There’s four new faces in the 2021 pro line-up.
With Anton Du Beke replacing Bruno Tonioli on the Strictly Come Dancing judging panel, and Janette Manrara moving over to Strictly’s It Takes Two, where she’ll be taking over from Zoe Ball, the pro line-up was in need of a few members.
And now four new pro dancers have been confirmed for the 2021 series of Strictly.
Kai Widdrington, Nikita Kuzmin, Cameron Lombard and Jowita Przystal will join the professional dancers already confirmed for the 19th series when the show airs later this year.
There’s no word yet on the Strictly Come Dancing 2021 line-up, although there’s been plenty of rumours from Carole Baskin to Holly Willoughby.
But with new, fresh talent on board Strictly Come Dancing 2021 could be the BBC show’s hottest series yet.
As we get closer to the start of the series, here’s the full list of Strictly Come Dancing pros who will be entertaining us this year.
Kai Widdrington
!["Strictly]("https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/3/2021/07/Strictly-Come-Dancing-2021-professional-Kai-Widdrington-e691f90.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C413" "\"Strictly-Come-Dancing-2021-professional-Kai-Widdrington\"")
Instagram: @kaiwidd
Twitter: @Kaiwidd
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.
Speaking of his new role, he said: “This is my childhood dream come true. Watching Strictly from the very first series as a young boy from Southampton and now 18 years later, to be a professional dancer on the show is the most amazing feeling and the biggest accomplishment of my career. I can’t wait to step onto the Strictly floor and experience the exciting times that lie ahead.”
Nikita Kuzmin
!["Strictly]("https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/3/2021/07/Strictly-Come-Dancing-professionals-Nikita-d79fc2c.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C413" "\"Strictly-Come-Dancing-professionals-Nikita\"")
Instagram: @nikita__kuzmin
Nikita joins Strictly from Germany’s Let’s Dance and is a six-time Latin and Ballroom National Champion in Italy.
“I’ve always been amazed by the magic Strictly Come Dancing brings,” she said of joining the BBC One dance show. “No matter what country I have found myself living in, I’ve never missed a chance to watch it. And joining it as a professional dancer is my big chance to make some magic on the most famous dance floor. I can’t wait to give it my all!”
Cameron Lombard
!["Strictly]("https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/3/2021/07/Strictly-Come-Dancing-2021-professional-Cameron-896eecb.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C413" "\"Strictly-Come-Dancing-2021-professional-Cameron\"")
Instagram: @cameronkylelombard
Cameron is the reigning South African Latin Champion, and he’s up for the challenge in the UK.
“Thank you Strictly Come Dancing for this life changing opportunity. Not only is this a dream come true but a challenge I am accepting with both hands. I am excited beyond imagination and looking forward to leaving my mark on the dance floor!” he said.
Jowita Przystal
!["Strictly]("https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/3/2021/07/Strictly-Come-Dancing-2021-professional-Jowita-1998e5b.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C413" "\"Strictly-Come-Dancing-2021-professional-Jowita\"")
Instagram: @jowitaprzystal
Jowita, who won the BBC’s The Greatest Dancer last year, was the Polish Open Latin Champion in 2014.
She said: “This is my biggest dream come true. No words can describe how I feel right now. I’m still pinching myself to check if this is real but I am beyond excited to be joining the Strictly Come Dancing family and I can’t wait to give all of my heart and soul on that dance floor!”
Oti Mabuse
!["Oti]("https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/3/2019/09/Oti-Mabuse-Strictly-2019-BBC-2b42870.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C413" "\"Oti")
Twitter: @OtiMabuse
Instagram: otimabuse
Won: Series 17 (Kelvin Fletcher) and Series 18 (Bill Bailey)
South African Latin American Champion Oti Mabuse has been a Strictly professional since 2015.
She’s also a captain on The Greatest Dancer, mentoring ballroom and Latin dancers Michael and Jowita to victory in 2020.
Strictly is slowly becoming a family affair for the reigning champion – her sister Motsi Mabuse is on the judging panel, and her husband Marius Lepure was reported to be joining the show as a troupe dancer, although this yet to be confirmed.
Oti won the the 2019 series after several memorable hip-shaking performances with Emmerdale star Kelvin Fletcher, and last year she danced her way to victory with Bill Bailey. So will it be a hat-trick this year for Oti?
Aljaž Škorjanec
!["Aljaz]("https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/3/2019/09/Aljaz-Strictly-2019-BBC-a7078e2.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C413" "\"Aljaz")
Twitter: @AljazSkorjanec
Instagram: aljazskorjanec
Won: Series 11 (Abbey Clancy)
Ballroom and Latin star Aljaž Škorjanec has won over 19 championships in his native Slovenia, and has been part of the Strictly family since 2013 when he won with model Abbey Clancy. He has also been partnered with Alison Hammond, Helen George, Gemma Atkinson, Viscountess Emma Weymouth, and most recently Radio DJ Clara Amfo. He’ll return to the show in with his wife Janette Manrara.
Amy Dowden
!["Amy]("https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/3/2018/11/Amy-Dowden-Strictly-2019-BBC-4f78c71.jpg?quality=90&resize=619%2C413" "\"Amy")
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. Dowden was paired with Danny John-Jules in 2018, when the Red Dwarf actor was accused by the tabloids of “bullying” her – allegations he strenuously denied. Dowden encountered less controversy in 2019 when she reached the final with CBBC presenter Karim Zeroual. She was partnered with JJ Chalmers in 2020, but unfortunately they only made it to Week Seven.
Dianne Buswell
!["Dianne]("https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/3/2019/09/Dianne-Buswell-Strictly-BBC-11dc738.jpg?quality=90&resize=617%2C413" "\"Dianne")
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.
Last year, she was partnered with Max George, but they only made it to Week Four. Here’s hoping Dianne has better luck this year!
Giovanni Pernice
!["Giovanni]("https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/3/2018/12/Giovanni-Pernice-Strictly-2019-BBC-d40c39d.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C413" "\"Giovanni")
Twitter: @pernicegiovann1
Instagram: pernicegiovann1
Won: N/A
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. Last year, he made it to Week Eight with Good Morning Britain star Ranvir Singh.
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 Marquez
!["Strictly]("https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/3/2020/03/final_18834900_18834890-627b258-scaled.jpg?quality=90&crop=5px%2C239px%2C1700px%2C1132px&resize=620%2C413" "\"Strictly")
Twitter: @gorkamarquez1
Instagram: gorka_marquez
Won: N/A
After sitting out last year, Spanish dancing sensation Gorka Marquez is back this year 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.
Last year, Gorka made it all the way to the finals with EastEnders actress Maisie Smith – however, they just missed out on the glitterball as Bill was crowned the 2020 winner.
Graziano Di Prima
!["Strictly]("https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/3/2020/03/final_18834913_18834903-1504de0-scaled.jpg?quality=90&crop=5px%2C236px%2C1700px%2C1132px&resize=620%2C413" "\"Strictly")
Twitter: @GrazianoDiPrima
Instagram: grazianodiprima
Won: N/A
Sicilian-born Graziano Di Prima is also returning for 2021. He 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.
It’s not known yet whether he’ll have a celebrity partner for 2021.
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
!["Johannes]("https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/3/2018/10/Johannes-Radebe-11d33e7.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C413" "\"Johannes")
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. Last year, he was partnered with actress Caroline Quentin, but unfortunately they only made it to Week Five in the competition.
Karen Hauer
!["Karen]("https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/3/2019/09/Karen-Hauer-Strictly-2019-BBC-5c56597.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C413" "\"Karen")
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 last year – will she go all the way this year?
Katya Jones
!["Katya]("https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/3/2019/08/Katya-Jones-Strictly-2019-BBC-3d580ce.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C413" "\"Katya")
Twitter: @Mrs_katjones
Instagram: mrs_katjones
Won: Series 15 (Joe McFadden)
World Professional Latin Showdance Champion Katya Jones has had many a 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 last year, when she danced with boxer Nicola Adams.
Luba Mushtuk
!["Luba]("https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/3/2018/10/Luba-Mushtuk-Strictly-2019-BBC-0d76506.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C413" "\"Luba")
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 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, however, only made it to Week Three.
Nadiya Bychkova
!["Nadiya]("https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/3/2018/10/Nadiya-Strictly-2019-BBC-a885830.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C413" "\"Nadiya")
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 Davood Ghadami, Lee Ryan and David James, with whom she was eliminated fifth.
Last year, she didn’t have a professional partner.
Nancy Xu
!["Nancy]("https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/3/2020/03/final_18835018_18835008-b0190aa-scaled.jpg?quality=90&crop=5px%2C239px%2C1700px%2C1132px&resize=620%2C413" "\"Strictly")
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 will make her return to the show in 2021.
Neil Jones
!["Neil]("https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/3/2019/09/Neil-Jones-Strictly-2019-BBC-fe33e36.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C413" "\"Neil")
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 fifth place with professional footballer Alex Scott. He wasn’t given a celeb partner in 2020, but things could be different this year!
Strictly Come Dancing will return to BBC One later this year. If you’re looking for more to watch, check out our TV Guide or visit our Entertainment hub for all the latest news.