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The pairings for this year's series of Strictly Come Dancing have been announced as the show burst back on to the nation's screens this weekend.

With the show's newly introduced format, the fourteen celebrities were partnered up with professionals in front of the cameras – allowing viewers to witness their reactions as they discovered their pairings for the first time.

The reveal saw The Rt Hon Ann Widdecombe partnering up with Strictly favourite Anton Du Beke, whilst Welsh rugby star Gavin Henson will be dancing with Katya Virshilas.

Tina O'Brien will take to the floor alongside Strictly newcomer and former High School Musical star Jared Murillo, and Paul Daniels will be working his magic with last year's winner Ola Jordan.

Felicity Kendal has been partnered with Vincent Simone, while Goldie and Kristina Rihanoff and Pamela Stephenson and James Jordan are also couples for the series.

Scott Maslen is partnered with Australian dancer Natalie Lowe, and Peter Shilton will be hoping his footballing footwork will come in handy as he dances with Erin Boag.

Kara Tointon will be dancing alongside newboy Artem Chigvintsev, and Patsy Kensit couples with the series' third new-comer Robin Windsor.

Jimi Mistry will be fighting for the Strictly title alongside previous finalist Flavia Cacace, but will face competition from Matt Baker and dance partner Aliona Vilani.

Completing this year's line-up are former Destiny's Child star Michelle Williams and partner Brendan Cole – a pairing which saw Williams quite literally swept off her feet.

With the pairings revealed, the couples will be off to practice before the first live shows on Friday 1 October and Saturday 2 October, in which they will be dancing either the Waltz or the Cha-cha-cha.

Notes to Editors

Strictly Come Dancing is available on ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ One and ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ HD, and airs this week Saturday 11 September, with the first live shows airing on Friday 1 October and Saturday 2 October.

Strictly Come Dancing holds several awards including a National Television Award for Most Popular Talent Show voted for by members of the British Public in 2008, and an RTS award for Best Entertainment Programme.

The show appears in the Guinness World Records 2010 as the world's most successful reality television format, and it is estimated that more than a quarter of a billion people watched an international version of the show since its launch.

You can get all the up-to-date gossip on the sister show It Takes Two, weekdays at 6.30pm on ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Two from Monday 4 October.

For more information and gossip follow us and and visit the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ's .

SM4/DM/CK

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Contacts

The list below features the specific publicity contact for Strictly celebrities, judges and presenters:

Daniel Maynard, Publicist (DM)

Gavin Henson
Matt Baker
Paul Daniels
Patsy Kensit
Michelle Williams

Stuart Macdonald, Publicist (SM4)

Felicity Kendal
Pamela Stephenson
Ann Widdecombe
Goldie
Scott Maslen
Jimi Mistry
And queries relating to social media

Charlotte Kingston, Marcomms assistant (CK)

Craig Revel Horwood
Bruno Tonioli
Peter Shilton
Tina O'Brien
Kara Tointon

Carly Sandland, Communications Manager (CS)

Alesha Dixon
Bruce Forsyth
Tess Daly
Claudia Winkleman