The 2026 season of BBC's "Strictly Come Dancing" kicked off with an emotional pre-recorded launch show on Wednesday, introducing a new trio of presenters and significant format adjustments. The episode, which saw the 15 celebrity contestants paired with professional dancers, will air on Saturday, September 19.
New hosts Emma Willis, Josh Widdicombe, and Johannes Radebe took to the dance floor at Elstree studios for what insiders described as a highly-charged evening. Radebe, who transitioned from professional dancer to host, was reportedly teary-eyed at one point during the recording. He expressed his honor and emotion at taking on the new challenge after eight years in the ballroom.
This season marks a departure from the show's long-standing hosting duo Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman, who have departed after two decades. The new presenting team, alongside a lineup that some fans have deemed underwhelming, are navigating a more fluid format. Willis, Widdicombe, and Radebe have reportedly not yet received clear guidance on the exact presentation structure, and the launch show served as a testing ground.
Unlike previous seasons where hosts guided contestants through judges' feedback and post-dance debriefs separately, the new format sees the trio moving between different roles. Insiders noted instances where all three were present with the judges, Radebe introduced the judges solo, or just two presenters were involved at a time. While occasional retakes occurred as the team adapted to the new structure, the hosts appeared confident, according to reports.
In addition to the hosting changes, the launch show featured a revamped segment for the celebrity pairings. Instead of a single group dance, the 15 contestants were divided into groups of five for three separate 'pairing' dances. This format allowed for more dancing and surprise reveals as celebrities met their professional partners.
The recording of the launch show began at 5 p.m. and concluded around 11 p.m., with the extended runtime of 110 minutes attributed to the additional performances. The full impact of the "Strictly" shakeup will be visible when the launch show airs on BBC One.
