Strictly Come Dancing 2016: Who are the contestants? What time is it on? What is Ed Balls dancing to?

Get ready for some more Ed Balls dad dancing

Jess Denham
Friday 23 September 2016 14:38 BST
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Ed Balls with his Strictly Come Dancing partner Katya Jones
Ed Balls with his Strictly Come Dancing partner Katya Jones

It’s nearly time for Ed Balls, Anastacia, Will Young and this year’s Strictly celebrities to take to the dancefloor for their first proper dances.

Strictly Come Dancing returns for a double-bill this weekend after a three-week break, during which the likes of Greg Rutherford and Judge Rinder have been busy training with their professional dancer partners in a bid to lift the Glitterball trophy.

Here’s everything you need to know about your Friday and Saturday nights on the sofa:

When is it on?

The first show airs on Friday at 9pm on BBC1, with six Strictly couples showing off their newly-learned moves.

The identities of the celebrities are being kept under wraps so you’ll have to tune in to find out the running order.

Then, on Saturday, the remaining famous faces perform, with that show kicking off at 6.30pm. Devoted Strictly lovers can also tune into It Takes Two with Zoe Ball on Mondays at 6.30pm on BBC2.

Who are the judges?

Head judge Len Goodman will be joined by Bruno Tonioli, Darcey Bussell and Craig Revel Horwood for his final stint on the panel this year. No celebrity will be sent home this weekend though, to give them a chance to warm up and settle in a little.

Who are the celebrities?

Best familiarise yourself with these lovelies if you don’t know them already:


What are they dancing to?

Ed Balls and Katya Jones will be dancing the Waltz to ‘Are You Lonesome Tonight’ by Elvis Presley

Melvin Odoom and Janette Manrara will be dancing the Cha Cha to ‘Loco In Acapulco’ by the Four Tops

Greg Rutherford and Natalie Lowe will be dancing the Jive to ‘Get Ready’ by The Temptations

Louise Redknapp and Kevin Clifton will be dancing the Jive to ‘Jump, Jive and Wail’ by the Brian Setzer Orchestra

Daisy Lowe and Aljaz Skorjanec will be dancing the Waltz to ‘Unforgettable’ by Nat King Cole

Claudia Fragapane and AJ Pritchard will be dancing the Cha Cha to ‘What Makes You Beautiful’ by One Direction

Laura Whitmore and Giovanni Pernice will be dancing the Cha Cha to ‘Venus’ by Shocking Blue

Anastacia and Brendan Cole will be dancing the Cha Cha to ‘Lady Marmalade’ by Christina Aguilera, Mya, Lil’ Kim and Pink

Judge Rinder and Oksana Platero will be dancing the Cha Cha to ‘Mercy’ by Duffy


Naga Munchetty and Pasha Kovalev will be dancing the Waltz to ‘Run To You’ by Whitney Houston

Danny Mac and Oti Mabuse will be dancing the Cha Cha to ‘Cake by the Ocean’ by DNCE

Tameka Empson and Gorka Marquez will be dancing the Paso Doble to ‘El Gato Montes’ by Ramon Cortez and ‘Y Viva Espana’ by Sylvia.

Ore Oduba and Joanne Clifton will be dancing the Tango to ‘Geronimo’ by Sheppard

Lesley Joseph and Anton Du Beke will be dancing the Waltz to ‘What’ll I Do’ by Alison Krauss

Will Young and Karen Clifton will be dancing the Tango to ‘Let’s Dance’ by David Bowie

Bring your dancing shoes...

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