Who will be the first celebrity to receive a 10 from Strictly Come Dancing judge Craig Revel Horwood? Well, you won't have long to wait to find out.

That's because the BBC has finally confirmed the start date for the 2024 series.

It's set to be a big one, as the dancing competition will be celebrating its 20th anniversary this year with head judge Shirley Ballas, Anton Du Beke and Mosti Mabuse also returning to the judging panel.

When does Strictly Come Dancing 2024 start?

In a reel posted on the Strictly social media accounts, former The Only Way is Essex star Pete Wicks can be seen holding up 1 and 5 scoring paddles.

The caption reads: "Your #Strictly countdown is on! There are only 15 days till @p_wicks01 puts the tan in Tango."

This means the battle for the glitterball trophy will begin on Saturday, September 14.

Strictly Come Dancing 2024 line-up in full - who is on it?

  • Chris McCausland
  • JB Gill
  • Wynne Evans
  • Toyah Willcox
  • Dr Punam Krishan
  • Tasha Ghouri
  • Pete Wicks
  • Shayne Ward
  • Sarah Hadland
  • Tom Dean
  • Jamie Borthwick
  • Montell Douglas
  • Nick Knowles
  • Paul Merson
  • Sam Quek

Amy Dowden's Strictly return to be marked with special dance

Professional dancer Amy Dowden’s return to Strictly will be celebrated with an “empowering” group dance by the show’s professionals - it will be choreographed by Jason Gilkison.

The performance will feature in the launch show of the BBC dancing programme’s 22nd series on BBC One.

Dowden will return to the show after being diagnosed with breast cancer in May 2023, when she found a lump the day before her honeymoon, and missed out on having a celebrity partner in that year’s series of Strictly.

The 34-year-old announced in February that she would return to the show this year, after a mastectomy and chemotherapy left her with “no evidence of disease” following tests.

Speaking about the dance in her honour, Dowden said: “I am so excited for every element of being back with my Strictly family.

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“I am so grateful to get this opportunity, especially as it’s such a special year for this legendary show. It feels like it’s my first year again.

“I’m buzzing to see the whole team, for costumes, for dance routines, to meet the celebrities, the judges. Everyone’s laughing at me because I am just smiling constantly.

“I’d like to dedicate this dance to my pink sisters who have supported me through the past year and to all those currently facing cancer.”