SOUTHEND girl and Countdown maths whizz Rachel Riley has been told who she will be hitting the dance floor with on Strictly Come Dancing tonight.

Looking glamorous in a white ballroom gown and with her blonde bob in big curls, the TV presenter was paired with Pasha Kovalev on the launch show of this year's series.

The professional dancer, who hails from Siberia, reached the final of the hugely popular BBC show last year with Girls Aloud's Kimberley Walsh.

The celebrity dancers now have three weeks to prepare for the first of the live shows which will air on Friday, September 27.