Strictly Come Dancing 2019: Which celebrities are…

Strictly Come Dancing 2019: Which celebrities are paired with which dancers in this year's TV contest?

Strictly Come Dancing returned to our screens with a bang as celebs discovered who they were paired with.

The excitement was ramped up to maximum as this year's all-star line-up were introduced to their dance partners who will be whisking them across the dance floor between now and Christmas.

The first contestant to meet their partner on the long-running BBC dance show was former Coronation Street star Catherine Tyldesley, who was told she had one of seven potential professional partners.

And the Scarborough actress, who has joked that her dance style is 'Mr Bean', was thrilled to be partnered with Johannes Radebe.

"I'm so happy," she told host Tess Daly.

"Sorted. These two are going to have a right old giggle arent' they?" said Tess.

YouTube star Saffron Barker will dance with AJ Pritchard, while US TV personality and Ireland's Got Talent judge Michelle Visage will take to the dance floor with Sicilian heartthrob Giovanni Pernice.

Neil Jones, who has landed his first celeb partner after joining the show as a dancer three years ago, skidded on his knees in triumph to be paired with footballer Alex Scott.

Children's TV presenter Karim Zeroual, whose TV partner is Wigan's Hacker the dog, is partnered with Amy Dowden, while comedian Chris Ramsey is to dance with Karen Hauer.

Double Olympic gold medallist rower James Cracknell will dance with Luba Mushtuk.

Former Manchester City goalkeeper David James will dance with Nadiya Bychkova, paralympic tennis player Will Bayley will dance with Janette Manrara and EastEnders actress Emma Barton will partner up with Anton du Beke.

Viscountess Emma Weymouth and Aljaz Skorjanec will dance together, while TV and radio presenter Anneka Rice will dance with last year's winner Kevin Clifton, who returned to the stage to dance a dramatic paso doble with his partner Stacey Dooley.

The former Treasure Hunt presenter said: ''It's Christmas come early!''

An excited BBC sports presenter Mike Bushell jumped for joy to discover he'd been paired with Katya Jones.

Dev Griffin was paired with Dianne Buswell and the final coupling on tonight's pre-recorded show was Jamie Laing, who has since had to pull out of the show due to injury, and Oti Mabuse.

Bruno Tonioli, Craig Revel Horwood and Shirley Ballas returned as judges, this year joined by newcomer Motsi Mabuse.