EastEnders star Molly Rainford has warned fellow cast member Bobby Brazier that Strictly Come Dancing will be “tougher” than her thinks.

The actress finished as runner up in last year’s edition of the BBC dancing competition and has been helping EastEnders co-star Bobby rehearse ahead of his debut on the show.

Strictly is set to return on September 23, and Molly has been putting Bobby through his paces as the date approaches.

She told The Sunday Mirror newspaper: "I had no idea Bobby was going for Strictly but when I found out, straight away I was showing him the frame.

Barrhead News: Molly Rainford and her Strictly partner from last year, Carlos GuMolly Rainford and her Strictly partner from last year, Carlos Gu (Image: PA)

"I joked to him, ‘How about we practice together and then you say I taught you everything you know’. So that’s what’s happening – though of course his pro partner may say different.

"My advice to him was just to enjoy it and take it all in, and to expect it to be tougher than you thought."

Molly told Bobby - who plays Freddie Slater in the BBC soap opera - to remember to take things "seriously" if he wants to impress head judge Shirley Ballas but is confident that he will do well on the show because he has the "drive" to succeed.

She added: "So I said to him, ‘You will have to take it a bit seriously at times. If you want Shirley to notice the technique, you have to give it some welly. But I’m sure he will work hard because he’ll want to get things right. He has the drive for it.

"He can come across as very laid-back but on set at 'EastEnders', he’s so focused and wants to get the scenes right."

When does Strictly Come Dancing start?

Strictly Come Dancing looks set to return to TV screens across the UK next month.

Barrhead News: Strictly Come Dancing is set to feature the likes of Love Island's Zara McDermott and Emmerdale and Waterloo Road actor Adam Thomas.Strictly Come Dancing is set to feature the likes of Love Island's Zara McDermott and Emmerdale and Waterloo Road actor Adam Thomas. (Image: BBC)

Tickets are now available for Strictly Come Dancing 2023 shows, with the first live performances on Saturday, September 23.

Strictly looks set to run until December 16, with that being the last date available for tickets.

Normally, before the live shows start there is an annual pre-recorded launch show where fans learn who their favourite celebrity will be coupled up with. 

According to the Huffington Post, this is set to be filmed on Wednesday, September 6, with it to air on Saturday, September 16 - a week before the live shows start. 

Strictly Come Dancing 2023 line-up

All 15 celebrities taking part in Strictly Come Dancing 2023 have been revealed:

  • Amanda Abbington (Sherlock and Mr Selfridge actress)
  • Angela Rippon (former newsreader)
  • Layton Williams (stage and screen star)
  • Krishnan Guru-Murthy (Channel 4 journalist)
  • Eddie Kadi (comedian)
  • Angela Scanlon (Irish presenter)
  • Zara McDermott (Love Island)
  • Adam Thomas (Emmerdale and Waterloo Road actor)
  • Nikita Kanda (BBC radio presenter)
  • Ellie Leach (Coronation Street)
  • Jody Cundy CBE (Paralympic Champion)
  • Bobby Brazier (Eastenders)
  • Nigel Harman (Casualty)
  • Annabel Croft (British tennis player)
  • Les Dennis (former Family Fortunes host and Coronation Street actor)

This will be the 21st series of the popular BBC show. 

Strictly Come Dancing will once again be hosted by Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman. 

Judges Shirley Ballas, Anton Du Beke, Craig Revel Horwood and Motsi Mabuse will also return for the 2023 series.

The show will once again come live from Elstree Film and Television Studios, with a one-off special from Blackpool Tower Ballroom.