The dazzling duos! The Strictly Come Dancing celebrities and their partners dress up in costumes for the first time together
By HANNA FLINT
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Ahead of the first show, the fifteen hopefuls have pulled on the sequins, plumped their feathers and sashayed their skirts for special promo portraits with their partners for the first time.
And it seems the costume department have certainly gone all out to make sure each contestant and their professional dancers shimmer and shine on the dancefloor this year.
Murder on the dancefloor: Sophie Ellis Bextor goes for nude pink and sequins with partner Brendan Cole in the official portraits from this year's Strictly Come Dancing
Sophie Ellis Bextor will certainly be stealing the groove as she joins Brendan Cole in this year's competition, an no surprise that the fifties, prom dress-loving singer has opted for the vintage style in her opening nude pink and sequin look.
While model Abbey Clancy ruffled some feathers in her demure, off-the shoulder gown with turquoise ostrich plummage for the lining.
The Scouse wife of footballer Peter Crouch was 'made up' that she got to partner with Aljaz Skorjanec, who she deemed 'the hottie of the show.'
Model behaviour: Abbey Clancy looks demure in a feather-lined sequined gown as she poses with her partner Aljaz Skorjanec
Soapstar to dance star! Hollyoak's Ashley Taylor Dawson is bold in purple with a shimmering gold Ola Jordan for a partner
Sophie and Abbey lead the female celebrities hoping to dig up the dancefloor in this 2013 competition, joining BBC Breakfast presenter Susanna Reid, Countdown's Rachel Riley, TV host Vanessa Feltz, actress Natalie Gumede, Dragon's Den star Deborah Meaden and James Bond actress Fiona Fullerton.
The men hoping to take home the Glitterball Trophy this year include Hairy Biker Dave Myers, designer Julien MacDonald, former rugby star Ben Cohen, former golf pro Tony Jacklin, and actors Patrick Robinson, Mark Benton and Ashley Taylor Dawson.
Top of the morning: BBC Breakfast host Susanna Reid is elegant in an ivory and silver prom dress with her partner Kevin Clifton
Fashion! Turn to the left: Julien MacDonald would surely enjoy the costuming process, and may even give suggestions for his partner Janette Manrara's outfits
A View To Kill: Fiona Fullerton goes for a roaring twenties look with partner Anton Du Beke
But it looks like the celebrities aren't taking this year's competition lightly, with Ashley putting in so much training with partner Ola Jordan, that he has been practicing in the studio until past midnight every night.
The Hollyoaks star has been finishing filming on the Channel 4 show, then starting his training at 8pm, and dancing to 2am on one occasion.
A show source said: 'The celebs are really going for it, the majority have been training five days a week already, compared to last year's four days. And some of them are putting in extra hours over the weekend to push things further.'
Won't be left in the wings: Former rugby star Ben Cohen gets back in action with Kristina Rihanoff
Ready for battle: Actress Natile Gumede and presenter Vanessa Feltz get ready with their partners Artem Chigvinstev and James Jordan
No casualties please! Patrick Robinson teams up with Anya Garnis in the year's competition
Nice birdie! Tony Jacklin has scored a hole in one with partner Aliona Vilani
'They're a competitive bunch and no one wants to fall at the first hurdle when it comes to the first live shows in two weeks.'
'They are fitting hours in all over the place, especially the likes of Mark, Patrick, Vanessa and Rachel who are fitting it around other work commitments,' the source explained. 'And Ashley has trained until gone midnight with Ola this week, even though he is filming Hollyoaks each day.'
All the celebrities will be battling it out on the dancefloor tonight, (September 14), in front of judges Len Goodman, Bruno Tolioni, Craig Revel-Horwood and Darcey Bussell.
Hopefully no early doors for this pair: Mark Benton teams up with Iveta Lukosiute in the BBC One talent competition
Countdown to the show: Rachel Riley swaps numbers for dance routines with Pasha Kovalev
BBC Two gang: Dragon's Den star Deborah Meaden and Hairy Biker Dave Myers switch the BBC One to partner with Robin Windsor and Karen Hauer on the show
Let the competition commence: The celebrities will be dancing their hearts out this Saturday night
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2420309/The-Strictly-Come-Dancing-celebrities-partners-dress-costumes-time-together.html#ixzz2esxsAl6L
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