Look at me being all posh with my roman numerals.

I've been putting this together on-and-off for a couple of weeks now, and in simple terms it's a regular short series - I aim for it to last roughly two weeks if I post a week per day, and since I've written half of it up already, there won't be public voting 'til the semis. Sorry if you really wanted to drag [SPOILER REMOVED, HAVE SOME PATIENCE] through to week six against her will, or if you wanted to see [AGAIN, JUST WAIT A WHILE, JEEZ] get his comeuppance, the filthy ringer.

With each show, I'll be posting a short recap video in the same style as the voting recaps on the main show, mainly as a handy tool for those who don't particularly want to read through the whole show. And - a quick note - said videos may just feature celebrities' heads plastered onto other celebrities' bodies. Don't say I didn't warn you.

The cast announcement will be staggered throughout the evening in a similar way to how they did it in the real show, except over a period of a couple of hours as opposed to half a month.

Anyway, let the dancing begin, or we'll be here 'til next year.

Very excited for this, your series' are always great.

Stop it, you'll make me blush.

And just a word in advance, I've been planning some of this for a while, so if any of the songs used etc overlap with the real series (hint: one of them does) or anyone's games on here, just think of it as a happy coincidence. Of sorts.

Looking forward to it.

It is with a heavy heart that we say goodbye to Ola Jordan from Strictly after nine series. We wish her well, and hope that you will all tune in to her latest show, 'Celebrity Come Up the Duff With Me', on ITVBe.

We also bid so long, farewell to Joanne Clifton, who after one series has decided to grow legs and marry Prince Eric (Scott Mills does that to you).

Despite a respectable fourth place finish on last year's show, Karen Hauer has chosen to fly the Strictly nest. Having originally agreed to return, once Karen heard that Ola had decided to leave, she flounced out singing 'Anything You Can Do' from Annie Get Your Gun. She can now be seen in her one-woman stage show, 'Barefoot on Broadway'. We wish her good luck, and to put some shoes on.

And finally, former champion Aliona Vilani will sadly not be taking part in series thirteen. We have heard little from Aliona since the last series ended, but rumours suggest that she was last spotted hiding in the wheel well of an aeroplane bound for Florida. Mansion-owner Tony Jacklin has alerted local police.

But as it's nearly 2015, we're saying out with the old and in with the new. Let's welcome two new professionals to the Strictly Come Dancing roster, and welcome back two familiar faces!

First up, we have four-time Slovenian champion Gordana Grandosek, who is also the partner of current pro Trent Whiddon. Also joining is South African champion Keo Motsepe. Keo is no stranger to the format, having partnered a celebrity on the US version and guested on the South African version!

Returning to Strictly after a four year absence is Katya Virshilas, who has previously partnered celebrities such as Phil Tufnell and Gavin Henson. Will this be her year to shine? Well, she'll have stiff competition from another returning professional in the form of Anya Garnis, who took Patrick Robinson to the semi-finals in 2013 and could be seen in various professional numbers last series.

Gordana, Keo, Katya and Anya will compete alongside returning pros Aljaz Skorjanec, Anton du Beke, Brendan Cole, Iveta Lukosiute, Janette Manrara, Kevin Clifton, Kristina Rihanoff, Natalie Lowe, Pasha Kovalev, Trent Whiddon and Tristan MacManus.

Thanks Andrew.

And if you were wondering, all four judges (Craig Revel Horwood, Darcey Bussell, Len Goodman and Bruno Tonioli) are back to cast their eyes over the couples. Well, sort of. Budget cuts and all that. No-one will notice, right?

(I've been rather bored lately, I'm not sure you can tell)

That's hilarious. Please never change Luke.

As heard on the Radio 1 Breakfast Show with Nick Grimshaw this morning...


You heard the man. Don't miss it.

David Gandy. <3 Can you confirm his participation sharpish as my guests are coming soon.

Dan Smith, the lead singer of band Bastille, is confirmed as the first celebrity in this year's Strictly Come Dancing line-up.

Speaking to Nick Grimshaw on his Radio 1 Breakfast Show this morning, Dan said, "I'm weirdly excited for this yeah. It's not the kind of thing I'd do, ever, but sometimes you just have to take that opportunity when it's given to you".

"I'll be out first, I'll be out before the thing's even started!", Dan laughed when asked if he thought he could win. "As long as I can get one good dance under my belt and not seem like a total wally, I'll consider that a success".

"We've only just started group training, so I met everyone the other day and they're all great, they're all lovely. I mean, I'm sworn to secrecy about that, but I can genuinely say that none of us know our partners. That's the interesting bit about it".

The other fourteen celebrities will be announced in the run-up to the red carpet launch show,.

He's not David Gandy, but he's still pretty hot.

You'll have to wait a long while, I'm afraid. You can have Dan for now.

EDIT: It's almost as if I know how to easily please you.

Bastille <3

James says that he's "terrified, bloody terrified. That's normal, isn't it?".

James May is going to be awful. I can't wait.

I won't give anything away, but he isn't the most... conventional of Ballroom and Latin dancers, no.

Ah, look what I found whilst flicking through my TV guide. Isn't that handy?

Jessica Raine is the third celebrity confirmed for this year's series of Strictly Come Dancing.

The 32-year old actress made the announcement on this morning's edition of BBC Breakfast whilst discussing upcoming BBC Two series Wolf Hall.

"When I got the call, I obviously agreed straight away, but soon after doing that I began realising what would be expected of me, and that's quite scary. I'd have to dance in front of the nation every week. Dancing in my living room alone is enough for me!"

"But I absolutely love the glamour of Strictly, and everyone that I've met who's done the programme has told me that it's such a worthwhile thing to do. I'm going to go out there with my best stage school grin and give all I've got".

Raine joins previously announced James May and Dan Smith.

Presenter Kirsty Young will be taking part in the thirteenth series of Strictly Come Dancing as a celebrity contestant.

Young is known to viewers as the host of shows such as Crimewatch and The British at Work, as well as having been the anchor of Radio 4's Desert Island Discs since 2006.

"I love Strictly. Love, love, love it. The fact that I'll soon be the one up there in the sequins and the frilly dresses fills me with happiness and anxiety in equal measure", she said in a statement. "I know I'll make a fool of myself along the way, that's inevitable. But most of all, I want to have a jolly great time".

There are still eleven competitors yet to be announced for the BBC One show.

Chris says that he's spoken to fellow rugby players and Strictly contestants Ben Cohen and Gavin Henson since signing up. Their encouraging words of wisdom? "Don't do it!".

My favourite is Chris. So far.

Good thing that the remainder of the male cast has been lifted directly from the Abercrombie & Fitch catalogue, then. Thanks for the feedback.

Time for a tweet update, I think.


Hmm...

Adil Ray has joined the line-up of Strictly Come Dancing 2015.

The 40-year old actor and comedian, perhaps best known for playing Mr Khan in the BBC One sitcom Citizen Khan, confirmed the news on The One Show tonight.

"Yes, I'm doing Strictly. Mad, isn't it? But I'm feeling really positive about this. I know my friends and family won't be, they'll be cowering behind the sofa, but it's a new thing to do, it might help me to get in shape, and it's most definitely more productive than sticking a hat and a fake beard on and calling it a career".

"We've done a little bit of training so far, yeah. That made me feel a little less confident, but I think I'm getting there. We all are, we're all novices, and that's what's really interesting. Bring it on, I say".

The other celebrities announced to date are Bastille's Dan Smith, Top Gear's James May, actress Jessica Raine, presenter Kirsty Young and rugby player Chris Robshaw.