[Sam!]

Strictly reveals dancing line-up

Joe Calzaghe, Zoe Lucker and Ricky Groves - EastEnders' Garry - are among the hopefuls

The star contestants for the new series of Strictly Come Dancing include boxer Joe Calzaghe, the BBC has revealed.

Actress Lynda Bellingham, Crimewatch host Rav Wilding, ex-cricketer Phil Tufnell and tennis champion Martina Hingis will also take part.

Hollyoaks' Ricky Whittle and The Bill's Ali Bastian, EastEnders Ricky Groves and Natalie Cassidy will compete with BBC Breakfast's Chris Hollins.

Ex-Footballers Wives star Zoe Lucker is also among the competitors.

Lucker will take to the dancefloor against her co-star from the ITV melodrama, actress Laila Rouss.

Athlete Jade Johnson and jockey Richard Dunwoody will also represent the world of sport in the series, which begins on BBC One next month.


Actress Natalie Cassidy will team up with Vincent Simone.

Jo Wood, the estranged wife of Rolling Stone Ronnie and actor Craig Kelly - who plays factory manager Luke Strong in Coronation Street - complete the line-up.

Kelly is also well-known for playing Vince in 1990s drama Queer As Folk.

The makers of the Saturday night show have also revealed some changes to the way the competition is run this series.

The first two weeks will see the 16 competitors split into two groups, but not into men and women as in previous outings.

There will be shows on Friday and Saturday for the opening two weeks, but the Sunday results show has been shelved.

After the judges' scores, none of the couples will be safe from the dance off in another change from previous seasons.

It was previously announced that former winner Alesha Dixon is to replace Arlene Phillips on the judging panel in the new series.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/8220020.stm