The 24th series of the BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing launched last night, introducing 15 new celebrity contestants paired with professional dancers, alongside a revamped presenting team. The show, which first aired 22 years ago, once again attracted millions of viewers eager to follow the competitors’ journey toward winning the coveted Glitterball trophy.
This year marks a notable shift in the show’s presentation. Longtime hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman have departed, with Emma Willis, comedian Josh Widdicombe, and former Strictly professional Johannes Radebe stepping in as the new presenting trio. Willis shared her mixed feelings ahead of the launch, describing the experience as both exciting and nerve-wracking during an appearance on her BBC Radio 2 show. Judge Anton Du Beke expressed enthusiasm for the show’s enduring appeal and welcomed the introduction of five new professional dancers: Aleksandra Isaeva, Cristian Priori, Lethabo Monametsi, Maddie Ingoldsby, and Mark Karmalita.
Among this year’s celebrity contestants is Dani Dyer, who returns after withdrawing last year due to an ankle fracture sustained during rehearsals. She is partnered with Ukrainian dancer Nikita Kuzmin, who finished runner-up last year. Other notable pairings include former Manchester City footballer Shaun Wright-Phillips with Alexis Warr; Gavin & Stacey actress Melanie Walters with Aljaž Škorjanec, who made a return to the show after a hiatus; and House of the Dragon actress Bethany Antonia paired with Nancy Xu in one of the series’ same-sex partnerships.
The lineup also features Olympic skeleton athlete Tabby Stoecker, partnered with newcomer Mark Karmalita; celebrity hairdresser Chris Appleton with Amy Dowden, who is currently in remission following breast cancer treatment; EastEnders’ Lacey Turner with Italian dancer Vito Coppola; singer Delta Goodrem with Kai Widdrington; and Love Island winner Cach Mercer with Maddie Ingoldsby, a world dance champion new to Strictly.
Additional contestants include Emmerdale star Lawrence Robb paired with Jowita Przystal; dog trainer Graeme “The Dogfather” Hall with Lauren Oakley; Paralympian Dame Sarah Storey with Australian Julian Caillon; TV presenter Will Best with Dianne Buswell, who recently became a mother; and YouTuber John Nellis with Katya Jones, a former Strictly champion.
The first live show of the new series is scheduled to air on BBC One this Saturday at 6:15 p.m., kicking off what is expected to be a competitive and engaging season as the new pairs showcase their dancing skills.