STRICTLY’S Chris McCausland left his castmates speechless after taking a cheeky swipe at a telly co-star.
The BBC dance extravaganza was back with a bang tonight as 15 new contestants battle it out for the coveted Glitter Ball trophy.
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JLS singer JB Gill, Love Island’s Tasha Gouri, EastEnders actor Jamie Borthwick and football legend Paul Merson took to the dancefloor for the primetime hit’s opening show.
And practising GP Dr Punam Krishan swapped her Glasgow surgery for the glitz and glamour of the Strictly ballroom.
However the telly doc, a regular on BBC Morning Live, found herself at the receiving end of a cheeky jibe from funnyman Chris.
The Live at the Apollo comic quipped: “Punam, none of us can believe that we’ve managed to get in the same room as a GP.”
But the medic-turned-dancer laughed off the gag with hosts Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly also letting out a chuckle.
Dr Punam was paired up with show legend Gorka Márquez, who danced with Katie Piper, Maisie Smith and Helen Skelton in previous years.
Meeting her partner for the first time, she said: “I can’t dance to save myself. We are going to Glasgow.”
Gorka replied: “I love haggis and black pudding.”
The celeb GP added: “I’m absolutely buzzing, we’re the perfect pairing.
“I feel honoured because you have so many years of experience and I can’t wait to take you up north to Bonnie Scotland.”
Dr Punam will juggle her time on Strictly on top of attending her Glasgow practice.
Tonight’s opening show marked the emotional return of Amy Dowden after a heroic cancer battle.
After bravely beating breast cancer, the much-loved dancer stunned viewers as she waltzed across the floor in a pink gown.
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It comes after the show was flung into chaos amid a probe into allegations of bullying involving stalwart Giovanni Pernice.
The pro dancer left the show after nine years following an official complaint made against him by his 2023 partner, Amanda Abbington.
