Strictly Come Dancing has revealed four new pros will be joining the series as they confirmed their biggest line-up of professional dancers in the show’s history.
The BBC stalwart will return later this year for its landmark 20th series.
It is set to welcome European cup winner Vito Coppola, Carlos Gu, Lauren Oakley and Latin dance champion Michelle Tsiakkas to the ballroom for the first time.
The foursome’s arrival to follows the exits of fan favourites Oti Mabuse and Aljaž Škorjanec who announced their departure from the entertainment series in February and March.
Speaking of his new role, Vito Coppola said: “I am really excited to become part of this family. I cannot wait to start this new adventure and to challenge myself. Strictly sto arrivando! (or: Strictly I am coming!)”
He most recently competed in and won Ballando con le Stelle, the Italian version of Strictly Come Dancing.
Chinese National Champion Carlos Gu said: “I’m thrilled to join Strictly and very excited to get started. It’s a new chapter of my life and a new challenge as well. I’m absolutely ready to take on this journey and to shine.”
Former Under 21 British National Champion Lauren Oakley, who recently appeared alongside Giovanni Pernice and Anton Du Beke in their national tours, said: “I’ve grown up watching Strictly, always hoping that one day I could be part of the best show on television, doing what I love the most.
“Now that it’s happening, it doesn’t quite seem real. I can’t wait to start this new sequinned adventure and join this incredible family.”
While Burn The Floor star Michelle Tsiakkas said: “Being a professional dancer on Strictly Come Dancing has been my dream ever since I was a little girl.
“I cannot believe my dream has come true! I’m so grateful to be joining this incredible family and I can’t wait to step on that magical dance floor and give it my all!”
The new pros join returning dancers 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.
Previously, Anton Du Beke confirmed he was permanently taking over from Bruno Tonioli on the judging panel after standing in for the Italian on last year’s show due to Covid-19 travel restrictions.
Former professional dancer Du Beke joins Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse and Shirley Ballas on the panel.
Strictly Come Dancing returns to BBC One in the autumn.
