Shock: Contestants on Strictly Come Dancing unexpectedly accused each other right in the first episode, leaving the judges completely unprepared.

STRICTLY Come Dancing’s glittering launch on BBC One on Saturday night finally confirmed this year’s celebrity ­contestants and their pro partners.

The dancers will strut their stuff live for the first time next weekend.

a man and a woman are dancing in front of a black background

JB Gill and Amy Dowden have been paired together on Strictly

the cover of radiotimes magazine shows strictly come dancing

All 15 star ­hopefuls told the new edition of Radio Times what taking part in the series means to them

And while there won’t be an eviction then, they will be desperate to wow the judges.

Building a rapport in the rehearsal room will be key to each couple’s success.

All 15 star ­hopefuls told the new edition of Radio Times what taking part in the series means to them.

JB GILL AND AMY DOWDEN

JLS star JB revealed: “My wife said, ‘I think they want you to be with Amy’. I was very hopeful that I would get her.

“I’ve met Amy before and she’s lovely. I knew I’d be in good hands.”

NICK KNOWLES AND LUBA MUSHTUK

a man in a blue suit is dancing with a woman in a blue dress

Nick Knowles with pro partner Luba Mushtuk

TV presenter Nick said: “People know I ride a motorbike. I play rugby.

“Guys come up wanting a pint with me. I want ­people to see me and decide to do a dance class. Dance is an amazing bonding thing.”

SARAH HADLAND AND VITO COPPOLA

a man and a woman are posing for a picture together

Sarah Hadland and Vito Coppola will pair up for the show

ACTRESS Sarah said: “The contestants have a chemistry meeting.

“The minute I started dancing with Vito, I thought, ‘If it’s not him, I don’t know what I’m going to do’.”

CHRIS McCAUSLAND AND DIANNE BUSWELL

a man and a woman are dancing on a stage

Chris McCausland, pictured with Dianne Buswell, said: ‘I need Dianne to be good with her descriptions’

BLIND comedian Chris said: “I need Dianne to be good with her descriptions.

“Once, she just picked my leg up and put it where she wanted.”

SAM QUEK AND NIKITA KUZMIN

a man and a woman are posing for a picture

Sam Quek and sports pundit Nikita Kuzmin will compete together

NIKITA, the sports pundit’s dance partner, said: “We’ve spoken about going into each dance with an open mind.

“There are things you will not agree on.”

PUNAM KRISHAN AND GORKA MARQUEZ

a man in a yellow tank top sits next to a woman in a yellow dress

Punam Krishnan and Gorka Marquez have been paired up

DANCE pro Gorka said of his TV doc partner: “Some days . . . Punam will wonder, ‘What am I doing this for?’

“But it’ll make sense in the long run. She has potential.”

TOM DEAN AND NADIYA BYCHKOVA

a woman in a pink dress is dancing with a man in a pink shirt

Nadiya Bychkova, pictured with Tom Dean, said: ‘It’s great to work with someone who has dedication’

EXPERT Nadiya said of swimmer Tom: “It’s great to work with someone who has dedication.

“We’ll take it day by day to make sure his ankles, knees and feet are ready. Tom’s feet are delicate. They need to be a bit tougher.”

TASHA GHOURI AND ALJAZ SKORJANEC

a woman in a blue dress is standing next to a man in a blue suit

Love Islander Tasha Ghouri and Aljaz Skorjanec

LOVE Islander Tasha, the reality show’s first deaf contestant, said: “I was trained in commercial dance, which is the opposite of ­ballroom.

“I’ve also never danced with a ­partner before.

“And I’ve not really danced at all in the past three or four years.”

PETE WICKS AND JOWITA PRZYSTAL

a man is carrying a woman in an orange dress on his shoulders

Pete Wicks and Jowita Przystal will compete together for the trophy

PRO dance star Jowita said: “He’s not scared to try things, to listen to me and fall into that fairytale of dance.

“He’s hard-working. I just need to shape him. We’ll make him Patrick Swayze!”

PAUL MERSON AND KAREN HAUER

a man in a white suit is dancing with a woman in a yellow dress

Ex-footie ace Paul Merson is paired with pro partner Karen Hauer

EX-footie ace Paul said: “When I play football with my little one in the garden, I want to win.

“But I’ve only ever danced three times. When I was dancing with Karen and we did a clap, I clapped ahead of time.”

MONTELL DOUGLAS AND JOHANNES RADEBE

a man and a woman are dancing in front of a black background

Gladiators star Montell Douglas and Johannes Radebe

GLADIATORS star Montell said: “I’m really tall, so I was never confident enough to wear heels.

“When Johannes said he wanted an extra inch on my heel, I said, ‘Whatever Jojo says. Who needs ankles?’.”

WYNNE EVANS AND KATYA JONES

a man and a woman are dancing in front of a starry background

Go Compare opera singer Wynne Evans and Katya Jones

HAILING Go Compare opera singer Wynne, pro Katya said: “The hardest thing to teach someone is music. That box is ticked.

“He’s got the personality, the fun. He’s got arms and legs.”

TOYAH WILLCOX AND NEIL JONES

a man in a red suit stands next to a woman in a pink dress

Toyah Wilcox and Neil Jones will hit the floor together

STAR dancer Neil said of the singer and actress: “When we walked in, I saw Toyah going through the routine on her own, practising every step.

“I thought, ‘She’s a hard worker’.”

SHAYNE WARD AND NANCY XU

a man and a woman are posing for a picture in front of a starry sky

X Factor winner Shayne Ward and Nancy Xu

X FACTOR winner Shayne said: “We both love the cartoon Minions. It’s our little language between us.

“If you’re stressed, squeak. . . Honestly and humbly, I’m here to win.

“I’m ready to see what my body can do.”

JAMIE BORTHWICK AND MICHELLE TSIAKKAS

a man and a woman are posing for a picture

EastEnders star Jamie Borthwick and Michelle Tsiakkas

EASTENDERS star Jamie said: “I went to the Sylvia Young Theatre School.

“Everyone thinks that because I had a handful of lessons there, I can dance. But I admit I didn’t pay attention.”