The new series of the multi-award-winning Strictly Come Dancing and recent National Television Awards winner of Best Talent Show launched tonight on BBC One and BBC iPlayer, once again bringing glitter, glamour and glorious dancing to homes across the nation.
We welcomed back our Hosts, Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman, along with Judges, Shirley Ballas, Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, and Anton Du Beke.
As well as revealing who our celebrities are paired with, the show opened with a dramatic performance from our fabulous professional dancers, who also performed alongside the Judges in an eye-catching routine, like never before seen on the show.
The launch show included a beautiful tribute to the late Len Goodman, in which Tess, Claudia, the Judges and professional dancers remembered the Ballroom icon.
Jessie Ware also performed a rendition of āFree Yourselfā with a spectacular dance routine from Nadiya Bychkova, Johannes Radebe, Michelle Tsiakkas and Neil Jones, and for the last time, the 2022 Strictly winners Hamza Yassin and Jowita PrzystaÅ danced their week 4 Salsa from last yearsā series reminding the audience exactly why they won the competition. Hamza said āStrictly was the best thing thatās ever happened to me, itās changed my life, and taught me so much about myself, and I thought already knew myself pretty wellā.
Firstly, we saw Amanda Abbington get paired with her partner Giovanni Pernice. After being paired, and asked by Claudia how happy she was, Amanda said āIām ecstatic, we get on really well, same sense of humour, and dedicated to working hardā. When asked about Amandaās reaction to the reveal, her partner Giovanni replied āThat was a reaction, I have to be honestā¦and also there was screaming that I enjoyed very muchā¦very very happy days.ā
Next up was Zara McDermott, and when asked about how she was feeling Zara said āI think Iām probably the most nervous Iāve been in my life. Iām not a natural born performer or extrovert, so this is the biggest challenge of my life!ā After being paired with Graziano Di Prima he said to Zara āThe sky is the limit! Be positive all the wayā Graziano then revealed to Zara the their first dance will the Cha Cha Cha!ā
Then we saw Jody Cundy CBE paired with reigning Strictly champion Jowita PrzystaÅ. When asked by Tess āYou are an eight time gold medal winning Paralympian. You started off swimming, then you made the switch to cycling so Iām thinking Strictly easy peasy for you?! Jody replied: āIād like to think so, but I donāt think itās going to be. Iām a complete newbie at this, I had years and years of practice at the other ones so weāll see what happens...letās shoot for the stars!ā. After the pairing Jowita admitted she was nervous āI need to admit Iām actually a bit nervous because I donāt want to let him down, but I have a lot of ideasā.
Being paired next was Krishnan Guru-Murthy who was partnered with professional dancer Lauren Oakley, he was extremely pleased and said āoh itās brilliant and she gets me immediatelyā. This will be Laurenās first time having a celebrity partner and followed up with āIt might be the first time that Iām partnered with somebody, but I know itās a big ask for the celebrities to go out there and dance. So I think I need to be kind and give you confidence to have fun, but when itās time to be strict I know how to be strict, donāt worry about that!ā.
Next it was Angela Rippon CBEās turn to find out who her partner was, Tess said āAngela, ripping up the dancefloor ā we canāt wait for that can we?! 32 years after presenting Come Dancing, how does it feel to be on the other side? Angela responded āItās weird not being in your place and being in this place, but Iām going to enjoy it I think, yes!ā. Angela was paired with Kai Widdrington and said of the pairing āwhen I saw it was Kai I couldnāt have been happier I promise youā, Kai said āI am absolutely delighted to have Angela , I think we are going to be fabulous.ā
Then it was over to Layton Williams, who was paired with Nikita Kuzmin and together they form this series all-male pairing. When talking about the partnership Layton said āHe is going to whip me into shape, and keep me on the straight and narrow because I do like to think I know what I am doing and do the most, but I really donāt have a clue!ā
Claudia said to Nikita thatĀ āLayton has previous dance experience, do you unpick that or do you build on it?āĀ Nikita respondedĀ āBallroom and Latin are completely different to anything Layton has done so far, the technique, posture and especially to co-ordination is completely different, he has a lot to learn andĀ IĀ canāt wait to teach himā.
After that, it was Nigel Harmanās moment, and he was paired with Katya Jones. Claudia told Nigel that Katya could be quite strict and asked if he was ready, Nigel replied āeveryone keeps telling me this and every time they tell me this I get more and more terrified, but I am pretending Iām really calm about it.ā When asked about what Katya has in store for Nigel, she said āideaās will come as we get to know each otherā.
Moving on, it was Bobby Brazierās turn to meet his professional partner for the series, and Dianne Buswellrevealed herself on the set of EastEnders. Bobby said āI am so pleased!ā. Dianne explained ā I am so happy I have already adopted Bobby as my little brother, and I already care so much about him, I just want him to have the best time ever.ā
The pairings continued and we then saw Comedian Eddie Kadi paired with longest serving Professional Karen Hauer, Eddie said āsheās a little bit like kryptoniteā¦sheās got a sound āta taā, when you get something a little bit wrong āta taā Iām like oh my God, Iāve got to get used to āta taā. Karen said āHe will be cracking the jokes, but Iām going to be cracking the whipā.
Annabel Croft was then paired on Wimbledonās centre court with Johannes Radebe. On the pairing she said āIāve got the best partner I could possibly have wished for, honestly heās so special, you really are so special, itās such an honour and a privilege to be dancing with you, thank you.ā When Claudia asked about Johannesā plans for the first week, he told Annabel āI am going to take you through your paces my darling but the most important thing is that we are going to have funā.
Actor Ellie Leach was then paired with Vito Coppola, when asked by Claudia about her pairing she said āIām over the moon that Vito is my partner, honestly Iām so excited I think we are going to have so much funā. Vito said āI am just going to have the best time with Ellie, I want to have the best journey and have funā Vito revealed that they will be performing a sparkling Jive to which Ellie replied āOh no, thatās really a hard, a Jive!ā.
Actor Adam Thomas had been patiently waiting to find out who is partner was, and it was revealed to be Luba Mushtuk, discussing the pairing he said āIām loving lifeā¦what is not to love? Iām on Strictly Come Dancing and Iāve got this Russian princess, Iām buzzing, absolutely over the moonā Luba continued āIāve never been this happyā¦so I am extremely excited and cannot wait to dance with youā When asked by Claudia how much he is looking forward to learning how to dance, Adam replied āI canāt waitā¦ this is why we do this show, itās to learn how to dance.ā
Next up, TV Presenter Angela Scanlon, was paired with Carlos Gu, and said āThank you universeā¦I think Carlos will be able to teach me, he is directā¦I feel like there is a directness that I might respond to, like brutal honesty that Carlos has.ā Claudia asked Carlos if this is going to be the year he wins, he replied āoh yes I have made a better plan and we are going for the glitter ballā¦weāll do it one step at a time, no rush.ā
Our penultimate pairing was, Nikita Kanda and Gorka MĆ”rquez she revealed her familyās reaction to her taking part in the show, āMy mum criedā¦she was so happy itās made everyone feel good and have a bit of a smile on their faceā. When asked about her dancing skills by Claudia, Nikita said āI am a party animal but when it comes to choreography thatās what Iām here to learnā¦ I need to learn some new skills, Iām just like one arm up in the airā. Gorka said that even if it doesnāt go right donāt lose the confidence, always believe in yourself, I believe in you already and itās going to be great!ā. He went on to reveal their first dance will be the Waltz and their team name is Gorkita.
The final pairing of the launch show was Les Dennis, who said āI love a challengeā¦this is the biggest challenge ever, I am so excited about it, I canāt waitā. It was then revealed that he was partnered up with Nancy Xu. When commenting on the pairing he said āI am so happyā¦ as soon as I met Nancy I knew I could learn from her, she is a great teacher and she is so enthusiasticā. Nancy said āI am so excited and actually we have already startedā Les revealed that Nancy is teaching her to dance and Les is teaching her to speak āscouseā.
At the end of the show, we saw our celebrities and professional dancers perform their first group number to finishthe launch show in style, giving us our first sneak peek at the celebritiesā dancing skills. Strictly goes live on Saturday 23rdSeptember from 18.15, when we will see each of our couples take to the dance floor for their first performances.
Strictly Come Dancing continues on Saturday 23rdSeptember at 18.15 on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
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