Strictly Come Dancing introduce NEW dance category for first time in 10 years

This will shake things up!

Author: Alex RossPublished 6th Sep 2018
Last updated 6th Sep 2018

With the dark nights slowly creeping in, the temperatures dropping and The X Factor returning to our TV screens last weekend, we can't contain our excitement for the official Strictly Come Dancing launch on Saturday 8th September!

Ahead of the brand new series, bosses have confirmed that a BRAND NEW dance category will be introduced, for the first time in 10 years!

This year's contestants will be given the chance to choose which style of dance they wish to perform, with bosses calling the new feature Couple's Choice. Each couple will be given the chance to choose from three different styles:

Street/commercial – Covers all styles of urban dance as well as allowing couples to go in a more pop, commercial direction

Contemporary – Takes inspiration from ballet, lyrical, and modern dance

Theatre/jazz – Includes elements of tap, soft shoe, burlesque, and jazz

Meanwhile, whilst fans of the popular dancing show weren't all that impressed with this year's line-up, 15 celebrities have now been confirmed to take part in the 2018 series

The stars taking part include the likes of Katie Piper, Lee Ryan, Ashley Roberts and This Morning's Dr Ranj Singh.

See the full Strictly Come Dancing line-up below:

Katie Piper

Katie Piper has been the first confirmed celebrity for Strictly Come Dancing 2018! Speaking in an interview with the BBC, the TV presenter and model said, "Thank you so much, it's been so hard to keep it secret!" before adding that she's struggled not to tell her friends who have invited her to events later in the year. The only person I told is my husband through text message and he thought I was joking!" she laughed, adding, "I don't have that natural rhythm but I like the fact there's a challenge."

Strictly Come Dancing introduce NEW dance category for first time in 10 years
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After Strictly legend Brendan Cole was axed from the show after 13 years, in May this year it was confirmed that THREE brand new dancers would be joining the show. These include South African Johannes Radebe, Italian Graziano Di Prima and Russian Luba Mushtuk.

The three new professionals will take the total of professional dancers to 18, with them joining AJ Pritchard, Aljaž Škorjanec, Amy Dowden, Anton Du Beke, Dianne Buswell, Giovanni Pernice, Gorka Marquez, Janette Manrara, Karen Clifton, Katya Jones, Kevin Clifton, Nadiya Bychkova, Neil Jones, Oti Mabuse and Pasha Kovalev.

The brand new series of Strictly Come Dancing kicks off on Saturday night (September 8th).

Find out everything you need to know about the new series right here.

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