Strictly 2026 launch show LIVE: Couples lineup, guest stars and fan reaction
Strictly Come Dancing is back for another year, bringing with it its usual sparkle, pizzazz and show-stopping routines.
The BBC dance competition returns for its 24th series, the first in its history without longtime host Tess Daly after her departure alongside co-presenter Claudia Winkleman last year.
Stepping into their shoes are broadcaster Emma Willis, comedian Josh Widdicombe, and dancer Johannes Radebe, who has been a pro on the show for almost a decade.
Tonight’s launch episode sees 15 stars partnered with 15 professional dancers.
As well as new hosts and dancers, this year’s Strictly includes a never-before-seen twist.
Scroll down for all the latest updates and fan reactions.
Live updates
Meet your new host: Josh Widdecombe
Josh Widdecombe is potentially best known for co-presenting the satirical chat show The Last Leg, as well as his podcast Parenting Hell with Rob Beckett.
Born in Hammersmith, London, in 1983, the comedian grew up in a rural area of Dartmoor, Devon.
His first panel show appearance came in 2012 on Stand Up For The Week, before making his debut on Mock the Week later that same year.
The following year, he made his first appearance on The Last Leg, a show he still hosts to this day, with his total number of seasons being 30.
In 2015, he won the first-ever series of the hit comedy game show Taskmaster and returned to win the first Champion of Champions special in 2017.
In addition to hosting the popular podcast Parenting Hell with Beckett, in which he discusses his experience raising two children, he also hosts the pop culture podcast Archive of Pop Culture.
Meet your new host: Emma Willis
Let’s get acquainted with the new hosts before the show kicks off in just a couple of hours.
Born and raised in Birmingham, Willis tried her hand at modelling before getting her first big break presenting on MTV in 2002.
She later moved on to presenting for a range of ITV shows, including Loose Women, This Morning and ITV2 spin-off series I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! NOW! with her husband Matt, of Busted fame.
Willis’ largest and potentially best-known gig is her time spent in the Big Brother universe.
First joining Big Mouth in 2005, she went on to present eight series of Celebrity Big Brother's Bit on the Side, four series of the non-celebrity version, as well as landing the job of presenter for Big Brother and Celebrity Big Brother between 2013 and 2018.
Some of her other credentials on an already stacked CV include The Voice, The Circle and Girlfriends.
She currently hosts Love Is Blind UK with her husband Matt, with whom she shares three children.
Meet the celebrity cast of Strictly 2026
Here are the fifteen celebrities who are about to hit the dance floor, where they will find out who their professional partners are.
Lacey Turner - EastEnders star
Dani Dyer - Love Island winner and daughter of actor Dany Dyer
Delta Goodrem - Australian singer
Chris Appleton - Celebrity hairstylist
Cach Mercer - Love Island winner and content creator
Dame Sarah Storey - Paralympic cyclist and swimmer
Jaime Winstone - Actor and daughter of Ray Winstone
Bethany Antonia - House of the Dragon star
Shaun Wright-Phillips - Former footballer and pundit
Graeme Hall - Dogs Behaving Badly host
Lawrence Robb - Emmerdale star
Tabby Stoecker - Skeleton racer
Melanie Walters - Gavin and Stacey star
Strictly is back!
That’s right, today’s the day to get on your dancing shoes and douse yourself in glitter as Strictly returns to our screens.
This year, we’ve got three brand new hosts, as well as five brand new professional dancers.
It’s all change, but we’re super excited to see how this new version of Strictly shapes up. Stay with us for all the updates throughout the evening.
