The stars of this year’s Strictly Come Dancing have told of their nerves and lack of sleep ahead of Saturday night’s first live show.

Comedian Susan Calman and newsreader Charlotte Hawkins revealed they had endured somewhat sleepless nights hours before they take to the dance floor, while Loose Women’s Ruth Langsford and actress Gemma Atkinson have told of the physical impact their nerves are having.

Calman posted on Twitter, at around 6.30am: “Up early. Can’t sleep. No idea why. It’s not like I’m doing anything important today.”

Hawkins wrote that she had “not much sleep” in response to a good-luck message from her Good Morning Britain co-star Ranvir Singh.

Langsford told her fans in a video message: “I’m so nervous – my hands are cold, my mouth is dry.

“I’m also excited, I’ve got the excited tummy.”

On Instagram, Atkinson shared a picture of herself with a dog filter over her face and wrote: “Show day! Shaking like a s******* dog.”

Show day! Shaking like a sh!tting dog 🐶😂

A post shared by Gemma Atkinson (@glouiseatkinson) on

Singer Alexandra Burke tweeted that she was embarking on a “full gym workout” in order to try to get rid of her nerves, which she described in an earlier online message as “unreal”.

Elsewhere, Sunday Brunch presenter Simon Rimmer appeared stunned that the day had finally arrived, as he posted a picture of his name on his dressing room door.

He wrote: “So it’s really happening @bbcstrictly.”

so it's really happening @bbcstrictly

A post shared by Simon Rimmer (@rimmersimon) on

However, for former Communards star Rev Richard Coles, humour was on the cards in order to keep any nerves at bay.

He tweeted: “I have started bringing my sewing to #Strictly in the hope that wardrobe will rebutton my clericals.”

Also taking to the Strictly dance floor after two weeks of intense training are pop stars Mollie King and Aston Merrygold, soap stars Davood Ghadami, Chizzy Akudolu and Joe McFadden, comedian Brian Conley, TV and radio personality Debbie McGee and Paralympian Jonnie Peacock.

Strictly Come Dancing returns to BBC One at 6.25pm.