Strictly 2024 pro dancers in full as Amy Dowden returns and Giovanni Pernice exits
As Giovanni Pernice is confirmed to have left the show, which professional will compete in Strictly Come Dancing this year?
Strictly Come Dancing have now confirmed the line-up of professional dancers taking part this year.
Giovanni Pernice has left the BBC dance show after nine years amid allegations of workplace misconduct during training. Rumours that Pernice's future on the show was in jeopardy began after his 2023 celebrity partner Amanda Abbington - who quit the show early due to medical reasons - made claims that he mistreated her during rehearsals. Italian dancer Pernice, 33, denies the allegations.
The BBC has now announced the 18 professional dancers who will be taking part in this years show - and among them is Amy Dowden, who is returning to the dancefloor following her breast cancer treatment.
The dancers all appear in group dances but not all of them will be matched with a celebrity partner. It has previously been revealed that producers use a dance form of ‘speed dating’ to decide which pro partners the celebrities should be paired with. This helps them spot chemistry between the celebrities and the professionals.
Sarah James, Executive Producer says: "This year Strictly marks two decades of entertaining the nation and we will be back with a bang in September as we celebrate in style with our incredible team both on and off screen."
Here are the professionals taking part in the 22nd series of the show.
Amy Dowden
Strictly fans will be delighted to see Amy Dowden return to the pro cast after she was forced to take a year off in 2023 following a breast cancer diagnosis.
Dowden, who has now finished her chemotherapy, has made no secret that she would love to return to the dancefloor and told BBC Breakfast: "I’ve got amazing friends and family. The oncology unit, the nurses, the breast nurses, and also the public support has been incredible.
"And I think the goal and the dream to be back on the dance floor as well, because I’ve missed it so, so much. I’m working really really hard and getting my body fully back in rehab and physio, I’ve got a brilliant team. So fingers crossed I’ll be back on your screens dancing later this year. If Strictly will have me back, I’ll be back."
She also recently told Lorraine: "I would love to return, to be back with my Strictly family. It’s what makes my dancing heart happy, so that’s the goal. Obviously, we don’t know yet who’s back, but that is the dream."
She continued: "I haven’t danced since May, it’s the longest time. I know it’s going to be a long process to get back on that dance floor, but I know I’ll enjoy every step of the way, too. The Strictly family has and always has and always will hold a special place in my heart."
Dowden joined the show in 2017 and came second in 2019 with TV presenter Karim Zeroual.
Gorka Marquez
Gorka Marquez joined the show in 2016 and has come second three times - in 2017 with Alexandra Burke, in 2019 with Maisie Smith and in 2022 with Helen Skelton. Marquez was out in the first few weeks of the 2023 series where he was partnered with Nikita Kanda and in series 17 he was in the pro cast for group dances, but was not given a celebrity partner.
The Spanish dancer's partner Gemma Atkinson let slip he would be taking part this year while posting on social media about childcare arrangements for their children Mia, four, and Thiago, 10 months.
In a now-deleted post, she wrote: "Depending on Gorka's partner and whether he has a partner, depending on where they're based, he doesn't know where he is. All the childcare lands on my family because obviously all his family are in Spain."
The Hollyoaks star met Marquez when she took part in the 2017 series, although they were not partnered together.
Nikita Kuzmin
Nikita Kuzmin has risen through the ranks to become a pro cast favourite since joining Strictly in 2021 and was one of 2023's stand-out pairings with Layton Williams.
Kuzmin appeared as a contestant in ITV's reboot of Celebrity Big Brother earlier this year and finished as runner-up, and some viewers wondered whether he could be out of the BBC contest's cast after doing reality TV. There were a few awkward moments with fellow housemate Fern Britton, who Kuzmin struggled to get along with, but he managed to remain relatively controversy-free.
But Kuzmin fans can relax as he is in the confirmed line-up.
Vito Coppola
Vito Coppola is the current reigning champion of Strictly, after winning the 2023 series with Corrie star Ellie Leach. The 31-year-old Italian only joined the show in 2022 and Leach was his second partner, after he danced with Fleur East in 2022 and came second.
Coppola has become known for the unusual and eccentric metaphors he used in rehearsals. In 2023 he and Leach called themselves Team Aubergine after his favourite vegetable and even vowed to get matching tattoos if they won.
Dianne Buswell
Australian Dianne Buswell joined Strictly in 2017. The finished second last year with partner Bobby Brazier, her seventh celebrity partner. Buswell has never won the show but also came second in 2018 with Youtube starJoe Sugg, who she is now in a relationship with.
During last year's series Buswell and Brazier became the centre of rumours they were the latest couple to fall victim to the 'Strictly curse'. But Buswell laughed the reports off, saying they were flattering.
Nadiya Bychkova
Nadiya Bychkova did not get a celebrity partner in 2023 and she posted a statement on social media admitted she was very disappointed. The Ukrainian professional dancer - who joined the BBC show in 2017 - was paired with Bros star Matt Goss in 2022 and they were the third couple to be eliminated from the competition.
In 2021 she made it to the quarter final with former BBC Breakfast host and Channel 5 newsreader Dan Walker, the furthest she had even got in the competition.
Graziano Di Prima
Italian dancer Graziano Di Prima joined the show in 2018. His celebrity partners have included comedian and Loose Women panelist Judi Love and Coronation Street star Kym Marsh. He has never won the show.
Karen Hauer
Karen Hauer, 42, is Venezuelan-American and has served on the show since 2012. She came second with Jamie Laing in series 18 and danced in a same-sex coupling with comedian Jayde Adams in 2022. She has placed 12th for the past three years.
Hauer has been married three times: first to former dance partner Matthew Hauer, then to fellow Strictly professional dancer Kevin Clifton between 2015 and 2018, and in 2022 she married Jordan Wyn-Jones.
Katya Jones
Katya Jones has had her share of drama on the show since she joined Strictly in 2016 and was partnered with former MP and GMB host Ed Balls. They famously performed the Salsa to Gagnam Style by K-pop star Psy. She then went on to win the show with actor Joe McFadden in 2017. Additionally, she was a part of Strictly's first ever same-sex couple with boxer Nicola Adams in 2020.
Katya was married to fellow Strictly pro Neil Jones. But in 2018 she was pictures kissing her celebrity partner, comedian Seann Walsh. The kiss led to the break up of Katya's marriage. In 2022 Jones was caught on camera arguing with her celebrity partner, footballer Tony Adams.
Johannes Radebe
Johannes Radebe started as a pro on Strictly in 2018, although for his first series he didn't have a celebrity partner. Quickly, Radebe has become a fan favourite at home and he made a huge impression on audiences.
It has been life-changing for him personally too as he said: "Joining Strictly Come Dancing is one of the greatest achievements of my dancing career. It is such an honour to be chosen to be a part of an incredible cast and be part of one of the biggest shows that is celebrated worldwide."
Making history, the South African star was partnered with former Great British Bake Off star John Whaite in the first ever all-male coupling. Last year, everyone loved the beautiful partnership between Radebe and Annabel Croft. Radebe teaching her to dance had helped Croft grieve for her husband Mel who died of cancer in May last year.
Neil Jones
New dad Neil Jones is heading back to the BBC ballroom again. He first burst onto our screens on Strictly in 2016 when he wasn't given a celebrity partner. In 2019, he was partnered with his first celebrity Alex Scott and they came fifth in the competition. In 2021, Jones danced with Nina Wadia but they were eliminated in the second week.
Last year he didn't have a celebrity partner but Jones explained he doesn't mind. He told The Radio Times: "I would honestly say to you, I love when I have a partner, and I love when I don’t have a partner. When you don’t have a partner, a lot of people think you just sit at home. But you really don’t."
He added: "On Strictly, they make sure you’ve got plenty to do. We’re doing group numbers and music acts, we help out other pros."
Kai Widdrington
Widdrington is romancing Bychkova behind the scenes of Strictly and it's been official since June 2022. Both of the couple will be delighted to return to Strictly this series. Widdrington has been a star professional dancer on Strictly since 2021 and been partnered with celebrities from day one on the show.
The choreographer has made some great achievements on Strictly so far. Last year, the dancer finished seventh with Angela Rippon who is the show's oldest ever contestant. Before that, he won the Strictly Come Dancing Christmas special with Alexandra Mardell in 2022.
Luba Mushtuk
Luba Mushtuk first started out as an assistant choreographer on the show in 2016 and she showed off her moves on the live tours. She became a professional dancer in 2018 and got her first celebrity partnership in 2019 with James Cracknell.
The following year she danced with American football player Jason Bell and then last year she was dancing with actor Adam Thomas.
Jowita Przystal
Jowita Przystal is The Greatest Dancer, having won the titled reality series with partner Michael Danilczuk in 2020. Having proven her dance skills, she was a great fit for Strictly's pro team from 2021. On The Greatest Dancer, former Strictly legend Oti Mabuse gave her guidance.
Przystal won the Glitter Ball trophy with her first celebrity partner and wildlife cameraman and CBeebies star Hamza Yassin in 2022. She danced with Paralympian Jody Cundy last year but they were eliminated early on in the show.
Nancy Xu
Nancy Xu has been part of the Strictly family since 2019 but she got her first celeb partner Rhys Stephenson in 2021. She's had a few near misses with the Glitter Ball trophy as she and Stephenson made it all the way to the semi-final. Then again in 2022, she narrowly lost out on the final with actor Will Mellor. She had less success last year with comedian Les Dennis.
Carlos Gu
Carlos Gu waltzed his way onto Strictly in 2022. He has danced with celebrities Molly Rainford and Angela Scanlon during his brief time on the show so far. We can't wait to see what how he gets on this year.
Lauren Oakley
She's been dancing since she was just two years old but Lauren Oakley joined the Strictly Come Dancing professional line-up in 2022. Last year, she danced with news reader Krishnan Guru-Murthy and learning to dance completely transformed his outlook on life.
Michelle Tsiakkas
Michelle Tsiakkas also started dancing at the early age of six. She become a member of the Strictly family in 2022 and Tsiakkas dances all of the group performances but she has yet to have a celebrity partner on the show. Will this year be the year?
Of joining the show, she said: "Being a professional dancer on Strictly Come Dancing has been my dream ever since I was a little girl. I cannot believe my dream has come true! I’m so grateful to be joining this incredible family and I can’t wait to step on that magical dance floor and give it my all!"
Strictly Come Dancing is expected to return to BBC One in the autumn.
