Strictly Come Dancing signs up Lulu and Edwina Currie

Video caption, The celebrities in rehearsal for their first show

Singer Lulu, former MP Edwina Currie and TV presenter Alex Jones are among the celebrities who will take part in this year's Strictly Come Dancing.

They will be joined on the 大象传媒 One show by ex-EastEnders actress Anita Dobson, astrologer Russell Grant, singer Jason Donovan and footballer Robbie Savage.

The contestants take to the dancefloor for the first time on Saturday.

Comedian Rory Bremner, McFly star Harry Judd, boxer Audley Harrison and singer Holly Valance will also take part.

The line-up will be completed by Sven-Goran Eriksson's ex-partner Nancy Dell'Olio, Waterloo Road actress Chelsee Healey and tennis player turned sports presenter Daniel Lobb.

Saturday's launch show will see the stars matched up with professional dance partners, with whom they will attempt to swing and shimmy their way to the final in Blackpool.

They will hope to follow in the footsteps of actress Kara Tointon, who won the last series in December.

Video caption, Jason Donovan: "There's a misconception that dancing is my comfort zone"

Hosts Sir Bruce Forsyth and Tess Daly will return, as will judges Len Goodman, Alesha Dixon, Craig Revel Horwood and Bruno Tonioli.

In June it was announced a new professional dancer will join the show.

Pasha Kovalev hails from Siberia and specialises in Latin.

He will appear alongside the other male professionals including reigning champion Artem Chigvintsev, Brendan Cole and Anton Du Beke.

This year's series will also include a live show from Wembley Arena, in aid of Children In Need. The grand finale, in December, will also be broadcast in 3D.

Last year's final was watched by 14.28 million people, while the series as a whole had an average audience of 11.18 million.