Strictly Come Dancing has officially returned for its 24th series, signaling a new chapter for the popular show with a refreshed presenting lineup. The premiere saw an average of 5.3 million viewers tune in on Saturday, capturing 49.2% of the overnight audience share. This represents a 7% increase compared to last year’s figures, with the episode remaining a top performer on iPlayer into Sunday.
The new hosting team—broadcaster Emma Willis, comedian Josh Widdicombe, and former professional dancer Johannes Radebe—made their debut following an elaborate opening dance performance. Upon taking the stage, Willis described the role as a genuine honour. Radebe praised his co-host, noting that Widdicombe had surprising talent on the dancefloor, while Widdicombe admitted he felt slightly overwhelmed but delighted to join the production.
For the first time in the program’s history, the celebrity and professional pairings were revealed through a series of three dance routines. The launch episode drew 200,000 more peak viewers than the previous year’s opener, though noted these numbers do not reflect total viewership as many fans catch up via streaming services.
The 2026 Celebrity Pairings
- Lacey Turner and Vito Coppola
- Dani Dyer and Nikita Kuzmin
- Chris Appleton and Amy Dowden
- Delta Goodrem and Kai Widdrington
- Cach Mercer and Maddie Ingoldsby
- Will Best and Dianne Buswell
- Dame Sarah Storey and Julian Caillon
- Jaime Winstone and Carlos Gu
- Bethany Antonia and Nancy Xu
- Shaun Wright-Phillips and Alexis Warr
- Graeme Hall and Lauren Oakley
- Lawrence Robb and Jowita Przystał
- Tabby Stoecker and Mark Karmalita
- John Nellis and Katya Jones
- Melanie Walters and Aljaž Škorjanec
Among the pairings, reality star Dani Dyer returns to the competition after being forced to withdraw last year due to a fracture. She expressed excitement at being reunited with Nikita Kuzmin, who shared that he was moved to tears by the announcement. Additionally, Bethany Antonia and Nancy Xu formed the show’s third female-female partnership; Antonia noted that seeing Nicola Adams and Katya Jones dance together in 2020 was a significant moment in her own coming-out journey.
Reigning champion Karen Carney also returned for a final appearance, recreating the Jive that helped her secure victory last season. While she prepares to hand over the glitterball trophy in 13 weeks, she remarked that returning to the ballroom felt like being at home.
The series also introduced five new professional dancers—Aleksandra Isaeva, among others—hailing from the UK, Canada, Italy, South Africa, and Ukraine. They made their high-impact debut on an elaborate set design before the judges, including Craig Revel Horwood, began their season duties. While Horwood maintained his reputation as the show’s villain, the focus remained on the new hosts as they navigate their opening weeks. The report also notes that critics are asking if three presenters is not a crowd compared with the long-running duo of Daly and Winkleman, perhaps inevitably. The report also notes that in which the contestants switched partners until the music was paused, and a couple was announced, it functioned as a musical chairs of sorts. The report also notes that here is a list of the pairings in full. The report also notes that having withdrawn from last year’s series because of a fractured ankle, dyer is back to compete for a second time. The report also notes that clad in the same diamante-encrusted football shirt, Carney recreated the Jive that first marked her out as a contender of her series, alongside dance partner Carlos Gu. The report also notes that performing a searing routine that kicked off on top of an enormous encaged disco ball, the five made a high-impact entrance.
Critical Reception
- The Independent: Critics Rachel McGrath and Lauren Morris suggested the three-host format is off to a promising start, with Willis providing strong leadership. They noted that while it felt slightly crowded at times, there is enough work for all three to contribute.
- The Guardian: In his live blog, Michael Hogan questioned if the show needed three presenters but observed that the transition worked reasonably well, noting the real test will be the first live broadcast next weekend.
- The Express: Critic Sasha Morris offered a harsher assessment, describing the new lineup as a significant change that felt unnecessary, though she acknowledged the upcoming live shows would be the ultimate test of the new format.
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