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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Entertainment
Lottie Gibbons

New Strictly Come Dancing series set for big changes

Four new dancers will join Strictly Come Dancing's line-up of professionals, creating the BBC One show's largest roster ever.

European cup winner Vito Coppola, Chinese national champion Carlos Gu, former under-21 British national champion Lauren Oakley and Latin dance champion Michelle Tsiakkas will feature in the forthcoming series.

They join the professional dancers already revealed for the upcoming series: Dianne Buswell, Nadiya Bychkova, Graziano Di Prima, Amy Dowden, Karen Hauer, Katya Jones, Neil Jones, Nikita Kuzmin, Cameron Lombard, Gorka Marquez, Luba Mushtuk, Giovanni Pernice, Jowita Przystal, Johannes Radebe, Kai Widdrington and Nancy Xu.

READ MORE: Susanna Reid taken aback as Carol Vorderman unveiled as Lorraine's replacement

11-time Italian Latin American Champion Vito Coppola began dancing at the age of six and by the age of 10 was winning national championships. His career highlights include being a three-time World Championship finalist and European Cup Winner.

In 2021 he left the competition world as one of its highest ranking athletes to explore on screen opportunities, most recently competing in and winning Ballando con le Stelle, the Italian version of Strictly Come Dancing.

Chinese National Champion Carlos Gu is a dancer at the very top of his game. He is a multiple world semi-finalist, placed third at the German Open Championship and became Amateur Latin Rising Star Runner Up at the 2017 UK Open.

With further experience in ballroom, ballet and contemporary dance, Carlos brings a wealth of dance knowledge to the Strictly ballroom.

Birmingham-born Lauren Oakley started dancing at just two-years-old and began competing soon after. Early successes include becoming Juvenile Champion at the prestigious Blackpool Dance Festival, winning across both Ballroom and Latin disciplines.

She was also crowned Under 21 British National Champion before exploring a career on stage. She has toured all over the world and most recently has been leading lady to Giovanni Pernice and Anton Du Beke in their national tours.

Latin dance champion Michelle Tsiakkas first started dancing at the age of six in her home country of Cyprus. There she became an undefeated champion, winning national titles consecutively from 2001-2011 before moving to London to study.

Whilst in the UK she continued to compete, representing England at major international championships before joining the world touring dance show Burn The Floor.

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