Celebrities taking part in this year’s Strictly Come Dancing were pictured leaving their hotel for the first show recording at Elstree Studios on Tuesday, with Emmerdale actor Lewis Cope among those arriving in training gear and drawing attention for his athletic build.
Cope, who was drafted in as a late replacement for Kristian Nair, was photographed in a white Nike vest and black shorts. Doctor Who actress Alex Kingston and former England rugby captain Chris Robshaw were seen linking arms and smiling as they walked to the studio. Other contestants, including soap star Balvinder Sopal and former footballer Karen Carney, also arrived in casual training attire; Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink was photographed leaving the site on the phone.
The arrival of the cast coincided with turmoil at the programme’s first press event of the series when Apprentice alumnus Thomas Skinner left a media launch after an exchange with journalists. Sources at the event said Skinner took part in two interviews before telling a table of reporters, "I'm not doing this," and leaving the room. The incident occurred after a female journalist began recording him on her phone; witnesses said Skinner picked up the device briefly and that there was a short struggle before the phone was returned.
BBC staff at the venue temporarily escorted another contestant, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, away from the table while organisers tried to locate Skinner. Insiders told producers that the walkout was unprecedented for the launch day and that the incident prompted immediate internal discussions about whether Skinner should remain part of the series. Complaints from viewers and commentators were reported to have reached the broadcaster following previous public controversy surrounding Skinner’s past meetings and comments.
BBC director-general Tim Davie addressed the casting decision moments before the media event and told MPs on the Culture, Media and Sport Committee that producers, not senior BBC executives, had selected participants. "That was not my decision, that was the production team looking for those people… who want to do Strictly, and those people they thought would be interesting to the audience," Davie said. He added that the broadcaster would not accept "views that are just beyond the pale" and that decisions were taken on a case-by-case basis.
Producers have said the series will continue with scheduled training and studio recordings ahead of the show's start later this month. The photographs taken on Tuesday captured rehearsals and arrivals as the celebrities prepared for the opening weeks of competition. Organisers have not announced any formal changes to the line-up following the press event.
The production typically stages a series of media and promotional events at Elstree in the run-up to the televised launch. This year’s line-up includes a mix of actors, athletes and personalities from television and sport; the public-facing rehearsals and arrivals are part of the lead-up to the live shows. The BBC has not released a separate statement about the walkout beyond confirming it is aware of the coverage and that discussions were ongoing.