Strictly Come Dancing 2018: viewers react to the new couples – and hot new pro dancer Graziano

Saturday night's pre-recorded launch show saw the celebrities dancing in the Strictly ballroom for the very first time.

Viewers also found out those all-important couples, as the celebrities discovered who they would be dancing with this year.

Check out some of the best reactions from the night below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hCConANpoM4

• Strictly Come Dancing 2018 couples revealed
• Who is new Strictly pro Graziano di Prima?

Vick Hope nabs new hottie Graziano

With Brendan Cole leaving the show, Strictly needed a new pro to plug the gap. But who could it be? Say hello to Graziano di Prima...

https://twitter.com/bbcstrictly/status/1038504507876028417

Quite the entrance, don't you think?

https://twitter.com/TVGeekOnline/status/1038505010156462082

Viewers had a lot of thoughts about Graziano, not all of them appropriate for a family show. But in the main, people seemed to be getting serious Game of Thrones vibes off the new recruit.

https://twitter.com/S_L_Dalton/status/1038519780402233344

But which lucky celebrity would be partnered up with Graziano? That would be radio presenter Vick Hope.

https://twitter.com/JuetheBlue/status/1038501717283885056

Almost immediately viewers were touting them as potential favourites, and it's not hard to see why.

https://twitter.com/TwirlyShirleyx/status/1038572213991952384

If nothing else, their Halloween theme is surely a given now right?

https://twitter.com/FangirlFreddo/status/1038504791239024640

Yet another predictable partner for Anton du Beke

Cast your eye down the Strictly celebrity list for this year. Now put money on who you think Anton will get.

https://twitter.com/TraceyCoutts/status/1038499780475928578

https://twitter.com/hazypets/status/1038501696429858816

Congratulations, you bet correct!

Yes, Anton and Susannah Constantine are now officially a couple – but the group dance didn't exactly fill Anton fans with confidence.

https://twitter.com/mkmswain/status/1038509125288779776

https://twitter.com/JillHudson21/status/1038516879273459713

Hey, let's keep our hopes up – maybe we're in for a surprise?

Reigning champ Katya is back to the comedy routines

Last year Katya Jones secured the Strictly Glitterball with Joe McFadden, but this year she may have to take a little more inspiration from her previous year coaching Ed Balls.

She was partnered up with comedian Seann Walsh, and viewers were intrigued to see her choreography skills put to the test once again.

https://twitter.com/gwinniejones/status/1038514631415877632

https://twitter.com/catherinechisna/status/1038514449328627714

The early signs however are that they will could be firm favourites among the Strictly voters, so maybe this journey has a way to go yet...

https://twitter.com/Kaaaaatie_x/status/1038514490264965121

Susan Calman gives Stacey and Kevin her blessing

Documentary presenter Stacey Dooley and pro favourite Kevin Clifton were very, very excited to be partnered up together. Hyper doesn't quite cover it.

https://twitter.com/littlemisslisad/status/1038512608876392448

But even though some viewers felt they could do with toning it down a bit, frankly only one person's opinion matters when it comes to Kevin's future partner. That person is Susan Calman.

https://twitter.com/SusanCalman/status/1038476984945401856

Last year's pair were so close that Susan even had a tattoo 'I heart Grimsby' made after her Strictly journey took her all the way to Blackpool, so whoever was coupled with with Kevin this year had a lot to live up to.

https://twitter.com/SusanCalman/status/1001097977421881345

Luckily, Susan gave Stacey her blessing. Now, what does the future hold for Strictly's new power couple?

https://twitter.com/SusanCalman/status/1038513057536901120

'Pashley' looks a winner already – but is Ashley Roberts too good to be true?

Arguably one of the strongest partnerships of the night, Ashley Roberts and Pasha Kovalev are certainly ones to watch when the dancing begins in earnest.

https://twitter.com/lotteyates_/status/1038512822861352960

They've even got a couple name that works straight out of the box.

https://twitter.com/RedheadRasslin/status/1038513221001461760

However, among all the glitter and the lip gloss, there is the annual Strictly shadow: is Ashley too good a dancer already?

The Pussycat Dolls star had plenty of dancing experience thanks to her years in the girl band, and even went on to judge ITV's Dancing on Ice.

Will viewers turn against her because of her dance history?

https://twitter.com/thecrownwings/status/1038499260512256000

She has frequently explained that the style of ballroom in particular is something she's wholly unfamiliar with, and that she like others will have to learn "a skill and a new style that I have never done before", so it's not quite as easy as saying she's a certainty for the final.

https://twitter.com/evann_lfc/status/1038510622219161600

With Pasha putting her through her paces, however, she definitely has a chance to go all the way.

Strictly now takes a two-week break to give the celebrities a chance to train with their pro dancer partners, with the first live show scheduled for Saturday 22nd September.

Who else from the launch show caught your eye? Let us know on Twitter and Facebook, and keep checking RadioTimes.com for updates from training and the latest Strictly news.