Strictly Come Under The Sea! Eye-catching ocean colours on display as celebrities sparkle in blues and greens at the launch party for this year's show

By GEORGINA LITTLEJOHN

Somewhere, beyond the sea: Strictly Come Dancing contestants Alex Jones and Chelsee Healey make a splash in their aquamarine outfits as they arrive at the show's launch party

It's a theme that has been used for many a high school dance and fancy dress party throughout the years.

And while it might not have been intentional, it was a theme that also seemed to have been adopted by the stars of this year's Strictly Come Dancing.


Ocean-inspired: Nancy Dell'Olio, who looked very mermaid-like, and Anita Dobson gave their younger counterparts a run for their money in the glamour stakes in their aquamarine and sea green dresses


Glittering in aquamarine and sparkling in sea blues and ocean greens, stars including as Alex Jones, Anita Dobson and Chelsee Healey arrived at the launch party for the upcoming series which starts this weekend.

And Nancy Dell'Olio looked as though she'd been inspired by mermaids as she posed for the cameras outside BBC Television Centre in a stunning asymmetrical sea green dress.

One Show host Alex, 34, showed off her legs and cleavage in a very sexy and very short light green sparky dress which was also decorated with gold tassels.


The light and the dark: Edwina Currie also opted for aquamarine while Lulu plunged to new depths with her dark ocean blue frock


Legendary EastEnder star Anita Dobson looked much younger than her 62 years in an asymmetrical aquamarine dress, which was daringly split right up her right thigh, and Waterloo Road actress Chelsee Healey, 23, kept it fun and flirty in a neon blue jewelled two-piece.

Former Conservative MP Edwina Currie, 64, also adopted a water theme as she arrived in a flowing aquamarine dress while singer Lulu decided to sink deeper in her sparkly dark ocean blue outfit.


The boys in blue: Jason Donovan and Dan Lobb opted for royal and neon...


... while Robbie Savage and Harry Judd went for light and deep sea greens


Not to be outdone by the ladies, some of the male celebrity contestants also got in on the oceanic theme, with Jason Donovan, Robbie Savage, Harry Judd and Dan Lobb stepping in in sexy blue and green shirts.

Not all of the celebrity contestants followed the colour theme of the evening however, as actress Holly Valance arrived in a barely-there, teeny-tiny thigh-skimming silver sparkly number which showed off her curves.


All that glitters: Holly Valance flaunted her pins in a very short silver tasseled dress


Bronzed beauty: Alesha Dixon looked super sexy in her strapless dress that fanned out beneath her


Mamma mia! The flamboyant Bruno Tonioli waves at the crowd as he poses with Alesha

Astrologer Russell Grant looked every inch the stargazer in his midnight blue, sparkly top, while satirist Rory Bremner who larked about for the cameras in a mustard yellow while Audley Harrison looked smart and dapper in a crisp white shirt.

Of course, it wouldn't have been a Strictly party without its hosts Tess Daly and Bruce Forsyth and its long-suffering judges Bruno Tonioli, Craig Revell-Horwood, Len Goodman and Alesha Dixon, who wowed the crowd in a stunning strapless bronze dress that fanned out beneath her.


Cute as a canary: Tess Daly looked gorgeous in a yellow flared jumpsuit

Even some of the professional dancers got in on the aquamarine theme as they arrived to check out the celebrities who will be joining them this year even though they won't be paired up until the weekend.

Claudia Winkleman will also be supporting Tess on the nail-biting Sunday night results show.


Here come the boys: Audley Harrison, Rory Bremner and Russell Grant looked smart and dapper for the party


Back by popular demand: Judges Craig Revel Horwood and Len Goodman are joined by hosts Tess Daly and Bruce Forsyth

This year's series will feature the biggest scale live programme so far, with a broadcast from Wembley Arena in front of around 6,500 fans for Children In Need.

Strictly starts at 6.10pm on BBC One, Saturday 10th September.


It's the pros: Artem Chigvintsev, who won last year with Kara Tointon, poses with Aliona Vilani while Natalie Lowe and Brendan Cole get ready for another series


source: dailymail