Strictly Come Dancing: Meet the couples

Competition begins on 21 September

Strictly Come Dancing's launch show saw the 15 celebrities paired up with their professional partners.

Former England footballer Alex Scott, currently the favourite to win, has become professional dancer Neil Jones's first celebrity partner.

Jones joins the lead cast of the dancing competition after separating from his wife and fellow Strictly professional Katya Jones, who was photographed kissing her celebrity partner – comedian Seann Walsh – last year.

Click through the galley below to see the celebrities with their professional dance partners

Reigning champion Kevin Clifton was paired with Anneka Rice in the opening show of the 17th series. Rice joked that she "hasn't got a rhythm gene... I can't even clap in time".

Audience favourite Anton Du Beke has been partnered with EastEnders star Emma Barton, whom many believe is a strong contender to make it to the grand final in Blackpool.

Emmerdale star Kelvin Fletcher replaces Made in Chelsea's Jamie Laing, who was forced to pull out due to injury – he was partnered with Oti Mabuse.

The full list of dance pairings is as follows:

TV presenter Anneka Rice and Kevin Clifton

US singer and TV host Michelle Visage and Giovanni Pernice

Former England footballer Alex Scott and Neil Jones

Ex-Coronation Street star Catherine Tyldesley and Johannes Radebe

Comedian Chris Ramsey and Karen Hauer

BBC Radio 1 DJ Dev Griffin and Dianne Buswell

Former England goalkeeper David James and Nadiya Bychkova

EastEnders star Emma Barton and Anton Du Beke

Fashion model Viscountess Emma Weymouth and Aljaz Skorjanec

Olympic rower James Cracknell and Luba Mushtuk

CBBC presenter Karim Zeroual and Amy Dowden

BBC sports presenter Mike Bushell and Katya Jones

YouTube star Saffron Barker and AJ Pritchard

Paralympian Will Bayley and Janette Manrara

Former Emmerdale star Kelvin Fletcher and Oti Mabuse

Strictly Come Dancing begins on 21 September.