Meet this year’s line-up of brave contestants, get up-close with the brilliant professional dancers and enjoy the lowdown on this year’s exciting series number 13 from those irrepressible and outspoken judges. Everything that a Strictly fan could want to know is in this sparkling annual, the perfect partner for all the glitz, glamour and gossip of the ever-popular – and occasionally controversial – Saturday extravaganza. Written by author and entertainment journalist Alison Maloney, The Official Strictly Come Dancing Annual 2016 is your trusty step-by-step guide to all the goings-on back stage and beneath the famous glitterball. Fans young and old can spin and shimmy through this treasure trove of dancing delights which includes everything from an exclusive peep at the hair-raising Halloween special to the secrets of the master shoemakers who make the sequinned shoes. Costume designer Vicky Gill reveals how the male contestants soon learn to love being ‘Strictlified’ with frilly shirts and traditional tailcoats, director of choreography Jason Gilkison describes how he plans the group dances way back in June and Matthew Howes, music producer, lifts the lid on the months of preparation and wrangling. There is also the chance to take a sneak peek into judge Craig Revel Horwood’s dressing room as he discusses his Strictly Saturday routine, you can eat like a dancer with tasty keep-fit recipes from the dancers and stop off for a tan-tastic tour of the tanning booths. Aficionados will love the question and answers session, a super Strictly quiz and a fun crossword to test their knowledge of the show, and if that wasn’t enough, creative fans can also add a tango twist to their party wardrobe with a pattern to make their own Flavia Cacace skirt. This wonderfully informative and entertaining annual tells you everything you wanted to know about the dancers, their celebrity partners, the behind-the-scenes stories and what it means to be a part of this dazzling series. And if just watching them all leaves you feeling floored, you can get back on your toes with pro dancers Aliona Vilani and Kevin Clifton who let us in on the fitness routines and diet secrets that keep them in tip-top condition. Up-close and Strictly personal! (BBC Books, hardback, £12.99)