The return date for Strictly Come Dancing has been revealed, and fans have just weeks to wait.

The show will return to BBC One on 23 September 2023, meaning viewers have just over five weeks to wait.

This year's line-up is full of big names as the likes of former Emmerdale star Adam Thomas, Ellie Leach, EastEnders star Bobby Brazier, ex Love Islander Zara McDermott and Angela Rippon get ready to take to the dance floor.

All of the cast of 2023 are currently in rehearsals and the competition is already hotting up according to reports, as they all look to impress the judges.

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It's claimed the female professional dancers all want to be paired with EastEnders sweetheart Bobby Brazier, while the men are keen to be partnered with Love Island's Zara McDermott.

According to The Sun, a source has said: "Zara and Bobby are absolutely the favourites.

"There’s a battle going on between the pros as they all try to convince bosses to get the best pairing.

"They know their airtime is largely dependent on how talented their celebrity pairing is, so everything is to play for at this stage."

The source also claimed that Les Dennis, 69, is taking the show seriously and he will not be the "joke act" of the year, while 78 year old Anglea Rippon is said to have impressed the pros with the "swift" way that she is gliding across the dance floor in training.

Meanwhile the bookies are working out who they think will win the BBC dancing programme.

Bobby, 20, is currently the favourite with bookmakers William Hill, with Bad Education's Layton Williams, just behind him in the odds.

William Hill spokesperson Lee Phelps has said: “Bobby Brazier has entered the betting for the Glitterball Trophy as the 3/1 favourite, with Layton Williams drifting out to 4/1.

"Adam Thomas and Zara McDermott are next-in-line with both at 6/1. Annabel Croft knows her way around a baseline but looks a longshot for Strictly glory at 14/1."

Once again Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman are hosting the award-winning programme and judges Craig Revel Horwood, Shirley Ballas, Anton Du Beke and Motsi Mabuse are returning.

Many of the popular professional dancers are also returning, including Gorka Márquez – who just welcomed his second child with Gemma Atkinson – Dianne Buswell and Giovanni Pernice.

Last year, the competition was won by British wildlife presenter Hamza Yassin and professional dancer Jowita Przystal.

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