Strictly Come Dancing 2020: full contestant line up confirmed including Nicola Adams and Ranvir Singh - and when it starts

Former Olympic boxer Nicola Adams and Good Morning Britain presenter Ranvir Singh are on the list of celebrities confirmed for this year's Strictly Come Dancing.

Adams will take to the dance floor as part of the show’s first ever same-sex pairing, after much speculation, with news reader Singh also set to star in this year’s installment.

Singh said: “The initial feeling of being confirmed for Strictly is one of complete terror – feels like embarking on a rollercoaster, where you really want to do it but you are equally scared. Hopefully after the first dance I will feel exhilarated rather than sick!”

Who else has been confirmed for Strictly?

Also joining the show will be the following celebrities:

Former home secretary Jacqui Smith

Soap star Maisie Smith

Boxer Nicola Adams

TV presenter JJ Chalmers

Good Morning Britain presenter Ranvir Singh

The Wanted singer Max George

DJ Clara Amfo

Former NFL player Jason Bell

Reality star Jamie Laing

Comedian Bill Bailey

Actress Caroline Quentin

YouTube star Hrvy

Adams is set to make Strictly history by competing on the show as part of the show’s first same-sex couple.

Addressing her unique place in the competition, Adams, who is bisexual, thanked the BBC: “People might know me from work in the ring, but I’ll be every bit as passionate and dedicated on the dance floor too.

“I also wanted to thank the BBC for supporting me and making me the first ever all female-pairing; and it’s amazing to be a part of the movement for change, diversity and breaking boundaries in the entertainment industry.”

Asked by BBC Breakfast whether the same-sex pairing was her idea, she said: “I asked the show about it. They wanted to know if I wanted to be on the show but I said ‘Yeah, I will do it but I want to dance with another female dance partner.’

“I know it’s going to be tough, I know the training is going to be hard and I can’t dance at all so this is going to be a totally new challenge for me.”

Adams won gold at the London 2012 Olympics as well as Rio 2016. She is dating Ella Baig and is known as a prominent LGBT role model.

How will Strictly be different this year?

The show will return in a shorter format this year due to safety precautions.

Additionally, judge Bruno Tonioli will not be taking part in the Saturday night shows initially, as he is currently working on the panel for the US version of the show, Dancing With The Stars, in Los Angeles, and is unable to travel between the roles.

However, he will appear remotely in the Sunday night results show each week and hopes to return to the show full-time later in the series.

When will Strictly return to our screens?

Usually the competition returns at the end of September, and the final show airs just before Christmas. However, this year's launch will air later than usual.

The 18th series of the show is confirmed to begin on Saturday 24 October, and will be preceded by a launch show a week earlier on Saturday 17 October.

The final show in the series will air on Saturday 19 December, the weekend before Christmas.