BURY actress Gemma Atkinson wowed viewers last night as she took to the dancefloor for the first time on Strictly Come Dancing.

The former Emmerdale star, aged 32, debuted her Cha Cha routine with Slovenian pro Aljaz Skorjanec on the BBC dance show.

Throughout the series the pair will be up against competition from 14 other couples including celebrity chef Simon Rimmer and Karen Clifton and one-time X Factor winner Alexandra Burke and her partner Gorka Marquez.

Gemma, now a Key 103 radio presenter, was the first contestant to take to the floor at the start of the 15th edition of the series.

This season’s judging panel is made up of Craig Revel Horwood, Bruno Tonioli and Darcy Bussell, while Shirley Ballas, the former champion Latin dancer, replaces Len Goodman as head judge.

Notoriously harsh judge Craig Revel Horwood, aged 52, laid into her on the show, criticising her technique.

"I thought it was all a little bit blocky and square if I'm being honest," he said, as the audience booed. "Your free arm needs a service as well, darling."

"You have to remember the free arm also has to work," he added, reeling off a list of criticisms. "And you have to also anticipate the changes in direction otherwise it loses fluidity."

Overall, the veteran judge concluded: "I thought it was just a little bit on the heavy side."

Strictly Come Dancing continues next Saturday at 6.45pm on BBC One.