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THEY'RE BACK

Strictly Come Dancing reveal Oti Mabuse will return alongside Gorka Marquez, AJ Pritchard and Anton Du Beke

STRICTLY Come Dancing 2020's professional dancers have been revealed and it's a stellar line-up.

Despite fears that they had quit the show, both Oti Mabuse and Anton Du Beke are returning to the ballroom for series 18 alongside fellow favourites like Gorka Marquez and AJ Pritchard.

Oti Mabuse

 Oti Mabuse is back for Strictly Come Dancing's 18th series
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Oti Mabuse is back for Strictly Come Dancing's 18th seriesCredit: BBC

Oti's back for the new series after taking home the glitterball trophy with Kelvin Fletcher last year.

The reigning pro champion, who is also a dance captain on BBC One’s The Greatest Dancer had sparked fears she might not return amid rumours over her friendship with Kelvin.

The 29-year-old has asked to be partnered up with an older celebrity this time around, The Sun revealed last month.

Gorka Marquez 

 Gorka Marquez is returning after taking a year out
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Gorka Marquez is returning after taking a year outCredit: BBC

Gorka is no doubt thrilled to be back after being snubbed from last year's series.

The 29-year-old Spanish dancer has been a professional dancer on Strictly since 2016 and has danced with Tameka Empson, Alexandra Burke and Katie Piper.

During the 2019 series, he performed a special routine with his girlfriend Gemma Atkinson, when she returned to Strictly for the Christmas Special.

AJ Pritchard

 Fans will be glad to see AJ Pritchard dancing again
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Fans will be glad to see AJ Pritchard dancing againCredit: BBC

AJ has been part of Strictly Come Dancing for four series, dancing with celebrity partners Claudia Fragapane, Mollie King and Lauren Steadman.

Love Island's Curtis Pritchard's older brother was partnered with YouTuber Saffron Barker last year. 

They got knocked out after failing to impress with their samba.

Anton Du Beke 

 Anton Du Beke has shut down rumours he was quitting the show
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Anton Du Beke has shut down rumours he was quitting the showCredit: BBC

Despite rumours that he was quitting Strictly, the show's longest running pro dancer is returning for series 18.

He is the only professional to have danced in every series but is yet to lift the Glitterball Trophy.

He came close in the most recent series, however, making it all the way to the final with EastEnders’ star Emma Barton.

Katya Jones

 Katya Jones is ready to serve up her spiciest samba
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Katya Jones is ready to serve up her spiciest sambaCredit: BBC

World Latin Champion Katya lifted the glitterball in 2017 with Joe McFadden and most recently was partnered with BBC Breakfast’s Mike Bushell.

She hit the headlines after being spotted kissing her then dance partner Seann Walsh in 2018 - which led to the comedian splitting up with his girlfriend.

Katya parted ways with her husband Neil Jones last August - and the Strictly hunk was recently spotted on the dating app Hinge.

Aljaz Skorjanec

 Aljaz Skorjanec shows no signs of slowing down
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Aljaz Skorjanec shows no signs of slowing downCredit: BBC

Aljaz joined Strictly Come Dancing in 2013 and during his first year, he won with Abbey Clancy.

Other partnerships have included Alison Hammond, Helen George, Gemma Atkinson and most recently Viscountess Emma Weymouth.

The pair developed such a close bond that Aljaz and his wife Janette Manrara went to Emma's estate for a lavish Christmas party.

Dianne Buswell

 Dianne Buswell is ready to slay the Strictly stage
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Dianne Buswell is ready to slay the Strictly stageCredit: BBC

Dianne was a professional dancer on the Australian version of Strictly Come Dancing before joining the UK series in 2017.

For Strictly’s 2018 series, Dianne reached the final with social media star Joe Sugg, who she's now dating.

Most recently she was partnered with BBC Radio 1 DJ Dev Griffin.

Giovanni Pernice 

 Giovannie Pernice will no doubt be showing Ashley Roberts what she's missing
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Giovannie Pernice will no doubt be showing Ashley Roberts what she's missingCredit: BBC

Giovanni's been gracing the Strictly ballroom for five series, and has made the final an impressive three times.

The dancer - who recently split from Ashley Roberts - reached the final rounds with Georgia May Foote, Debbie McGee and Faye Tozer.

In the most recent series he partnered Michelle Visage, and danced all the way to the Blackpool Special.

Karen Hauer

 Karen Hauer is still the show's longest serving female professional
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Karen Hauer is still the show's longest serving female professionalCredit: BBC

In 2009, Karen appeared in the US series So You Think You Can Dance, before making her debut on Strictly.

The 37-year-old - who was married to Kevin Clifton until 2018 - is the longest-serving female professional on Strictly and over the years has enjoyed memorable partnerships with Jeremy Vine, Mark Wright, Charles Venn and most recently reached the semi-final with comedian Chris Ramsey.

Karen admitted last month that she feared getting the axe and said it was "nerve-wracking" waiting to get the news.

Amy Dowden 

 Amy Dowden is ready to give it her all
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Amy Dowden is ready to give it her allCredit: BBC

Amy grew up watching Strictly Come Dancing from her home town of Caerphilly, South Wales and in 2017 her dream of dancing on the show came true, when she joined the series as a professional dancer. Most recently Amy was paired with CBBC presenter Karim Zeroual.

Together they received the first 40 of the 2019 series and also a place in its final.

Janette Manrara

 Janette Manrara is joining husband Aljaz on the show once more
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Janette Manrara is joining husband Aljaz on the show once moreCredit: BBC

Janette was born in Miami, Florida and joined the Strictly Come Dancing family in 2013.

Her Strictly partners have included Jake Wood, Peter Andre, Dr Ranj and most recently Will Bayley. Janette has also won the Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special twice with partners Melvin Odoom and Aston Merrygold.

Neil Jones

 Neil Jones is making a bid for the glitterball trophy
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Neil Jones is making a bid for the glitterball trophyCredit: BBC

Neil has been a Strictly professional since 2016, dancing in the series’ group numbers and Christmas Specials.

Last year, he partnered footballer Alex Scott, reaching week 11 of the competition.

Nadiya Bychkova

 Nadiya Bychkova is the show's resident bombshell
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Nadiya Bychkova is the show's resident bombshellCredit: BBC

Nadiya splits her time between the UK and Slovenia where she lives with her fiancé and young daughter.

On Strictly, the 30-year-old bombshell has danced for three series.

She has partnered Davood Ghadami, Lee Ryan and most recently David James.

Nancy Xu

 Newcomer Nancy Xu is making waves
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Newcomer Nancy Xu is making wavesCredit: BBC

Nancy was a newcomer last year after being a a finalist on So You Think You Can Dance in her home country of China.

During her first series on Strictly Come Dancing, Nancy performed in all the series’ group numbers, as well as dancing for guest music acts and in the Children in Need special, partnering EastEnders’ actor Rudolph Walker.

Graziano Di Prima

 Hunky Graziano Di Parma made the cut once again
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Hunky Graziano Di Parma made the cut once againCredit: BBC

Sicilian-born Graziano joined Strictly Come Dancing in 2018, partnering radio presenter Vick Hope in his first year on the series.

Before Strictly, as well as competing for his home country, Graziano also represented Belgium at the World Championships and made the top 24 at the Under 21 Latin World Championships.

Graziano has also toured the world with the dance company Burn The Floor.

Johannes Radebe

 Johannes Radebe is in it to win it
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Johannes Radebe is in it to win itCredit: BBC

Johannes joined Strictly Come Dancing as a professional dancer in 2018 and has also competed on Strictly Come Dancing South Africa twice, reaching the final both times.

Last year he danced with soap star Catherine Tyldesley, and also impressed viewers with memorable performances in group numbers and music acts.

Luba Mushtuk

 Luba Mushtuk is feeling the heat
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Luba Mushtuk is feeling the heatCredit: BBC

Russian-born Luba is four-time winner of the Italian Dance Championship and is also an Italian Open Latin Show Dance champion and Latin European Championship finalist.

Luba was part of the Strictly Come Dancing family for several years as an assistant choreographer, before becoming a professional dancer on the programme in 2018.

In 2019 she partnered Olympian James Cracknell.

Strictly star Stacey Dooley pays tribute to Kev Clifton as he quits the show
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