Strictly Come Dancing

Disney's new kids series promises pure magic

The pair are among a talented roster of British talent who will feature in new animated comedy series, Sadie Sparks.

Launching on the Disney Channel in early 2019, the show follows 14-year-old Sadie, who finds out she has magical abilities and becomes a wizard in training – under the guidance of a very old, very grumpy rabbit Gilbert (Hound), who has been sent to help her harness her skills.

BBC One’s Who Do You Think You Are? returns for 15th series

(Credit: BBC)

This year’s line-up of history hungry stars includes British actress and newly minted star of The Crown Olivia Colman (Broadchurch), pop icon Boy George, comedian Lee Mack, former JLS member Marvin Humes and Our Girl actor Michelle Keegan.

Olivia Colman will journey from Norfolk to India, embarking on the discovery of a diverse heritage and Lee Mack’s investigation uncovers that comedy runs in the family.

Full celebrity line-up announced for Strictly Come Dancing

This year's series will see the return of judges Craig Revel-Horwood, Bruno Tonioli and Darcey Bussell, with new addition Shirley Ballas, who is replacing Len Goodman as Head Judge.

See the full line-up of all fifteen celebrities putting on their dancing shoes this Autumn, all with a chance of winning the glitterball trophy.

New professional dancers join the Strictly Come Dancing line up

The three new professional dancers are all champions in their own right from the world of Ballroom and Latin dancing.

Dianne Buswell from Australia, Nadiya Bychkova from Ukraine and Amy Dowden from Wales will join the new series.

The three new professional dancers will replace Joanne Clifton and Oksana Platero who are leaving the series, along with Natalie Lowe who previously announced she would not be returning.

Shirley Ballas confirmed as Strictly Come Dancing head judge

Shirley Ballas (Credit: BBC)

Known as the Queen of Latin, Ballas is one of the most decorated professional dancers in the world, and is a three-time British Open to the World Latin American champion and 10-time United States Latin American champion.

Since retiring from competitive dancing in 1996, she has worked as a coach to top professional and amateur dancers, and as an adjudicator for ballroom and Latin American competitions around the world.

Dances with Balls: Katya Jones tells all about Strictly's most enthusiastic contestant

Strictly Come Dancing’s Len Goodman’s critique of Ed Balls’ The Mask-themed Samba spoke for the nation a few weeks ago. Ed Balls has defied expectations to become one of the most popular contestants on the show.

Despite coming bottom of the leaderboard throughout the series, Balls and dance partner Katya Jones have escaped elimination each week.

“Even those who didn’t like him before are warming to him now” Jones says. “He’s just a normal human who came in knowing nothing about dance, and he’s trying so hard.”

Strictly professional: Gorka talks Tameka, Charleston and elimination

Strictly

“Every ballroom dancer in the competition world, once they stop competing, they want to join the programme,” says Gorka Marquez.

Marquez is one of six new professionals who joined the Strictly Family in 2016, along with husband and wife dancing duo Katya and Neil Jones, AJ Pritchard, Chloe Hewitt and Oksana Platero.

Until the shock elimination last weekend, he was partnered with EastEnders actress Tameka Empson.

“I think the time wasn’t right for her because she was a good dancer. I think it was too early” he protests.

Final names complete Strictly line-up

Rutherford has just returned from the Rio Olympics where he won a bronze medal in the long jump final. He announced his taking part in the celebrity dance contest on BBC's The One Show alongside actors Lesley Joseph and Tameka Empson.

Joseph is most remembered for her role in the 1990's hit sitcom Birds of a Feather, where she played promiscuous neighbour Dorien, while Empson rose to prominence in her hidden camera comedy 3 Non-Blondes in 2003. She currently stars on EastEnders as the bubbly but vicious Kim Fox.