Strictly Come Dancing professionals line-up: Meet the 2023 dancers
Who's in and who's out?
There will be 19 professional dancers taking to the floor in the Strictly Come Dancing 2023 line-up.
While there aren't any newcomers this year, some dancers will be taking centre stage, with the possibility of having a celebrity by their side for the first time.
The celebrity pairings are yet to be announced, but fans and dancers alike are excited nonetheless with a new season of Strictly Come Dancing right around the corner.
Cameron Lombard confirmed he had quit the show earlier this year after two years. A Strictly spokesperson said at the time Cameron is currently pursuing other opportunities but will always be part of the family and that "our door will always be open to him in the future".
Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, Anton Du Beke and Shirley Ballas will all return as judges for Strictly's 21st season.
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With the celebrity line-up fully announced, meet the Strictly Come Dancing professionals who have been confirmed for the 2023 series.
Strictly Come Dancing professionals line-up: Meet 2023 dancers
Kai Widdrington
Instagram: @kaiwidd
Twitter: @Kaiwidd
Won: N/A
Kai is World Junior Latin American Champion 2010 and a former Dancing with the Stars Ireland professional. He has previously featured in group numbers and toured with a number of the current Strictly pros.
He was previously partnered with AJ Odudu, and was guaranteed a place in the finale in 2021 had she not sustained an injury. Last year Kai was paired with Kaye Adams and they were the first elimination of the series.
Will he have better luck in 2023?
Nikita Kuzmin
Instagram: @nikita__kuzmin
Won: N/A
Nikita joined Strictly from Germany's Let's Dance and is a six-time Latin and Ballroom National Champion in Italy.
He was partnered with Paralympic champion swimmer Ellie Simmonds in 2022, and they were the sixth couple to be eliminated. There is no doubt he'll be up for getting partnered up again.
Jowita Przystał
Instagram: @jowitaprzystal
Won: Season 20 (Hamza Yassin)
Jowita, who won the BBC’s The Greatest Dancer last year, was the Polish Open Latin Champion in 2014.
Jowita is currently the reigning champion, alongside Hamza Yassin, after they took home the Glitterball last year. There's no doubt she'll be trying to keep hold of it for another year.
Amy Dowden
Twitter: @dowden_amy
Instagram: amy_dowden
Won: N/A
British national champion Amy Dowden grew up watching Strictly from her native Wales, finally achieving her dream of joining the show in 2017.
Amy Dowden won't be part of the main line-up this year following her breast cancer diagnosis. The Welsh dancer said earlier this year that doctors had found another type of cancer, and she is now having chemotherapy.
Dowden recently added that, although she may not be dancing every week, she hopes to make an appearance - whether it be on the main show for a routine or on It Takes Two.
She told Hello! Magazine: "I've been on the phone to the Strictly team today. They said they're getting me some fabulous wigs ready [for any appearances]. The team are being guided by me – they've been utterly amazing."
Dianne Buswell
Twitter: @dbuzz6589
Instagram: diannebuswell
Won: N/A
Australian Open Champion Dianne Buswell honed her skills on Strictly Come Dancing down under before joining the British edition in 2017. She was eliminated third with radio DJ Dev Griffin in 2019 but had better luck the year before when she reached the final with vlogger Joe Sugg.
Dianne and Joe been dating ever since and even launched their joint YouTube channel, In The Pan.
In 2020, she was partnered with Max George, but they only made it to week four. Dianne was then forced to stop competing a little earlier than planned with her celeb partner Robert Webb, who had to withdraw in week four citing medical reasons.
Giovanni Pernice
Twitter: @pernicegiovann1
Instagram: pernicegiovann1
Won: Season 19 (Rose Ayling-Ellis)
Italian stallion Giovanni Pernice won the Italian Championships in 2012, before joining the Strictly professional line-up in 2015.
He's reached the final an impressive three times - with Georgia May Foote, Debbie McGee and Faye Tozer. In 2020, he made it to week eight with Good Morning Britain star Ranvir Singh. He stormed to victory in 2021 with his partner Rose Ayling-Ellis.
Oh, and he's also the Guinness World Record holder for Jive kicks and flicks, as well as Charleston swivels - the more you know.
Gorka Márquez
Twitter: @gorkamarquez1
Instagram: gorka_marquez
Won: N/A
Spanish dancing sensation Gorka Márquez is back for another shot at the Glitterball trophy after coming runner-up with Alexandra Burke in 2017.
While he didn't win the competition, he did win the heart of contestant Gemma Atkinson - the two welcomed baby Mia in July 2019 and danced together in the 2019 Christmas Special. In July 2023, the couple welcomed their second child, whom Gemma called "utterly wonderful".
In 2020, Gorka made it all the way to the finals with EastEnders actress Maisie Smith – however, they just missed out on the Glitterball as Bill Bailey was crowned the 2020 winner. He made it to the final with Helen Skelton in 2022, but missed out on the Glitterball once again.
Graziano Di Prima
Twitter: @GrazianoDiPrima
Instagram: grazianodiprima
Won: N/A
Sicilian-born Graziano Di Prima took a year off in 2019, after partnering with radio presenter Vick Hope in 2018. He didn't actually have a celebrity partner in 2019 or 2020 but did perform as part of the professional dance routines which take place every Saturday and Sunday.
In 2021, Graziano was paired with Judi Love - the pair came 10th after winning lots of fans with their saucy Samba. The following year, Graziano was partnered with Kym Marsh and came in fifth place.
Asides from Strictly, Di Prima made the top 24 at the Under-21 Latin World Championships, and also toured the world with his dance company Burn the Floor.
Johannes Radebe
Twitter: @jojo_radebe
Instagram: johannesradebe
Won: N/A
Two-time Professional South African Latin Champion Johannes Radebe reached the final of Strictly South Africa twice and joined the British edition in 2018. He was given his first celebrity partner Catherine Tyldesley in 2019 but was eliminated in week six.
In 2020, he was partnered with actress Caroline Quentin, but unfortunately, they only made it to week five in the competition. He did a lot better in 2021 when he was paired with runner-up John Whaite.
Karen Hauer
Twitter: @karen_hauer
Instagram: karenhauer
Won: N/A
The longest-serving female professional on Strictly, Professional World Mambo Champion Karen Hauer has had memorable partnerships with celebrities such as Jeremy Vine, Mark Wright and Charles Venn.
She came tantalisingly close to the Glitterball trophy when she reached the final with Made in Chelsea star Jamie Laing in 2020. In 2022, she was partnered with Jayde Adams and they were the fourth pair to be voted off.
Katya Jones
Twitter: @Mrs_katjones
Instagram: mrs_katjones
Won: Season 15 (Joe McFadden)
World Professional Latin Showdance Champion Katya Jones has had many memorable moment on Strictly, from dancing to Gangnam Style with Ed Balls to winning with Joe McFadden in 2017. The then-married Katya caused controversy when she was photographed kissing partner Sean Walsh in 2018, though had a quieter 2019 with BBC Breakfast’s Mike Bushell.
Katya was part of the show's first-ever same-sex pairing in 2020 when she danced with boxer Nicola Adams.
She teamed up with Olympic champ Adam Peaty in 2021, but the pair only managed to come ninth.
Luba Mushtuk
Twitter: @LubaMushtuk
Instagram: lubamushtuk
Won: N/A
Four-time winner of the Italian Dance Championship, Luba Mushtuk was an assistant choreographer on the show for several years before finally being given celebrity partner James Cracknell in 2019. Unfortunately, they were voted first.
She managed to get a little further in 2020 when she was partnered with Jason Bell, but only made it to week three. Luba didn't get a partner in 2021 or 2022.
Nadiya Bychkova
Twitter: @NadiyaBychkova
Instagram: nadiyabychkova
Won: N/A
A two-time World Champion and European Champion in Ballroom and Latin '10' Dance, Ukrainian-born Nadiya Bychkova is back for her fifth year on the show. She has partnered with Davood Ghadami, Lee Ryan and David James, with whom she was eliminated fifth.
Nadiya performed a little better with Dan Walker, coming in a respectable fifth place in 2021. In 2022, Nadia was partnered with Matt Goss but were later the third pair to be eliminated.
Nancy Xu
Twitter: @Nancy_xuxi
Instagram: nancy_xuxi
Won: N/A
A new addition in 2019, Nancy Xu performed in the group numbers and was partnered with EastEnders actor Rudolph Walker in the Children in Need Special. Xu was a finalist in So You Think You Can Dance in her home country of China, and was a finalist in the U21 World Championships in 2010. The pro dancer teamed up with Rhys Stephenson in 2021 and came in fourth.
Neil Jones
Twitter: @Mr_NJones
Instagram: mr_njonesofficial
Won: N/A
World Professional Latin Showdance Champion Neil Jones has won 45 titles around the world during his competitive career, though is yet to claim that of Strictly Come Dancing champion. After acting as a stand-in for several years, Neil got a celebrity partner in 2019 and reached the fifth place with professional footballer Alex Scott. He wasn't given a celeb partner in 2020, but teamed up with Nina Wadia in 2021 - the pair were eliminated first, unfortunately.
Carlos Gu
Instagram: @gkx_carlos
Won: N/A
Carlos Gu is a Chinese National Champion with a number of dance accolades under his belt. Gu was the Amateur Latin Rising Star Runner Up at the 2017 UK Open and came in third place at the German Open Championships.
Carlos made his Strictly debut in 2022 alongside Molly Rainford. The pair were the runners-up behind winners Hamza Yassin and Jowita Przystał.
Lauren Oakley
Instagram: @laurenmayoakley
Twitter: @laurenmayoakley
Won: N/A
Lauren Oakley started dancing when she was just two years old and soon enough she began competing. Some of Lauren's successes include Under-21 British National Champion and Juvenile Champion at the Blackpool Dance Festival, winning across both ballroom and Latin disciplines.
Lauren joined Strictly in 2022 but did not have a celebrity partner.
Michelle Tsiakkas
Instagram: @michelle_tsiak
Won: N/A
Latin dance champion Michelle Tsiakkas began dancing at the age of six in her home country of Cyprus. It was in Cyprus where she became an undefeated champion, winning titles consecutively from 2001 to 2011 before moving to London.
Vito Coppola
Instagram: @vitocoppola
Won: N/A
Vito Coppola is an 11-time Italian Latin American Champion who has been dancing since he was six years old. Just some of Vito's accolades include being a three-time World Champion finalist and European Cup Winner.
In 2022, Vito was partnered with singer and radio host Fleur East.
Strictly Come Dancing will return to BBC One later this month. Check out our TV Guide or Streaming Guide or visit our Entertainment hub for the latest news.
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