Charities reveal celebrity guest judge Giovanni Pernice and same-sex couples for next year's extravaganza
Mammoth charity fundraiser Strictly Inverness will return in 2024 for the thirteenth time, raising funds for both Highland Hospice and Inverness Ice Centre.
Applications for the event, which will take place from 8-11 May 2024 in Inverness Ice Centre, will open from Friday 22 September, closing on Monday 30 October 2023.
The benefiting charities have announced the exciting news that they have confirmed celebrity guest judge Giovanni Pernice from BBC's Strictly Come Dancing, to join the judging panel on Saturday's Grand Final on Saturday 11 May.
Furthermore, for the first time ever, the competition will include same sex couples.
Highland Hospice fundraiser Carrie Macdonald commented, "We are so excited to be welcoming Giovanni to Inverness next May. He is a huge household name, particularly for Strictly fans, We are all going to be following him and hoping he does well on the current series, where he's partnered with Amanda Abbington .
The ladies are going to go wild for him!"
She added, "The other big news this year is that we will be introducing same sex couples for the first time, which will give the competition an added refresh!"
"If anyone out there has been considering applying for Strictly Inverness but putting it off, why not make 2024 your year to do something truly different? All you need is to be over 18, have little or no dance experience - and, most importantly, be prepared to give fundraising your absolute everything for both ourselves and Inverness Ice Centre."
Strictly Inverness is the biggest fundraising event held annually for both Highland Hospice and Inverness Ice Centre. Last year's four-night extravaganza raised close to £250,000. Previous celebrity guest judges for the Saturday final have been Anton du Beke, Flavia Cacace-Mistry and last year, Aljaz Scorjanec and Janette Manrana.
Thirty-two novices are brought on board, partnered with each other and then trained by an expert group of dance tutors, between January and May. Couples will perform in front of an audience of 600 people and a panel of judges on either the Thursday or Friday semi-finals, resulting in the final eight couples battling it in Saturday's Grand Final to determine the overall winner.
To apply to dazzle on the dancefloor next year, please click here.
