Strictly 2016 full line up: From Olympic champion Greg Rutherford to Ed Balls, see what's in store

If you're not quite ready to let go of the Olympics, then the 2016 Strictly Come Dancing line up will be a pleaser. Amid the 15 celebrities putting their dancing shoes on, two Olympians are waltzing their way onto the hit BBC1 ballroom series.

Viewers will be treated to a diverse mix of stars from the likes of Birds Of A Feather's Lesley Joseph to long jump champ Greg Rutherford entertaining the public and giving judges Len Goodman, Craig Revel Horwood, Bruno Tonioli and Darcey Bussell something to get excited or horrified about.

Meet all of the contestants below.

1. Ed Balls, 49

The former Labour MP and shadow Chancellor (2011-2015) will be trying his foot at the foxtrot for the highly anticipated 14th Strictly series, and is solely known as being a politician despite his flair for writing and doing marathons.

He served in the Cabinet as Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families from 2007-2010, but has become a visiting professor of King's College London since leaving parliament, along with a Senior Fellow at Harvard University.

On top of that, he was appointed Chairman of his hometown football club, Norwich City. So as a man of great achievements, we're expecting some impressive shapes on the dance floor.

2. Tameka Empson, 39

EastEnders star Tameka – who plays Kim Fox-Hubbard on the soap – will no doubt provide a lot of entertainment with her larger than life personality. She's most definitely brave as she gave birth prematurely in the soap's live episode in 2015 and has been part of the show since 2009 – so her experience showmanship will no doubt take her the extra mile on Strictly.

3. Greg Rutherford, 29

Flame-haired Olympic champ Greg – who is a British track field athlete who specialises in long jump – won gold at the 2012 Summer Olympics, 2014 Commonwealth Games, 2014 and 2016 European Athletics Championships and 2015 World Athletics Championships. He is a current British record holder, both outdoors and indoors, but can he salsa his way to the top spot in this competition? We'll have to wait and see.

4. Laura Whitmore, 31

'It' girl Laura is a television presenter from Ireland and rubs shoulders with the UK's fashion elite including Alexa Chung and Daisy Lowe, and has supposedly had a fling with Leonardo DiCaprio. She has been obsessed with Strictly since series one and feels "so honoured to be asked" to take part. She has anchored the likes of ITV2's I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here Now and fronted The Brits Are Coming on ITV.

5. Ore Oduba, 29

Ore is a sports broadcaster on the BBC and is "nervously excited" to take part in the dancing series. He is a regular face on BBC Breakfast and is presented the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio – anchoring daily coverage every evening on BBC Four. A relevant face for the moment no doubt.

6. Louise Redknapp, 41

It feels like a lifetime ago that Louise was part of 90s girlband Eternal due to her great achievements and presence since leaving the group. She embarked on a successful solo career in 1995 and her first album, Naked, produced five hits and sold over one million copies. She is married to footballer Jamie Redknapp and has dipped into fashion in recent years, hosting The Clothes Show in 2006 and running her own lifestyle blog, A Style Album. Let's hope she can put a fashionable spin on the foxtrot for this Strictly series.

7. Will Young, 37

He shot to fame in 2002 when he won Pop Idol – the noughties answer to The X Factor. Young has enjoyed a successful music career and has appeared in a number of film, stage and television productions including the BBC film Mrs Henderson Presents. He also received an Olivier award nomination for his role as the MC in Rufus Norris' production of Cabaret, so there's nothing he can't turn his hand to and succeed in... Watch this space.

8. Daisy Lowe, 27

Whitmore's fashion pal Daisy Lowe is also taking part in the series and is mostly known as a model and actress – starring in major fashion campaigns for some big labels along with being a British Fashion Council Ambassador for London Fashion Weekend. Known for her voluptuous figure and feminine look, she'll surely take to the dance floor like a pro.

9. Robert Rinder, 38

We all know and love him as the catty yet super savvy Judge Rinder on the highly entertaining ITV2 show of the same name. Known for his straight talking approach to life, we're looking forward to seeing him translate his serious outlook onto the dance floor – and he's doing it to make his "grandmother proud." He's also really good friends with Benedict Cumberbatch and served as best man to his wedding to Sophie Hunter last year.

10. Naga Munchetty, 41

Male viewers were thrilled to hear that BBC Breakfast host Naga Munchetty was taking part in Strictly. A journalist by trade, Munchetty is "petrified" about her dancing debut but we have a sneaking feeling that she's going to ace it.

11. Lesley Joseph, 70

Joseph is the oldest female contestant to ever take part in Strictly and is a national treasure thanks to her role in popular sitcom Birds of a Feather as Dorien Green. She calls Strictly "iconic" and has spent much of her career on the stage including Calendar Girls and Annie, so we don't think she'll be getting any nerves.

12. Anastacia, 47

Singer Anastacia has been out of the limelight for a while but her big hit "I'm Outta Love" is still a Saturday night must-have to get the party started. The Chicago-born performer appeared on Strictly's Blackpool special singing the famous single, so she's a little familiar with what's in store.

13. Claudia Fragapane, 18

The youngest star to be competing in the series, Fragapane is an Olympian gymnast and rose to prominence at the 2014 Commonwealth Games. She was the first English woman to win four gold medals since swimmer Joyce Cooper 48 years previously. She also competed at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio, so she's fresh off the beam and ready to give us a twirl on the dancefloor. Something tells us she's going to be really, really good.

14. Danny Mac, 28

Hollyoaks actor Mac plays the hunky Mark 'Dodger' Savage and can't wait to get started on "the biggest show on television". We're guessing he's talking about Strictly. A professional actor since the age of 10, Mac has starred in the West End production of Wicked and joined the Channel 4 soap in 2011 – since being voted Soap's Sexiest Man at the Inside Soap Awards three times and twice Sexiest Male at the British Soap Awards.

15. Melvin Odoom, 36

Kiss FM DJ and former Xtra Factor host is renowned for his loveable personality and successful presenting career. He's hosted shows for 4Music, T4, Kiss TV, Box TV and MTV among others, and most recently made an impression as a co-host of The Xtra Factor on ITV2 alongside The Saturdays singer Rochelle Humes.

Strictly Come Dancing series 14 begins this September on BBC1.