Published: 07:00 pm, 25 September 2026
Strictly Come Dancing goes live on Saturday 26 September – with all fifteen couples dancing for the first time!
Emma, Josh and Jojo welcome our couples back to the ballroom and while there’s no public vote or elimination this week, there will still be plenty of paddle action as Shirley Ballas, Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse and Anton Du Beke award the first set of scores.
Those will be carried over to week two, when viewers will have their first opportunity to vote for their favourites. For now, our couples can enjoy their dance floor debut safe in the knowledge that they’ll be back for more.
Strictly 2026 Week One Song and Dance List
- Bethany & Nancy – Quickstep to Stop This Flame by Celeste
- Dani & Nikita – Samba to Lush Life by Zara Larsson
- Delta & Kai – Samba to Baianá by Barbatuques
- Jaime & Carlos – Tango to I Feel Love by Donna Summer
- Lacey & Vito – Cha Cha to How Will I Know by Whitney Houston
- Melanie & Aljaž – Cha Cha to Don’t Go Breaking My Heart by Elton John and Kiki Dee
- Dame Sarah & Julian – Quickstep to C’est Magnifique by Kay Starr
- Tabby & Mark – Jive to Animal by KATSEYE
- Cach & Maddie – Quickstep to I Just Might by Bruno Mars
- Chris & Amy – Tango to No Roots by Alice Merton
- Graeme & Lauren – Cha Cha to Hound Dog (Smokey Joe’s Café version)
- John & Katya – Foxtrot to Ordinary by Alex Warren
- Lawrence & Jowita – Paso Doble to Aperture by Harry Styles
- Shaun & Alexis – Cha Cha to Lil Boo Thang by Paul Russell
- Will & Dianne – Samba to Rock DJ by Robbie Williams
Ahead of the couples’ ballroom debuts, the Strictly Professionals – plus the hosts and judges – open the show with a dazzling group number set to an epic orchestral version of Joy by RAYE.
And, in a Strictly first, Saturday’s episode will begin with a journey like no other…
Meet the Strictly Come Dancing 2026 Presenters and Judges
Ahead of the big night, catch up with the hosts and presenters to find out how they’re feeling as Strictly goes LIVE!
Emma Willis
How did it feel to host your first episode of Strictly?
It was like a fever dream! It felt like the longest but fastest day of my life. Longest because of the anticipation and the build-up of nerves and excitement, and the fastest because from the moment we started recording that evening, the only way I can describe it was… I was in the actual telly! It’s weird because that’s obviously what I’ve done for over 20 years but it felt so surreal to be inside ‘Strictly’! It was so much fun and the audience were so welcoming, they kept saying “you’re doing so well!’ – thank goodness! It was a true whirlwind.
How did you find dancing in the launch show’s big opening number?
I loved it. Like everything with this show, you really want to throw yourself into it and try everything so I was ready to dive in. Then suddenly I was like – oh, hold on a minute – this group number is huge! It’s something I’ve always wanted to do, so once I got over the feeling of looking a bit silly, I absolutely loved it. It was so fun and it made me understand how people get the dancing bug!
This Saturday night, Strictly goes live – how are you feeling?!
I’m feeling nervous for sure, but I was told recently that nerves and excitement are the same feeling – it just depends on how you mentally approach the emotion, to determine whether it’s fear or joy. So I’m like right ok, we can have all of that feeling. A little bit of nerves because it keeps you on your toes, and it means you care. And then bucket loads of excitement. I’ve also missed presenting live telly so I can’t wait – who knows what’s going to happen?!
What have you learned about Strictly so far that’s surprised you?
The sheer scale of it – it’s humungous. You watch it on telly and see how amazing it looks and how beautiful the dancers move but seeing it in person is just a whole other level! Witnessing the work ethic of the crew, of the production team, of the dancers and watching everything in real life – it’s hypnotic. Seeing everything come together for the launch show left me quite speechless.
Will you have any pre-show rituals before the live shows?
I tend to immerse myself in what I’m about to do, the people I’m about to do it with, and the people that have been getting me ready. So there’s a lot of focus but no real rituals just yet. Maybe Josh, Jojo and I will have to come up with one, maybe a lucky dance or something!
What are your favourite things about working with Johannes and Josh?
Just the people they are. They’re both so down to earth, humble, funny, lovely guys who both love Strictly with a passion and are here to do a great job and have fun. I think that’s all anyone would want – they’re just fab and we kind of gelled from the moment we met.
You were a Strictly fan before you were a Strictly host. What are your favourite ever Strictly moments?
That’s such a tough question because there are so many. I loved AJ’s dance where she jumped off the table into Kai’s arms – I couldn’t believe that, it was incredible. And the moment when Rose was dancing and the music stopped mid-performance – that was so powerful and moving. There’s too many that stand out!
Which themed week this year are you most looking forward to and why?
Halloween! I dress up at home every year, and my outfit is always limited to what I can create out of my own wardrobe, the makeup in my cupboard or what I can find at a fancy dress shop. So this year, I’m so excited to really push the boat out and also do it live on telly on the night of Halloween itself. It’s going to be a lot of fun!
Josh Widdicombe
How did it feel to host your first episode of Strictly?
It’s the most brilliantly terrifying thing I’ve done, possibly since my first ever stand-up gig. I had so much adrenaline on the night that I had to have two naps the day after! I don’t think at any point since getting the job had it felt real until we heard the music start up and Alan Dedicoat say our names. The whole thing was a mix of joy and exhaustion off the back of fear – and totally and utterly thrilling.
How did you find dancing in the launch’s big opening number?
I texted my agent after we’d filmed that routine to say it was one of the greatest days of my career. I enjoyed every single moment of being part of something that is just so well made on such a huge scale. It took my breath away just to watch it on the monitor from behind the cameras, so to then get to be a part of it was just joyous!
But also incredibly stressful I should say, because I never thought my career would lead to having to learn a dance on television with, you know, some of the greatest dancers on Earth.
What was your launch show highlight?
My launch show highlight was talking to the new bunch of celebs and having such a brilliant laugh with them, and realising that this is going to be a great year. These are such fun, excited, talented people, and I have no idea which way the competition’s going to go. I am, first and foremost, a Strictly fan so it was so exciting to think: what a great bunch of people I’ll get to hang out with this autumn.
This Saturday night sees Strictly goes live – how are you feeling about this?!
What could possibly go wrong? Loads of things, but let’s not focus on them. I think it’s going to be really, really fun. It’s going to feel utterly surreal, just as terrifying as the first one. Will it ever stop being terrifying? I hope not, because hosting something like this should be the best kind of terrifying.
What have you learned about Strictly so far that’s surprised you?
I’ve never seen attention to detail like this on any TV show, or any place I’ve ever worked. People’s commitment to it, and people’s love of it is just so infectious from every part of the team who make it. It’s like nothing I’ve ever worked on. I’ve learned that’s the best way you could possibly feel when you go to work, that everyone just loves what they’re doing. That’s so rare in any industry.
Like Emma, you were also a Strictly fan before you were a Strictly host. What are your favourite ever Strictly moments?
I loved Hamza, and I loved his Couple’s Choice with Jowita. There’s a picture of it up on the wall backstage at Elstree and every time I pass it I feel giddy with excitement. And I thought the Rose Ayling-Ellis year, where you had that final with John and Johannes, was just so great. I think that’s one of the best episodes of any TV show ever. Rose and Giovanni’s dance, where it went silent, was one of the most brilliantly done pieces of – let’s just say it – art that I’ve ever seen on TV. Brilliant. I could go on.
Tony Adams taking off his trousers as well! There’s something for everyone.
Will you have any pre-show rituals before the live shows?
Before comedy gigs I splash my face with water, but I can’t do that here because I’ll have make-up on and it would run everywhere! But I’m going to get a speaker in my dressing room so I can listen to music really loudly. So I’d like to take this opportunity to apologise to Johannes, who’s in the dressing room next to me, because that’s how I’m going to get myself hyped up for every show. Before you ask: The Beatles.
What are your favourite things about working with Emma and Johannes?
That we feel like a team where there’s no ego. That there’s no one wanting to put themselves out front more than the others. That we feel like we’ve all got our different personalities and they gel together. Emma and Johannes are just so generous, sweet and funny – they make working on Strictly feel even more exciting and joyous to me.
You’ve already mastered the Charleston – with a festive ten from Anton – but if you were to learn another dance for Strictly what would it be and to what song?
I think everyone would want me to do the Argentine Tango, wouldn’t they? Can you imagine? And I’d do it Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini by Timmy Mallett.
What themed week are you most looking forward to and why?
100% it’s Halloween. And it actually falls on Halloween this year. I just can’t wait to dress up and see everyone else on the show dressed up for it. And also, crucially, it gets me out of going trick or treating.
Johannes Radebe
How did it feel to host your first episode of Strictly?
It was surreal. I’ve spent eight years walking onto that floor as a professional dancer, and suddenly I was walking out there as one of the presenters. My brain was basically going, “Excuse me??!”
But the second I stepped out, it felt like home. This show has given me so much, and to now have the responsibility of helping guide the audience through it is incredibly special. There were definitely moments where I thought, “Oh darling, you’re actually hosting Strictly!” and then I had to remember I had a job to do!
There were so many memorable moments, but honestly, just sharing that stage with Emma, Josh, the Professionals and the celebrities for the first time as a presenter was pretty awesome.
How did you find dancing in the launch’s big opening number?
Dancing was the easy bit! That’s my natural habitat. Give me choreography, a pair of heels and some sequins and I know exactly what to do. Emma and Josh, on the other hand… I may have had a few notes! Although I tried very hard not to become that professional dancer who is giving everybody corrections when nobody has asked.
I think my main advice was just to enjoy it and commit. On Strictly, you cannot do anything by halves. If you’re going to dance, DANCE. And if you’re going to wear the sequins, wear all of them!
This Saturday night, Strictly goes live – how are you feeling?
Excited, terrified and pretending to be very calm! The launch show was my first proper taste of this new chapter, but the live shows are the real thing. There’s nowhere to hide, so I’m going to have to trust my preparation, trust the team and trust myself.
And actually, I’m really looking forward to it. There’s something very special about live television. You get one shot, you have to be present, and you get to experience those moments with the audience at home as they happen.
Will you have any pre-show rituals before the live shows?
I’m sure I will develop about 47 of them! There will definitely be music, a little movement, checking the outfit approximately 600 times and making sure I’ve got my head in the right place.
But I think my biggest ritual will be reminding myself to breathe. I know the show, I know the world of Strictly and I know how to perform. Now I just have to remember that I’m allowed to enjoy it too.
What are your favourite things about working with Emma and Josh?
They are both completely themselves, which I love. Emma is such a formidable broadcaster. She has this incredible ability to make everything look effortless, while being incredibly precise and prepared. And Joshy is just brilliantly funny, he has this wonderful ability to find the joke without forcing it.
For me, it’s been about finding our rhythm as a trio. I’m learning so much from both of them, and I think we bring very different energies to the show. That’s what makes it exciting.
What advice can you give the new Professional Dancers starting this year?
Enjoy every second of it. Seriously. It’s easy when you’re new to think you have to prove yourself immediately, but you don’t. Be curious, work hard, listen, ask questions and find your own identity.
And remember that being a Strictly Professional is about so much more than being a brilliant dancer. You’re a teacher, a performer, a storyteller, and a partner.
Most importantly, protect the joy. This is a very special place to work.
What would you like every celebrity to take away from the Strictly experience, regardless of how long they stay in the competition?
I’d want them to leave feeling that they did something they never thought they could do. Whether they’re here for two weeks or make it all the way to the final, they’ve given themselves permission to be vulnerable, to learn something completely new and to be seen trying.
Strictly is so much more than learning steps. It’s about confidence, connection, friendship and allowing yourself to have a bit of fun. If they leave with a memory they’ll still be talking about in twenty years, then I think we’ve done our job.
Do you think your dance knowledge and experience as a competing Strictly Pro will help you connect with this year’s couples?
Absolutely. I’ve been in that training room. I know what it feels like when you’re exhausted, frustrated, confused and suddenly someone tells you that your left foot is doing something completely different to what you think it’s doing! So, I understand the journey they’re on.
But I also know that I have to approach my new role differently. I’m not there to judge them or give them a technical critique. I’m there to support them, celebrate them and help the audience understand what they’re going through.
I’ve been on the other side of that conversation for eight years, so hopefully I can bring that understanding with me without forgetting that I’m now wearing a presenter’s hat. And darling, it’s a very good hat.
We saw you dance in the launch show, and we hear you have a moment in the opening group number of this Saturday’s show. Will you dance again this series?
Never say never! I’ve spent eight years dancing on that floor, so naturally there’s a little part of me that will always want to get up and dance. But this year my biggest challenge and my biggest excitement is learning to be the person guiding the show rather than being one of the people competing in it.
That said… if the right music comes on, the right costume appears and somebody says, “Johannes, we need you…” – well, I’m not exactly known for saying no to a bit of theatre, am I?
Head Judge Shirley Ballas
What was your highlight of the launch show?
The absolute chaos and carnage that were the pairing dances! I’ve never seen anything like it. Totally new, totally fresh and totally bonkers. We genuinely didn’t know who was going to end up with who and it made the launch one like never before.
Were there any pairings this year that surprised you?
The majority of the pairings actually! I really did struggle to work out who’d be with who this year. We’ve got a dance floor full of personalities and Motsi and I we’re absolutely dying with laughter at the desk watching the chaos of the pairings unfold.
Who are you most intrigued or excited to see dance in the first live show?
I genuinely cannot wait to see all our couples and I truly mean it. It’s so exciting witnessing a new cast experience the magic of our show. I’ve heard one or two things and all I can say it is promised to be another epic series. Fasten your seatbelts and get ready!
What’s the best advice you’d give a celeb before they dance live on Strictly?
Listen to your teacher. You’ve studied, you’ve practiced and all that is left to do is prove to yourself what you are capable of. Don’t overthink, don’t change anything and just live in the moment. And as our dearest Len uses to say “Turn up, show up and shut up!”
What makes a memorable debut performance on Strictly? And is there a particular Strictly first dance that stands out as your favourite?
For me, I want to see personality, foot action, leg action, coordination, synchronisation, flexibility and posture, posture, posture. The fundamentals are when all the actions come together and allow the body to work as one big machine. I want to see the celebrity’s potential too. Of course, I’ll never forget Kelvin & Oti’s Samba back in 2019.
It was of a quality I’d never seen in week one before and he wasn’t even supposed to be on the show! It was simply brilliant and I still think about it to this day.
What do you enjoy most about being a judge on Strictly?
Simply walking into the studio every Saturday and seeing my Strictly family. We really are all the very best of friends. It’s truly magical and to be returning for my tenth series is a privilege. I get a front row seat to the very best show on television and seeing the celebrities’ journeys from start to finish is absolutely beautiful.
And I must add, sitting next to Anton Du Beke every Saturday is fun – he’s like a naughty schoolboy!
Anton Du Beke
What was your highlight of the launch show?
The best bit was obviously welcoming our new hosts which was lovely, and it was enormous fun. The whole thing had a feel of newness about it. We’ve got some wonderful new hosts, some lovely new professionals, and some fabulous new celebrities. It all felt new and a restart – so here’s to the next 24 years.
It’s also a highlight of course to be back for the 24th series I’ve done over 23 years – that’s the greatest feeling. I can’t think of a better word than that. Being here again after all these years. You know that’s always my number one. It is like a pinch me moment that I’m here sitting here with the other judges
Even after all these years, I still think to myself: “Gosh, this is amazing. Aren’t I lucky?”
Who are you most intrigued or excited to see dance in the first live show?
Ah now I’m always very cautious about saying anything based on the dance(s) in the launch show – I never want to sound like I’ve got favourites already because I don’t. And as we all know (and from my experience of doing 24 launch shows) there is a huge difference between the quality of the dancing in the launch show and the quality of the dancing in the first live show which really does have a way of focusing the mind, whereas the launch show can be a bit of fun.
What’s the best advice you’d give a celeb before they dance on Strictly?
Lots of little nuggets. Somebody once said to me, “Don’t enjoy yourself; concentrate” which I thought was a brilliant piece of advice for me personally, because if you enjoy yourself and don’t concentrate, you’re in big trouble. I would also say trust in your pro, trust in your process, trust that you’ve been practicing all week. Don’t try and suddenly change something on Saturday night because you saw somebody else do something. Just go and do what you’ve been doing all week to the best of your ability.
Embrace the nerves. Embrace the excitement. It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity and just have the greatest time ever.
Is there a particular Strictly first dance that stands out as your favourite?
Well, I have to tell you, I was pretty impressed with Karen Carney’s jive from last year. That was pretty impressive. I mean, she did it in the first show last year and ended up redoing it in the final, it was so impressive.
I think Abby Clancy did a waltz in the first series, which was pretty mind blowing. I remember people like Austin Healey doing the dance first show. I mean, historically we’ve had some great first shows, first numbers, but in recent memory, Karen Carney is the one you’d have to go some to knock her off the perch as a stand-out first dance.
For me personally my most memorable first dance was my waltz with Lesley Garrett. It was beautiful and we ended up finishing top of the leaderboard. It took me three years to finish top of the leaderboard again, so that is my most memorable one!
What do you enjoy most about being a judge on Strictly?
Not having to learn the group dances! As much as I love them, they look exhausting! But joking apart, the thing I love most of all is being part of everybody’s story. You can’t do that as a Professional but as a judge, that is what I’m paid to do and to be able to do that is so rewarding.
As a judge, what would your feedback be for Emma and Josh’s dancing in the launch show opening? You previously gave Josh a 10 – are you reaching for the same paddle for them both?
They were tremendous – if only I had an 11 paddle! But seriously the best advice for Emma and Josh for dancing is to follow Johannes’ lead – he’s such a marvellous dancer, you can’t go wrong if you follow him.
Motsi Mabuse
What was your highlight of the launch show?
For me, the highlight was simply that feeling of everything being new again. A new series, new celebrities, new partnerships and of course experiencing our new presenters. There is such a fresh energy in the room at the launch show. You suddenly realise, okay, here we go again! A whole new Strictly journey is beginning, and nobody knows yet what is going to happen. I love that feeling.
Were there any pairings this year that surprised you?
Honestly, the pairings are always a surprise to me because we don’t know beforehand who is going to be matched together. That is part of the excitement. You see them standing next to each other for the first time and immediately start wondering what their chemistry will be like, how they will work together and what kind of dancer that celebrity might become over the series ahead.
Who are you most intrigued or excited to see dance in the first live show?
I’m excited to see all of them, because the launch show tells us very little about what is actually going to happen when they have to dance a full routine. That first live show is when we really start discovering them. Some people will surprise us, some will be completely different from what we expected, and somebody we are not talking about yet could suddenly walk onto that floor and have a moment. That is what I’m most excited about.
What’s the best advice you’d give a celeb before they dance live on Strictly?
Don’t try to be perfect. Trust your Professional, trust the work you have done and enjoy the moment. You only get your first Strictly dance once. Of course you will be nervous, but use those nerves as energy.
And when the music starts, stop thinking about everything else and just dance. Have fun, go with the flow and enjoy it! There is so much love on that Strictly dance floor, and ultimately it’s all about bringing that joy to the people watching at home. Just embrace the moment, enjoy yourselves and let everyone at home feel that joy with you.
What makes a memorable debut performance on Strictly? And is there a particular Strictly first dance that stands out as your favourite?
For me, a memorable first dance isn’t necessarily technically perfect. It’s when somebody shows us something we weren’t expecting. Personality, musicality, connection, confidence, vulnerability, whatever it is that makes us suddenly sit up and think, “Oh! There is something here.”
There have been so many brilliant first dances over the years that I honestly couldn’t choose just one. What I remember most is that feeling when you realise somebody could have a really special journey ahead of them.
What do you enjoy most about being a judge on Strictly?
Watching people grow. We meet these celebrities at the beginning when many of them have absolutely no idea what they are capable of, and then week after week you see something change. It’s not only about becoming a better dancer. You see confidence grow, people overcome fears and sometimes discover a completely different side of themselves. Being able to witness that from the judging desk is very special.
Craig Revel Horwood
What was your launch show highlight?
Jojo’s dancing and Motsi’s opening! Mainly because everyone was worried that Jojo wasn’t going to be dancing this year, because he’s one of the new hosts.
Were there any pairings this year that surprised you?
Graeme and Lauren surprised me, because at the start of their group dance I thought “oh Lauren might get Graeme here, and he’s not much of a dancer” – but then I saw that, actually, he’s got really good movement! So that’s one of many fantastic pairings this year, darling.
Who are you most intrigued or excited to see dance in the first live show?
Chris Appleton, only because he was not as known to me as others, and we’ve never had anyone from his line of work on the show. It’s going be interesting to see what he does.
What’s the best advice you’d give a celeb before they dance live on Strictly?
I think before the music starts take three very long, very deep breaths – to shut out everything else and just think about the dance, and try your very best to perform it.
What makes a memorable first dance on Strictly? And is there a particular Strictly first dance that stands out as your favourite?
Something that is exciting to watch, a good storyline, and of course good dancing! There’ve been a few celebrities who have come out and blown me away with their first dance in week one. I think this year that person could well be Delta Goodrem, after seeing her at the launch, but you never know.
Jill Halfpenny was fabulous way back in the day, in series two. And later in the series I gave her my first ever ten on Strictly, for her jive.
What do you enjoy most about being a judge on Strictly?
I love getting the best view of all the best dancing in the world – on the front row! And it never stops being fantastic.
As a judge, what would be your feedback for Emma and Josh’s dancing in the launch show opening number?
Well I’m going to be kind and not cruel! I adore them as hosts already, but I think they both have a little bit of work to do with their dancing. But as the weeks progress, I’m sure that dancing will get better and better. They have a fabulous teacher in Johannes, of course!
GK
