Strictly Come Dancing 2023 stars meet for the first time as they attend rehearsals ahead of show launch

THE stars of this year’s Strictly Come Dancing met for the first time as they kick off rehearsals.

Zara McDermott looked as though she was raring to go as she rocked up in a tiny pair of shorts and trainers, while former EastEnders hunk Nigel Harman arrived on a motorbike.

Angela Rippon gave professional dancer Karen Hauer a huge hug as they met outside.

British Number One Annabel Croft looked incredibly different from her days on the court in a pair of olive green leggings and a matching top as she wheeled her suitcase.

Corrie’s Ellie Leach also beamed as she arrived for rehearsals in a floaty white vest top and off-white leggings.

Fellow actress Amanda Abbington, known for her roles in Sherlock and Mr Selfridge turned up in a black tank top and baggy dark blue trackies.

Chat show host and presenter Angela Scanlon went for a casual chic look in a long-sleeved tie-dye top and pulled her beautiful auburn hair up into a messy bun.

Adam Thomas was nowhere to be seen after it was revealed that he has been diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis – which could impact his performance on the show.

The 34-year-old’s admission came just two days after it was confirmed he was on the show’s line up.

But Adam says he is determined to take on the challenge “with a smile on his face”.

Les Dennis, who was the fifteenth star to be announced also made a quiet entrance.

He joined the Good Morning Britain panel this morning where he revealed that he accidentally let slip that he was joining strictly a week before it was officially announced.

Les, 69, told Ben Shephard and Ranvir Singh that he had accidentally tweeted a playlist that he had intended to send to BBC bosses on the show.

The Apple playlist was titled “Strictly by Les Dennis”.

He joked that his “fat fingers” were to blame, and when he had realised his blunder, he quickly deleted it.

“What happened was, the Strictly producers asked me to send a playlist of songs you might like,” he told the presenters.

“I’m totally hopeless with social media and all that so my daughter put it together for me, so I could send it to my agent by email but I must have done a fat finger error and put it on Twitter instead.”