Strictly's top-secret codenames revealed - and each one is a celebrity appearing on the show
It's been revealed that Strictly Come Dancing bosses go above and beyond to keep the A-list contestants a secret - even from their professional dance partners.
The show's professional dancers meet their celebrity partners for the first time at rehearsals and Graziano Di Prima tells OK! that TV chiefs will go to every effort to make sure they don't find out who they are being paired up with beforehand.
Asking the Strictly pro who he might be dancing with in the 2024 season he confessed: "We don’t know anything."
He added: "I remember the first series I went to the office and on the wall were names of cheeses. I said, 'What is that?' They told me it was us! [The dancers and their secret celebrity partners.] I was Mozzarella. Every year they change the names. That year it was cheese. We don’t know anything until we meet the celebrity. They are so secretive."
Graziano also confirmed that they change the categories each year - so stars won't always be named after a type of cheese.
Speaking to us at the TRIC Awards, head judge Shirley Ballas confirmed to us that this is true and that the professionals and dancers are given different nicknames each year.
While we don't know exactly who will be taking part in the next season, Shirley has already teased that it will be an extra special line-up to celebrate their 20th season.
Appearing on the Chris Evans Breakfast show she was asked to tease some of the A-listers. She quickly responded, "No, I can’t share them!"
Shirley continued: "I'm not saying I know. I may know. What I can tell you is the professional line-up is in place. The numbers are being put together. The music is being thought about, the clothing.
"And because it's our 20th anniversary, it's going to be absolutely spectacular. The wheels are so well oiled. I mean, 20th anniversary! Come on! That's amazing!"
It come as rumours began swirling that producers are said to be ‘in talks’ with a hugely popular social media star for their upcoming series.
According to sources close to the show, bosses are eager for content creator Grace Keeling, known as GK Barry, to appear on the dance programme.
A source from Strictly told The Sun: "She has a huge following on social media and bosses think she would be perfect for the younger audience they try and draw in."
Grace is not just popular at the BBC. There are also rumours that ITV want to book her for their own flagship reality show, I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here.
