PRESS ASSOCIATION -- Strictly Come Dancing stars donned the satin, sequins and spray-on tan as they prepared to take their first steps on the dance floor.
The contestants - including former soccer bad boy Robbie Savage and The One Show presenter Alex Jones - took the red carpet in their vibrant outfits to film the launch show.
The stars were also about to meet the partners with whom they have been paired as they headed to the recording at BBC TV Centre in west London.
Former MP Edwina Currie was praying that whoever she is teamed with will have the strength to handle her to make sure they stay in the ballroom dance contest.
"It'll depend on my partner and how strong he is because I'm a fat piece of lump," she joked.
Asked whether she will be as successful as her former Tory colleague Ann Widdecombe, who made it through to the quarter-finals last year, she said: "This is up to the public. I don't know, we shall have to see."
Singer and actress Holly Valance and TV presenter Jones both wore skimpy mini-dresses while Waterloo Road's Chelsee Healey went for a hot pants and bustier combination.
Also taking part in the recording are Rory Bremner, Nancy Dell'Olio, Audley Harrison, Lulu, Harry Judd, Dan Lobb, Jason Donovan, Russell Grant and Anita Dobson.
The launch show is to be screened on BBC1 on Saturday evening.