC/Ray Burmiston)

Paralympic triathlete Lauren Steadman and AJ Pritchard

Strictly Come Dancing 2018
Lauren Steadman with her dance partner AJ Pritchard (Credit: BBC/Ray Burmiston)

Strictly launched its new series earlier this month, with a special show that saw the celebrities teamed up with their dance partners.

The programme didn’t air last weekend to allow all the new couples time to perfect their first live dance.

Strictly, Craig Revel Horwood, Dame Darcey Bussell, Shirley Ballas, Bruno Tonioli
Strictly judges Craig, Darcey, Shirley and Bruno (Credit: BBC/Guy Levy)

The opening episode of the programme’s 16th series attracted an average audience of 8.1 million (40.9% share) and peaked at 8.5 million viewers, making it the most watched show of the day across all channels.

Read more: Strictly beats X Factor in first ratings clash of 2018

It marked a dip on last year’s launch when it drew an average of 8.8 million viewers and peaked at 9.5 million viewers.

Strictly continues Saturday at 6.15pm on BBC One.

Have you got any early Strictly favourites? Leave us a comment on our Facebook page @EntertainmentDailyFix and let us know what you think!