'Strictly Come Dancing': Denise Van Outen Gives James Jordan A Playful Punch (PICTURES)

STRICTLY: Don't Mess With Denise
|

Strictly Come Dancing star Denise Van Outen swaps ballroom for brawl-room as she lands a playful punch on partner James Jordan.

The pair locked horns after jokingly squabbling over the past few weeks as they rehearsed ahead of the series returning on BBC One.

James has become known for his forthright views on the show and his hardline approach to training, but Denise appeared to be having none of it as she gave him a friendly wallop on the cheek.

Open Image Modal

Over the past few weeks, the pair have been sparring on Twitter with Denise joking that she would have preferred to be partnered by Brendan Cole, who is dancing with Olympic cyclist Victoria Pendleton.

And yesterday she joked that James' highlights made him look like Dollar singer David Van Day.

The pair are practising their waltz for when the series kicks off on BBC One tonight at 9pm with the first competitive live show, as half the couples head onto the dancefloor. The remainder will appear tomorrow.

PICTURES: See Louis Smith and Denise Van Outen rehearsing...

Strictly Stars Practise
Strictly Come Dancing 2012(01 of27)
Open Image Modal
Louis Smith and Flavia rehearse for their first dance dance together on BBC1's Strictly Come Dancing at Pineapple Dance Studios, London. (credit:PA)
Strictly Come Dancing 2012(02 of27)
Open Image Modal
Louis Smith and Flavia rehearse for their first dance dance together on BBC1's Strictly Come Dancing at Pineapple Dance Studios, London. (credit:PA)
Strictly Come Dancing 2012(03 of27)
Open Image Modal
Louis Smith and Flavia rehearse for their first dance dance together on BBC1's Strictly Come Dancing at Pineapple Dance Studios, London. (credit:PA)
Strictly Come Dancing 2012(04 of27)
Open Image Modal
Denise Van Outen and James Jordan rehearse for the BBC programme Strictly Come Dancing at a LA Fitness studio in London. (credit:PA)
Strictly Come Dancing 2012(05 of27)
Open Image Modal
Denise Van Outen and James Jordan rehearse for the BBC programme Strictly Come Dancing at a LA Fitness studio in London. (credit:PA)
Strictly Come Dancing 2012(06 of27)
Open Image Modal
Denise Van Outen and James Jordan rehearse for the BBC programme Strictly Come Dancing at a LA Fitness studio in London. (credit:PA)
Strictly Come Dancing 2012(07 of27)
Open Image Modal
Denise Van Outen and James Jordan rehearse for the BBC programme Strictly Come Dancing at a LA Fitness studio in London. (credit:PA)
Strictly Come Dancing 2012(08 of27)
Open Image Modal
Denise Van Outen and James Jordan rehearse for the BBC programme Strictly Come Dancing at a LA Fitness studio in London. (credit:PA)
Strictly Come Dancing 2012(09 of27)
Open Image Modal
Louis Smith and Flavia rehearse for their first dance dance together on BBC1's Strictly Come Dancing at Pineapple Dance Studios, London. (credit:PA)
Strictly Come Dancing 2012(10 of27)
Open Image Modal
Louis Smith and Flavia rehearse for their first dance dance together on BBC1's Strictly Come Dancing at Pineapple Dance Studios, London. (credit:PA)
Strictly Come Dancing 2012(11 of27)
Open Image Modal
Louis Smith and Flavia rehearse for their first dance dance together on BBC1's Strictly Come Dancing at Pineapple Dance Studios, London. (credit:PA)
Strictly Come Dancing 2012(12 of27)
Open Image Modal
Louis Smith and Flavia rehearse for their first dance dance together on BBC1's Strictly Come Dancing at Pineapple Dance Studios, London. (credit:PA)
Strictly Come Dancing 2012(13 of27)
Open Image Modal
Louis Smith and Flavia rehearse for their first dance dance together on BBC1's Strictly Come Dancing at Pineapple Dance Studios, London. (credit:PA)
Strictly Come Dancing 2012(14 of27)
Open Image Modal
Louis Smith and Flavia rehearse for their first dance dance together on BBC1's Strictly Come Dancing at Pineapple Dance Studios, London. (credit:PA)
Strictly Come Dancing 2012(15 of27)
Open Image Modal
Louis Smith and Flavia rehearse for their first dance dance together on BBC1's Strictly Come Dancing at Pineapple Dance Studios, London. (credit:PA)
Strictly Come Dancing 2012(16 of27)
Open Image Modal
Louis Smith and Flavia rehearse for their first dance dance together on BBC1's Strictly Come Dancing at Pineapple Dance Studios, London. (credit:PA)
Strictly Come Dancing 2012(17 of27)
Open Image Modal
Louis Smith and Flavia rehearse for their first dance dance together on BBC1's Strictly Come Dancing at Pineapple Dance Studios, London. (credit:PA)
Strictly Come Dancing 2012(18 of27)
Open Image Modal
Louis Smith and Flavia rehearse for their first dance dance together on BBC1's Strictly Come Dancing at Pineapple Dance Studios, London. (credit:PA)
Strictly Come Dancing(19 of27)
Open Image Modal
Denise Van Outen and James Jordan rehearse for the BBC programme Strictly Come Dancing at a LA Fitness studio in London. (credit:PA)
Strictly Come Dancing 2012(20 of27)
Open Image Modal
Louis Smith and Flavia rehearse for their first dance dance together on BBC1's Strictly Come Dancing at Pineapple Dance Studios, London. (credit:PA)
Strictly Come Dancing 2012(21 of27)
Open Image Modal
Louis Smith and Flavia rehearse for their first dance dance together on BBC1's Strictly Come Dancing at Pineapple Dance Studios, London. (credit:PA)
Strictly Come Dancing 2012(22 of27)
Open Image Modal
Louis Smith and Flavia rehearse for their first dance dance together on BBC1's Strictly Come Dancing at Pineapple Dance Studios, London. (credit:PA)
Strictly Come Dancing(23 of27)
Open Image Modal
Denise Van Outen and James Jordan rehearse for the BBC programme Strictly Come Dancing at a LA Fitness studio in London. (credit:PA)
Strictly Come Dancing(24 of27)
Open Image Modal
Denise Van Outen and James Jordan rehearse for the BBC programme Strictly Come Dancing at a LA Fitness studio in London. (credit:PA)
Strictly Come Dancing 2012(25 of27)
Open Image Modal
Louis Smith does the splits as he and Flavia Cacace rehearse for their first dance dance together on BBC1's Strictly Come Dancing at Pineapple Dance Studios, London. (credit:PA)
Strictly Come Dancing(26 of27)
Open Image Modal
Denise Van Outen and James Jordan rehearse for the BBC programme Strictly Come Dancing at a LA Fitness studio in London. (credit:PA)
Strictly Come Dancing(27 of27)
Open Image Modal
Denise Van Outen and James Jordan rehearse for the BBC programme Strictly Come Dancing at a LA Fitness studio in London. (credit:PA)