When you subscribe we will use the information you provide to send you these newsletters. Sometimes they'll include recommendations for other related newsletters or services we offer. Our Privacy Notice explains more about how we use your data, and your rights. You can unsubscribe at any time. Sign up fornow for the biggest moments from morning TV Strictly Come Dancing is officially here after the BBC show launched in a festival of glitter and sparkles. The 2018 celebrity line-up finally got to meet their partners who will be hopefully taking them all the way through Blackpool and to the Glitterball trophy. Kate Silverton, 48, found herself with a stalwart of the BBC talent show. She partnered up with Strictly Come Dancing regular, Alijaž Škorjanec.<doc-sep>STRICTLY’S stars hit the dance floor tonight — and female celebrities are already hoping they get to waltz off with new hunk Graziano Di Prima. Insiders say the Italian, 24, has caught the eye of plenty of people on the show, with several women keen to land him as their pro partner. 6 Newsreader Kate Silverton, 48, admitted her husband was already 'upping his game' after she danced with Graziano in rehearsals Credit: PA:Press Association Newsreader Kate Silverton, 48, admitted her husband was already “upping his game” after she danced with Graziano in rehearsals for the BBC1 show. A backstage source said: “Graziano is so handsome he’s got all of the dancers talking. “The male stars are talking about raising their game now he’s arrived, and a lot of women fancy him. “They’re all talking about how good looking he is but admitting their partners at home would be worried if they end up dancing with him. It’s become a running joke.” 6 A backstage source said: 'Graziano is so handsome he’s got all of the dancers talking' Credit: PA:Empics Entertainment MOST READ IN TV 'VICTIM BLAMER' Fans slam Teresa as 'ignorant for insisting sexual harassment is a choice' 'THANK YOU' What to know about The Five's Juan Williams NO-NO, JOJO! Masked Singer fans furious Nick Lachey as The Piglet beat out frontrunner JoJo FEELING BLUE? Molly-Mae Hague looks subdued as she celebrates birthday with Maura Higgins Exclusive NEW DAYTIME QUEEN Kelly Clarkson is 'fresh face of NBC', taking over Ellen DeGeneres' slot FIT FOR A KING Katie Price treats son Harvey to a massive new bed in mucky mansion makeover The opening show will see the 15 celebs each paired with a professional dancer. Other females include documentary maker Stacey Dooley, DJ Vick Hope, broadcaster Katie Piper and Paralympian Lauren Steadman. Tattooed Latin champion Graziano replaces Brendan Cole this year — and BBC journalist Kate said he has already had an impact on her husband Mike Heron. 6 Never mind the curse, Kate says it's more marriage magic... she's getting texts from husband Mike, saying 'You looked really hot’ She said: “When I came home on the first day after the group dance — my husband’s a military man — and he went ‘Oh, so who were you dancing with today?’ “And I went, ‘Oh, you know that new one’, as if he didn’t know — because I’ve been going, ‘Oh, look at him, the Italian’.” “I just saw a little flicker in his eye. He’s upping his game. “But never mind the ‘Strictly Curse’, this is marriage magic. I’m getting texts from my husband saying, ‘You looked really hot’.” 6 Graziano showing why the other male dancers are upping their game, too Credit: Rex Features 6 The opening show will see the 15 celebs each paired with a professional dancer - but who will bag Graziano? Credit: Getty - Contributor BBC News journalist Kate Silverton is the latest celebrity to sign up to the 16th series of Strictly Come Dancing 6 Tattooed Latin champion Graziano replaces Brendan Cole this year Credit: PA:Press Association Wire DOLLY GOOD FOR ASHLEY ASHLEY Roberts said the other contestants aren’t holding her dancing experience against her. The popstar, 36, below, said: “Everybody knows I was in the Pussycat Dolls, booty-popping around the world and performing. I don’t feel resentment from the others. “It’s a new skill and I’m excited to learn it. I don’t know how I’ll do it, to be honest, because I’ve never done it before. We’ll see.” Ex-bandmate Nicole Scherzinger, 40, won Strictly’s US counterpart Dancing With The Stars in 2010.<doc-sep>
BBC newsreader Kate Silverton is looking forward to showing people a new side of her on ‘Strictly Come Dancing’, but it turns out this isn’t the first chance she’s had to appear on the show. The journalist has revealed she turned down previous offers to be a contestant on the BBC ballroom competition due to her busy schedule. Doug Peters/EMPICS Entertainment Speaking to HuffPost UK and other journalists at the series press launch, Kate said: “I’ve been asked previously way back when, and I was off to Iraq, and then Afghanistan, then I was pregnant, and then I was being a mummy, and concentrating on that.” On what convinced her to do it this time around, she continued: “It just felt like my children are now four and nearly seven, and it really felt like, ‘Absolutely, why not? !’ You know, it’s just the right time.” BBC As Kate admitted she was excited about stepping out from behind the news desk and on to the dance floor, she revealed she is hoping to use the show as a platform to raise awareness of other issues. She said: “I love my job and I love what I have achieved professionally. This is a, I’m looking at it as a little bubble on it’s own. “I actually want to use it as to talk more about children’s mental health which is another serious topic. So I’m doing a lot more on mental health and brain science next year and working with a lot of psychiatrists and doing some documentaries. So this is like this lovely joyful interlude.” Doug Peters/EMPICS Entertainment