Strictly Come Dancing 7: Meet The Stars

The 16 celebrities participating in the seventh series of Strictly Come Dancing were revealed at today's press launch. Click below for details:

The celebrity women and their dance partners are:

• Ali Bastian (actress, Hollyoaks) with Brian Fortuna
• Lynda Bellingham (actress, Loose Women) with Darren Bennett
• Natalie Cassidy (actress, EastEnders) with Vincent Simone
• Martina Hingis (ex-tennis player) with Matthew Cutler
• Jade Johnson (Olympic athlete) with Ian Waite
• Zoë Lucker (actress, The Bill) with James Jordan
• Laila Rouass (actress, Primeval) with Anton du Beke
• Jo Wood (model, ex-wife of Ronnie Wood) with Brendan Cole

Thoughts: Vincent goes from sultry Rachel Stevens last year to Sonia from EastEnders! Anton finally gets a partner he stands a chance of winning with! Hotties: Ali, Jade, Zoe and Laila should all look great in their cossies. Winner? As a premature guess, I'll go for Jade Johnson.

The celebrity men and their dance partners are:

• Joe Calzaghe (ex-boxer) with Kristina Rihanoff
• Richard Dunwoody (ex-jockey) with Lilia Kopylova
• Ricky Groves (actor, EastEnders) with Erin Boag
• Chris Hollins (sports presenter) with Ola Jordan
• Craig Kelly (actor, Queer As Folk) with Flavia Cacace
• Phil Tufnell (ex-cricketer) with Katya Virshilas
• Ricky Whittle (actor, Hollyoaks) with Natalie Lowe
• Ray Wilding (TV presenter) with Aliona Vilani

Thoughts: Kristina will be relieved, after putting up with John Sergeant last year! Why has lovely Lilia never had a decent partner for years? Given the furor over Sergeant, is it coincidence there are no celebs of obvious ineptitude? Hotties: I'm sure the girls will lap up Joe and Ricky, but I'll be tuning in for Lilia and Ola again -- although there are three hot newcomers to keep an eye on, particularly Katya. Fingers crossed for some cat-suits. Winner? I always favour the sportsmen because of their fitness and work ethic, so I have my early money on Joe.

As I'm sure you're aware, Alesha Dixon will replace Arlene Philips on the judging panel alongside Len Goodman, Bruno Tonioli and Craig Revell-Horwood. There are rumours that Arlene will now become the show's choreographer, have a recurring role on sister show It Takes Two, and be The One Show's resident expert. Ballet star Darcey Bussell will also join the show as a guest-judge for the final three weeks in December.

In a change to the format, SCD will start on a Friday with a "Ballroom Night" and continue with a Saturday "Latin Night" for the first two weekends, before settling on Saturdays. This means every couple will have to learn two dances for their debut. Sunday's results show has been dropped, meaning dances and decisions will be made on Saturday by combining the judge's scores and letting viewers vote for the couple they want to stay. The least-popular pair will face each other in a dance-off, after which the judges will vote on who to save.

Strictly Come Dancing returns on 18 September.