BBC Strictly Come Dancing announces week 1 routines - and one star's not happy

All 15 of the celebrities will take to the dance floor for the first time with their new dance partners in the first show this weekend

The first dances for Strictly Come Dancing's new couples have been unveiled ahead of the week one live show set to air tomorrow. Comedian Chris McCausland, making history as the show's first blind contestant, is set to perform the Cha Cha to The Beatles' Twist And Shout alongside partner Dianne Buswell.

Professional dancer Amy Dowden is poised to make a poignant return to the dance floor, performing the Waltz to Leo Sayer's When I Need You with celebrity partner JB Gill. The 34 year old dancer is making a comeback after her breast cancer diagnosis in May 2023.

Actor Jamie Borthwick, who clinched victory in the 2023 Christmas special, will take on the Viennese Waltz to Beautiful Things by Benson Boone with partner Michelle Tsiakkas, while ex-Arsenal midfielder Paul Merson is set to entertain with the American Smooth to Fat Les's football anthem Vindaloo, dancing with partner Karen Hauer.

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Paul's song choice apparently didn't sit well with the former sports personality. Insiders allege show bosses had to "re-record" his reaction because it was so negative.

A witness speaking to the Daily Mail commented: "You can't blame him for thinking he is being set up to be the joke act, but also the connotations of it [the song] are also not exactly positive either. It has been accused of being racist and the song that far-Right football hooligans sing."

This coming episode, viewers will see Gladiator Montell Douglas Foxtrot to Dinah Washington's classic hit Is You Is Or Is You Ain't My Baby alongside Johannes Radebe, while reality TV favourite Pete Wicks and Jowita Przystal will tackle the Paso Doble to The Prodigy's Breathe.

DIY expert Nick Knowles is all set to Jive with Luba Mushtuk to We Built This City by Starship, having shared his belief this stint on Strictly might be his "last chance physically" to join the fun.

This Morning's own health guru Punam Krishan is paired with Gorka Marquez, ready to Cha Cha to Kylie Minogue's Love At First Sight, whilst Olympic hockey hero Sam Quek and Nikita Kuzmin plan to deliver a graceful Foxtrot to The Supremes' Where Did Our Love Go.

The endearing Sarah Hadland from Miranda fame, alongside Vito Coppola, aims to impress with their Quickstep to 9 To 5 by Dolly Parton, and X Factor's Shayne Ward with Nancy Xu are prepped for a Samba to Stevie Wonders Do I Do. Love Island's Tasha Ghouri and her dancing partner Aljaz Skorjanec are set to perform the Cha Cha to Sabrina Carpenter's track 'Espresso'.

Toyah Wilcox will take on the Tango with Neil Jones to Madonna's 'Ray Of Light' as they participate in the special 20th series. Meanwhile, Olympic champion Tom Dean is gearing up for a Tango routine with Nadiya Bychkova to the tune of Harry Styles' 'Golden', and opera virtuoso Wynne Evans will team up with Katya Jones for a Samba, moving to the beats of 'Help Yourself' by Tom Jones.

Strictly Come Dancing airs at 7pm on Saturday, September 21 on BBC One and BBCiPlayer.