All the gossip from day one of Strictly Come Dancing 2017 rehearsals
Kevin Clifton met Susan Calman's cats and Richard Coles already has a new nickname

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It may have only been day one of training, but the Strictly Come Dancing class of 2017 have wasted no time in getting to know each other. And their pets.
Many of the celebrities and professionals managed to fit in a bit of tweeting in between the first day of rehearsals on Monday, with Susan Calman making good on her promise of essentially kidnapping Kevin Clifton by taking him to her house and enveloping him in cats…
Just a man, sitting in a living room, surrounded by cats. Welcome to the family @keviclifton. pic.twitter.com/uoyh5QhjAy
— Susan Calman (@SusanCalman) September 11, 2017
Oh, and he also met Susan’s wife!
Took @keviclifton home to meet @LeeCormack. Here they are contemplating if the Strictly curse will strike me this year. pic.twitter.com/ndFOqn35kw
— Susan Calman (@SusanCalman) September 11, 2017
Meanwhile Rev. Richard Coles revealed himself to be such a dance expert, he’s multitasking already – and also tweeted that pro partner Dianne Buswell has started calling him “Revo”. Amazing.
Dianne and I after one rehearsal are so expert that we can tweet while we dance #Strictly2017 pic.twitter.com/VK6lrysFaO
— Richard Coles (@RevRichardColes) September 11, 2017
Alexandra Burke and Gorka Marquez were all smiles after they completed their first day of rehearsals:
First Day of rehearsals done!!
Well done to my partner @alexandramusic You are a ⭐️ @bbcstrictly #StrictlyComeDancing2017 pic.twitter.com/GoZDuKqiNN— Gorka Marquez (@gorkamarquez1) September 11, 2017
And it turned out they were also training in the same place as Aston Merrygold and Janette Manrara! Looks like those days of X Factor rivalry circa 2008 are firmly in the past…
Incredible first day!! Hung out w/ our studio buddies, & met the gorgeous Sarah! Now sleep, & Day 2 mañana! #LetsDoThis #WeNeedATeamName ???????? pic.twitter.com/RYOnpeBU10
— Janette Manrara (@JManrara) September 11, 2017
Davood Ghadami and Nadiya Bychkova looked pretty elated to have finished for the day, although hopefully this isn’t their finished routine:
1 DAY – DONE✔️ @DavoodGhadami can't wait for tomorrow?????????? pic.twitter.com/cb7ds47lmn
— Nadiya Bychkova (@NadiyaBychkova) September 11, 2017
And Mollie King and AJ Pritchard were rather chuffed to have nailed a single move. Well, everyone’s got to start somewhere, eh?
When you've literally learnt ONE move and are playing it totally cool ???????????????? @Aj11Ace pic.twitter.com/0kOIuQzIiT
— MOLLIE KING (@MollieKing) September 11, 2017
Giovanni Pernice was also left speechless by partner Debbie McGee. We’re hoping that’s a good thing…
First day and I am just spichless!! ????????????
Thank you @thedebbiemcgee you are just amazing ????..carry on like this partner !!! ❤️#teamlovely— Giovanni Pernice (@pernicegiovann1) September 11, 2017
Strictly Come Dancing returns on Saturday 23rd September on BBC1