‘I’m petrified’: Backstage with Strictly stars ahead of first live show

It's that time of year again.

A few weeks ago it was picnics and hanging the washing outside. Now kids are back at school, the nights are drawing in - and Strictly Come Dancing is back.

There are 15 couples hoping to waltz their way to the glitterball trophy, with the first live show taking place on Saturday night.

A former Love Islander, a cabaret singer and a YouTube star - this year's Strictly has a packed line-up of celebs.

I've been backstage to meet some of them, to hear just how gruelling the training has been, what they're most looking forward to - and what they're most terrified about.

Before that, though, here's a reminder of who's on this year's show.

On last week's launch show, we found out which celebrities were paired with which professional dancers. Here's the list in full:

*announced later

Former Love Islander Dani Dyer had also been due to take part. But she pulled out this week after breaking her ankle. Actress and West End star Amber Davies, who is also an ex-islander, has been drafted in as her replacement.

Game of Thrones actor Kristian Nairn also withdrew from the line-up earlier, on medical grounds.

Two pro dancers - Warr and Caillon - are new for this year.

But not everything has changed.

This year's hosts are the same - Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman.

There's no change to the judges' panel either. Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, Anton Du Beke and head judge Shirley Ballas will be watching every step taken by the dancers.

Weeks of intense training lie ahead. So why would anyone go on the show?

Alex Kingston, a star of stage and screen for more than 40 years, including in Doctor Who and ER, said she's taking part to show others "anything is possible".

"To be perfectly honest, I don't feel necessarily any different than I did 20 years ago," the 62-year-old said.

"And so I just think, if it's something that you want to do, go for it. And also it's important to stay healthy and to learn things."

Meanwhile Neighbours star Stefan Dennis has a very personal reason for wanting to appear on Strictly.

"I actually am doing this for my wife, so I can dance with her," the 66-year-old told me.

"My wife was a professional dancer, she is still is a dancer, and she's married to a bloke who can't dance to save his life. And it would just be really nice to take her out dancing."

When I meet the couples at Elstree studios in Hertfordshire, they've been busy practising for the group routine.

Not everyone showed up for the interviews. Former Apprentice star Thomas Skinner dropped out of his slot the night before.

Skinner also walked out of a press event early, after seeing a message on a reporter's phone which - he later said - "caught [him] off guard".

I asked the celebrities who did turn up, how the training was going.

"It's hard for me to let go of the whole, 'I don't dance' thing, and just fully get into it, but that's what I want to do. And I feel like I've started a bit... maybe," said YouTuber and podcaster George Clarke, 25.

Clarke also told me he was ready for some hard home truths about his moves.

"I think it would be silly for me to turn up and think, week one, well, I'm going to go out there and the judge is going to say, 'I've never seen anything like this'," he said.

"I'm inviting it, because I think I'll most likely be like, that's fair enough."

Former Team GB sprinter Harry Aikines-Aryeetey - also known as Nitro in Gladiators - is no stranger to performing in front of audiences.

But the 37-year-old said Strictly is "totally different" to anything he's used to.

"I'm learning more about myself through the process," he said.

"Obviously, I'm not trained in any capacity in this way of life," he added. "So I'm quite excited to see how I deal with that."

That's not to say there aren't nerves though.

EastEnders star Balvinder Sopal, 46, said being on Strictly was a "dream", who fell in love with the first series and has been hooked ever since.

"And now that I'm here, I'm absolutely petrified," she laughed. "I don't really know what to expect. I just keep thinking, have I made the wrong decision? I haven't, but yes, it's quite terrifying being on the actual other side of it."

Model and actress Ellie Goldstein, 23, also admitted to feeling nervous.

She said she was particularly worried about learning the Charleston and the tango.

But Goldstein - who is the first star with Down's syndrome to take part in a regular series of the dance show - also gave an insight into what she is most looking forward to.

"The spray tans, the hair and make-up, and the sparkles, the costumes... and the glamour," she said.

Strictly, which has been airing since 2004, has faced multiple controversies in recent years relating to the behaviour of some of its professionals and celebrity guests.

This summer, the Metropolitan Police said it was investigating allegations of drug use on the show.

Separately, an unnamed star from the show was arrested on suspicion of rape. It is understood the man is not related to the new series of Strictly.

When asked whether the various controversies had put her off taking part in the show, Kingston said they hadn't.

"I don't really follow anything that's outside of the actual show or the programme itself. So no, that didn't bother me at all actually. I just wanted to get on with learning how to dance."

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” added Australian actor Dennis. “Remember I come from the other side of the world.”