Strictly Come Dancing started off its 19th series with the launch show on Sunday.

Last year’s winners Bill Bailey and Oti Mabuse danced to Rapper’s Delight and there was also a performance from singer Anne-Marie.

The new judges line-up was also shown for the first time, with regulars Shirley Ballas, Craig Revell Horwood and Motsi Mabuse being joined by Strictly’s longest serving professional dancer Anton Du Beke.

However, the most important aspect of the first episode was to pair up the celebrities with the pros.

The likes of BBC presenter Dan Walker, Olympic swimmer Adam Peaty and EastEnders star Rose Ayling-Ellis just are just some of the famous faces to be taking part this year.

Who are the couples for Strictly Come Dancing 2021?

Ugo Monye and Oti Mabuse

As mentioned previously Oti Mabuse won last year’s Strictly Come Dancing with Bill Bailey, and took home the title in 2019 as well when partnering actor Kevin Fletcher.

Looking to make it a hat-trick, she is partnered with former England rugby player turned pundit Ugo Monye.

Monye said that he thought his career in the sport would help him out as he loves to work hard, and dances that were “high-paced, powerful, rhythmic” would suit him best.

Dan Walker and Nadiya Bychkova

BBC presenter Dan Walker was paired with Nadiya Bychokva.

Bychokva’s best performance was with actor Davood Ghadami, placing in sixth in 2017.

Walker said he was “definitely excited” about appearing on the show but also “mostly worried”.

Adam Peaty and Katya Jones

Fresh off the Tokyo Olympic trail and winning two gold medals in the process, swimmer Adam Peaty was paired with Katya Jones.

Last year Jones was involved in the first same-sex pairing on Strictly with boxer Nicola Adams, but had to withdraw early due to testing positive for Covid-19.

Her best finish was winning the competition in 2017 with actor Joe McFadden.

Rose Ayling-Ellis and Giovanni Pernice

EastEnders star Rose Ayling-Ellis is Strictly’s first deaf contestant, and was paired with Giovanni Penrice.

Pernice has been one of the longest-serving dancers on the show, but has still yet to come out on top.

He came close on three separate occasions as a runner-up in 2015. 2017 and 2018.

Robert Webb and Dianne Buswell

Comedian and actor Robert Webb, best known for his role as Jez in Peep Show and his collaborations with David Mitchell, was paired with Dianne Buswell.

Buswell was runner-up in 2018 with now-boyfriend, YouTuber Joe Sugg, but has not made it past the early weeks of the competition since then.

Rhys Stephenson and Nancy Xu

CBBC presenter Rhys Stephenson was partnered up with Nancy Xu.

Stepheson has fronted shows such as Blue Peter and Saturday Mash-Up, with Xu having reached the final of China’s version of So You Think You Can Dance.

Nina Wadia and Neil Jones

Actor Nina Wadia, best known for her roles in EastEnders and Still Open All Hours, was paired with Neil Jones.

Jones had only been partnered with a celebrity once before, reaching week 11 with footballer turned pundit Alex Jones.

Katie McGlynn and Gorka Marquez

Hollyoaks actor Katie McGlynn was partnered up with Gorka Marquez.

Marquez has been a runner-up twice, in 2017 with singer Alexandra Burke, and in 2020 with EastEnders actor Maisie Smith.

He has been part of the show since 2016 and is looking to finally take home the crown.

Judi Love and Graziano Di Prima

Stand-up comedian and Loose Women panellist Judi Love as paired with Graziano Di Prima.

Di Prima has only appeared on the show once before, making it to the fifth week with radio presenter Vick Hope.

John Whaite and Johannes Radebe

In the first all-male pairing in Strictly history, TV chef John Whaite was partnered up with Johannes Radebe.

Radebe was first paired with a celebrity in 2019 when he danced with actor Catherine Tyldesley, finishing in 11th place, but improved on that in 2020, coming in 8th place with another actor in Caroline Quentin.

Greg Wise and Karen Hauer

Actor Greg Wise was paired with Katya Hauer, who is the second-longest serving dancer on the show behind Anton Du Beke.

Despite that Hauer has never won, coming close as runner-up in 2020 with Made in Chelsea’s Jamie Laing.

AJ Odudu and Kai Widdrington

TV presenter AJ Odudu, who made her name fronting the reality spin-off show Big Brother’s Bit on the Side, was partnered with Kai Widdrington.

Widdrington is one of four new dancers joining the series this year, and was the World Junior Latin American Champion back in 2010.

Sara Davies and Aljaž Škorjanec

Businesswoman Sara Davies, who appears on Dragon’s Den, was paired with Aljaž Škorjanec.

Škorjanec won the competition in the very first year he was partnered with a celebrity, coming out on top with Abby Clancy in 2013.

Since then the best he’s done is come runner-up with actor Gemma Atkinson in 2017.

Tilly Ramsey and Nikita Kuzmin

CBBC presenter and daughter of Gordon Ramsey Tilly was paired with Nikita Kuzmin.

Kuzmin is another new dancer to the fold, known for being part of the German series Let’s Dance.

Tom Fletcher and Amy Dowden

McFly member Tom Fletcher was paired up with Amy Dowden.

Dowden made is as runner up with CBBC presenter Karim Zeroual in 2019, and got to week seven with former marine JJ Chalmers in 2020.