Season 21 of ABC's "Dancing with the Stars" premieres on Monday, 14 September with an eclectic mix of contestants that include "Backstreet Boys" singer Nick Carter and southern cooking sensation Paula Deen.

The special two-hour premiere will see Tom Bergeron and Erin Andrews returning as hosts and the first episode of the season will explore the chemistry between the contestants and their professional dancing partners.

The premiere episode of "Dancing with the Stars" can be watched live on ABC at 8 p.m. EST. Those who do not have access to television can watch a live stream of the event at ABC.com, provided you have participating television providers. Tablet and mobile phone users can watch the show through the ABC Watch Live Mobile App.

Fans have already started placing bets on their favourite contestant to win the show, and Bindi Irwin seems to a popular choice. She is partnered with Derek Hough, one of the most popular "Dancing with the Stars" professional dancers who has won the Mirrorball Trophy five times.

The duo will be performing Jive as their first dance.

"We started from ground zero. She came in with no experience," Hough told ET. "As she said, 'straight out of the bush!'"

Irwin is also excited to showcase her dancing skills, and she noted that performing in high heels was a challenge.

"They said, 'We're going to put you in these heels,' and I don't think they realized that I had never worn heels before so I stood up and instantly fell down," Irwin said, and gushed about Hough as the perfect partner for her.

"I have the greatest teacher on planet Earth. I walked into this whole new adventure having no concept what I was going to do – I had the passion in my soul, but you really don't know what to expect. Derek was so good at putting my mind at ease and we've been taking it one piece at a time."

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