WHILE the Strictly Come Dancing pros all boast a lifetime of training and dance floor talent, all most of the new hopefuls have in common is a shared willingness to get out there and give it a go. Will they be rumbled by the rumba? Left wallowing after the waltz? Or maybe they'll shimmy and shake their way to the finals – only time will tell. But if you're keen to place bets on their chances, read on...

n Alison Hammond: "I'm really nervous about wardrobe malfunctions; there's a lot to hold in here," Hammond confesses before breaking into giggles. The This Morning presenter, 39, has promised to fly the flag for "curvy girls" on the show. Rehearsals haven't gone quite so smoothly for the bubbly Brummie, who's paired with last year's winner Aljaz Skorjanec. "I've fallen over," she admits.

n Caroline Flack: Former The Xtra Factor host Flack, 34, is paired with Pasha Kovalev, who is now dating his 2013 partner Rachel Riley, but she isn't worried about the 'Strictly curse' that befalls some contestants. In fact, she's been teasing boyfriend Jack Street about it. "I'm going to wind him up and keep him on his toes."

n Frankie Bridge: Bridge is no stranger to a dance routine, having performed with S Club Juniors and The Saturdays. But the 25-year-old, who's partnered with Kevin Clifton, says Strictly is a different (glitter) ball game. "I'm a bit scared," she confesses. "It can go perfectly in rehearsals, and then you get out there, do it live and you just don't know what's going to happen."

n Gregg Wallace: "The irony's not lost on me that I'm a judge on one show, and now I'm being judged on another," says MasterChef presenter Wallace, 49. "We had Craig Revel Horwood on Celebrity MasterChef, so I'm racking my brains to work out how tough I was with him." Wallace didn't look totally comfortable during the group dance. Now he's teamed with former winner Aliona Vilani, however, that could all change.

n Jake Wood: Before signing up, Wood, 42, who plays EastEnders bad boy Max Branning, got some tips from his former co-star (brother Jack Branning) and ex-Strictly contestant Scott Maslen. "We did a bit of a waltz around his kitchen and by the end of that, I was hooked," says the soap actor, who is partnered with Janette Manrara.

n Jennifer Gibney: The Mrs Brown's Boys star is hoping her acting experience will help keep her nerves at bay. Gibney, 50, who's been paired with Strictly newcomer and fellow Dubliner Tristan MacManus, says her husband and co-star Brendan O'Carroll is her biggest fan. "He's so excited about it," she says with a smile.

n Judy Murray: Tennis coach Murray got a mixed response when she told her sons – former Wimbledon champion Andy and fellow tennis pro Jamie – she might compete on the show. "Jamie said, 'Oh mum, you'll love that, you love that show', and Andy said, 'Oh my God, you'll be absolutely terrible'," laughs the 55-year-old, who's partnered with Anton Du Beke.

n Mark Wright: "I've been asking around – is it OK to have a couple of drinks?" asks former The Only Way Is Essex heart-breaker Wright who is paired with Karen Hauer. "That's the only way I dance at a party." The 27-year-old's fiancee, ex-Corrie star Michelle Keegan has also been having "a little giggle" about his participation.

n Pixie Lott: The Mama Do singer, 23, is already being suggested as a favourite, having studied dance at performing arts school. "I don't think you can pay attention to (being a favourite) because it always changes," says the blonde star who's paired with Australian newbie Trent Whiddon.

n Scott Mills: Radio 1 DJ Mills, 40, is hoping his love of good beat will transfer to the dance floor. "I cannot dance, so I'm going to do the maximum training allowed," says Mills, who's partnered with Joanne Clifton.

n Simon Webbe: Blue singer Webbe, 36, considers himself a "pretty good mover". He previously appeared in the 2011 Strictly Christmas special (dancing the cha-cha). "Being in groups, you do tend to pick up dance routines. But this is a different standard," says Webbe, who's partnered with Kristina Rihanoff .

n Steve Backshall: Dangerous wildlife fan and presenter Backshall, partnered with Ola Jordan, says this could be his most terrifying challenge yet. "Dancing could not be more alien to me," says the 41-year-old.

n Sunetra Sarker: Casualty star Sarker showed off her stethoscope in the group dance. It seems partner Brendan Cole has already been putting the 41-year-old mum-of-one through her paces – she's been complaining about blisters!

n Thom Evans: Former rugby player Evans, 29, says: "I'm going to throw myself fully into it, because I believe that's what Strictly is about – the fake tan, the glitter, the sparkle. Bring it on." Dancer Iveta Lukosiute's joy was clear to see when she was paired with the model, but he insists he's not the only heart-throb, and says: "There are a lot of sexy contestants!"

n Tim Wonnacott: Bargain Hunt expert Wonnacott, who is partnering Natalie Lowe, confesses he has "zero dancing experience", saying, "I thought the paso doble was a double portion of something in an Italian restaurant". But the 63-year-old antiques guru, who seemed to struggle a bit with the legwork on the launch show, has vowed to fight back if the judges are unfair in their critique. "I think I might cry if somebody's really nasty to me," he adds. "I'm not that thick-skinned."

n Strictly Come Dancing is on BBC1 tonight, and then moves to the usual Saturday and Sunday night format from October 4