Strictly Come Dancing (BBC1, 9pm)

ONCE upon a time you could get away with the joke that the Bossa Nova was involved in car-making. Thanks to the success of Strictly, which has become TV's biggest and best dancing show, the dance step now easily eclipses all thoughts of an ancient Vauxhall hatchback.

Tonight, the dance couples take to the floor to give us a first glimpse of who is likely to take this year's title.

The contestants are: Ainsley Harriott with Natalie Lowe, Anita Rani and Russian-born Dancing With The Stars favourite Gleb Savchenko; boxer Anthony Ogogo plus eight-times South African Latin American Champion Oti Mabuse, Carol Kirkwood and Pasha Kovalev, the fascinating pairing of Daniel O’Donnell and Kristina Rihanoff, Corrie's Georgia May Foote with 2012 Italian Champion Giovanni Pernice, actress Helen George and Alja? Skorjanec, Iwan Thomas and Ola Jordan, singer Jamelia plus Tristan MacManus, Wanted singer Jay McGuiness with Aliona Vilani, Jeremy Vine and Karen Clifton, Katie Derham and Anton du Beke, EastEnders' Kellie Bright and Kevin Clifton, Kirsty Gallacher and Brendan Cole and Peter Andre and Janette Manrara.

Also returning is Strictly’s legendary judging panel - head judge Len Goodman plus Darcey Bussell, Bruno Tonioli and Craig Revel Horwood who will be the panel of dance experts that this year’s celebrities will be trying to impress.

There will be no public vote in the first week and the results show with Tess and Claudia will begin from week two on Sunday nights. From then, each week the two couples with the lowest combined scores, from the judges and public vote, will face each other in the dance off, with one couple leaving the competition for good.

At the halfway stage of the competition and now a Strictly Come Dancing tradition, the show will travel to the international home of Ballroom dancing where the celebrities and their partners will perform at the world famous Blackpool Tower Ballroom.

Sir Bruce Forsyth will be returning to the Strictly Ballroom once again to host special Children in Need and Christmas editions of the show.

Zoe Ball will also return to host It Takes Two on BBC Two. The weekday half-hour show is back with even more exclusive access and backstage gossip that ever before. This year, professional Strictly dancer Joanne Clifton joins the team as their resident dance expert and there will be a new hour-long show every Friday filmed in front of a live audience.

Alan Carr: Chatty Man (C4, 10pm)

IF you can't get enough of Strictly Come Dancing, then you're in luck as fleet footed hosts Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly will be joining Alan Carr in the studio for the odd tipple and chinwag. The Bafta award-winning funnyman is also joined by actors Kristen Wiig, Chiwetel Ejiofor (soon to be seen in Doctor Strange) and Fantastic Four's Kate Mara. They'll be chatting about new sci-fi blockbuster The Martian. Plus, actress-pop star Selena Gomez reflects on her life and times and performs her single Good for You.

The Graham Norton Show (BBC1, 10.35pm)

ANDY Weir's novel The Martian has caught the imaginations of millions in recent years, including Hollywood's Matt Damon and Jessica Chastain. They're in town to plug the movie version helmed by Ridley Scott, and will no doubt be recalling some of the funnier moments that occurred during filming.

Damon plays an astronaut mistakenly left behind on a mission to Mars by the rest of the crew who presume he is dead. The dilemma is whether it's possible to stage a rescue mission. Of course Doctor Who is no stranger to the red planet, and Peter Capaldi will also be dropping into the studio to plug the new series. There's also a chance to watch Canadian R&B singer Weeknd (born Abel Tesfaye), who will be performing his new single, Can't Feel My Face.

Still on Norton's wish list is Brad and Angelina... and Bill Clinton. Apparently he only likes politicians when they're out of office.

Viv Hardwick