STRICTLY Come Dancing is back on BBC One on Saturday, September 7, 2o19 and so are the professional dancers who’ll be paired with a celeb partner – with the exception of Graziano Di Prima.
The Italian Stallion was axed from the main line-up this year, but who are the confirmed dancers? Find out below…
Who are the Strictly Come Dancing 2019 professional dancers?
The pro dancers come and go – with the exception of fan favourite Anton Du Beke.
So who’s still in the line-up and who’s gone?
We have all the details on the dance pros who will be taking part in 2019.
Kevin Clifton
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Kevin has been a mainstay of the Strictly line-up in recent years and will be back for his seventh series.
The 36-year-old split from his wife and fellow Strictly professional, Karen Clifton.
In 2018 he won the show with Stacey Dooley – the pair are now a couple.
Karen Clifton
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Karen will be returning for her eighth series which makes her the longest surviving female professional on the show.
She reached the finals in 2014 when partnered with Mark Wright, but the duo came runners-up.
Anton Du Beke
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One of the few stars of the original 2004 line-up, Anton Du Beke is returning for his sixteenth series.
The Sun exclusively reported in January 2018, that Anton had escaped the axe after bosses had chosen to sack co-star Brendan Cole.
An insider explained at the time: “Brendan is the only major name not returning. Anton will be back again this year.
Anton‘s best result came in the first series when he placed third alongside Lesley Garrett.
Janette Manrara
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Janette joined Strictly for its eleventh series in 2013 and has remained ever since.
The 35-year-old is married to fellow Strictly professional Aljaž Škorjanec.
Janette is adamant the “show’s curse” won’t affect her marriage because she trusts her husband completely.
Katya Jones
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Katya claimed the Glitterball prize in 2017 along with Holby City actor Joe McFadden.
The Russian pro has announced she has separated with her husband and fellow Strictly professional Neil Jones.
But she became widely known after THAT kiss with 2018 dance partner Seann Walsh.
Neil Jones
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For the fourth year in a row, Neil has been confirmed as part of the professional’s line-up for Strictly Come Dancing.
The 2016 recruit has been without a celebrity partner for the past three series while his estranged wife Katya has gone on to be crowned the winner.
Neil will be hoping for better luck with securing a partner when the show returns in autumn.
Oti Mabuse
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This will be Oti‘s fifth year on the show.
The South African dancer has seen her career soar since landing her job on the show.
In 2019 she was also on the box as a judge on The Greatest Dancer.
Dianne Buswell
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Dianne made her debut on Strictly in 2017 and said: “What an honour it is to be a part of Strictly Come Dancing.
“Words can’t describe how excited I am to take on this amazing challenge and give it my everything”.
The 29-year-old Australian was partnered with Reverend Richard Coles but the two were sent home in week three.
However, this took a turn for the better when Dianne was partnered with Joe Sugg – as the pair are now a real-life couple.
Nadiya Bychkova
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Nadiya also made her debut in 2017 and made it to week 11 with EastEnders star Davood Ghadami.
She exited the show in week three in 2018 with partner Lee Ryan.
The Ukranian dancer is a two-time World Champion and European Champion and was part of a big Strictly Come Dancing shake-up.
Amy Dowden
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Amy was partnered with Brian Conley for her Strictly debut in 2017, but the pair were eliminated in week four.
However, she came back for the 2018 series and achieved the first 10 of the series with her partner Danny-John Jules
Aljaž Škorjanec
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Aljaž joined the Strictly crew in series 11 and won his debut year with Abbey Clancey.
Since then, he’s been partnered with Alison Hammond and Helen George.
He finished runner-on in 2017 with actress Gemma Atinkson.
The dancer, who is married to Janette Manrara, was paired with Kate Silverton in 2018.
Giovanni Pernice
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Despite only joining the show four years ago, Giovanni has managed to come runner-up twice.
He finished second with Georgia May Foote in 2015, before he repeated the feat with Debbie McGee in 2017.
In 2018 he was paired with Faye Tozer and he’s dating Ashley Roberts who also appeared on the show.
AJ Pritchard
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This will be AJ‘s fourth year on the show after he set pulses racing when he teamed up with The Saturdays singer Mollie King in 2017 and then Team GB athlete Lauren Steadman in 2018.
He started dancing at a young age, learning his craft at his mum and dad Adrian at Debi’s dance school, Pritchard’s Dance and Fitness Academy in Cheshire.
His brother Curtis appeared on Love Island in 2019.
Gorka Marquez
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Gorka joined Strictly Come Dancing in 2016 and made it to the final in 2017 with X Factor star Alexandra Burke.
While the 28-year-old didn’t walk away with the crown, he did snag himself a serious girlfriend, Gemma Atkinson.
Gorka has also represented Spain in the World Latin Championships in 2010 and reached the semi-finals of the 2012 WDSF World Cup.
Johannes Radebe
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Johannes is a two-time Professional South African Latin Champion and three-time South African Amateur Latin Champion.
The 33 -year-old has Strictly experience, having been a professional dancer for two seasons on the South Africa version, reaching the final both times.
He joined for the 2018 UK version of the show but was not paired up with a celeb.
Luba Mushtuk
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Luba is a four-time winner of the Italian Dance Championship and used to date fellow Strictly professional, Giovanni Pernice.
She joined the Strictly line-up in 2018, but was not given a celeb partner.
Who won’t be returning to Strictly Come Dancing 2019?
Graziano Di Prima
Graziano is an Italian Latin Champion and was recruited to Strictly in 2018, where he danced with Vick Hope.
The 26-year-old has represented Belgium at the World Championships and toured the world with the dance company Burn The Floor.
But he has been “demoted” this year and will not have a celebrity partner for series 17.
In a statement to his Instagram followers, he wrote: “Just letting the fans know that I will not have a celeb partner this series, but don’t worry… I am not going anywhere!
“You will see me every Saturday/Sunday nights in all our amazing group dances, on It Takes Two and across the series.”
Pasha Kovalev
Pasha shocked us all in February 2019 when he announced he would be leaving Strictly Come Dancing after a whopping eight years on the show.
The Russian pro announced the news on Twitter, posting: “It’s ‘time to find a new challenge.
“Thanks to the incredible partners, professionals and myriad of behind the scenes teams who all work to make Strictly the amazing production it is.”
When does Strictly Come Dancing 2019 start?
Strictly Come Dancing is returning for its 17th series on BBC One this September.
On Friday, 23, July, it was revealed via a social post on the Strictly account that the official Strictly start date will be Saturday, September 7, 2019.
The news was accompanied by a short trailer which showed the professional dancers posing in glitzy outfits and trying to out perform each other.
It kicks off with the red carpet launch on Monday, August 26, 2019.
There after the main show will air live on Saturday evenings with the results the following day on Sundays.
You can get the FULL celebrity line-up here.
