Freya Scott-Turner
Live reporter

Image source, Guy Levy/BBC

Strictly Come Dancing has returned to the small screen with plenty of glitz, a fresh cast of celebrities, five new professional dancers and three beaming hosts.

Broadcaster Emma Willis, comedian Josh Widdicombe and former Strictly professional Johannes Radebe made their presenting debut - taking over from long-running hosting duo Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman, who left the show last year.

A new cohort of famous faces – including actress Melanie Walters and former England footballer Shaun Wright-Phillips – also stepped onto the ballroom floor for the first time.

And this year, they're doing things a little differently, as the couples were revealed "through the medium of dance" in musical chairs-style routines.

Among the newly-formed couples are actress Jaime Winston and last year's winning pro Carlos Gu, while Bethany Antonia is the third all-female pairing in the show's history, with pro Nancy Xu.

One pair who won't need to get to know each other are Dani Dyer and Nikita Kuzmin - who are the first couple in Strictly history to be paired up twice.

But some traditions have remained. Bidding us farewell as the show wrapped, we got to see our new hosts deliver the customary order to "staaart dancing".

We've ended our live coverage. Read the story here.

The scores are in... You've been sharing your verdict on the launch show as you watched.

Sarah from Telford says the new presenters are "just what Strictly needed", while Gill from Taunton says Emma Willis is "100% perfect for Strictly".

There was praise for the "fabulous" and "magic" new professional dancers from Lisa and Charles, who were watching with their cats in Aylesbury.

But not everyone was happy. Debbie from London says the first episode was "chaotic", while others are missing the show's previous hosts, Tess and Claudia.

Despite being worried about the changes to the show, David from East Yorkshire says he thought it was "great".

Three lively dance routines later, and the cat's out the bag. We now know the celebrity and professional pairings that will be mastering the ballroom floor together every Saturday night - let's quickly refresh ourselves:

• Actress Lacey Turner and Vito Coppola
• Reality TV star Dani Dyer and Nikita Kuzmin
• Hair stylist to the stars Chris Appleton and Amy Dowden
• Australian singer and actress Delta Goodrem and Kai Widdrington
• DJ and social media personality Cach Mercer and Maddie Ingoldsby
• TV and radio presenter Will Best and Dianne Buswell
• Paralympian Dame Sarah Storey and Julian Caillon
• Actress Jaime Winstone and Carlos Gu
• TV and stage actress Bethany Antonia and Nancy Xu
• Former England footballer Shaun Wright-Phillips and Alexis Warr
• Presenter and author Graeme Hall and Lauren Oakley
• Actor Lawrence Robb and Jowita Przystał
• Skeleton athlete Tabby Stoecker and Mark Karmalita
• YouTuber John Nellis and Katya Jones
• TV and stage actress Melanie Walters and Aljaž Škorjanec

Image source, Guy Levy/BBC

With Strictly Coming Dancing's 24th series now in full swing, there's only one thing left to say: "Staaart dancing!"

That's it for the launch show, but we'll continue to bring you more as we recap the 2026 Strictly launch.

Now back to the sofas, where pro Amy Dowden says her new partner, Chris Appleton, has promised her hair will get "bigger every single week".

Cach Mercer says he's very pleased to be paired with new pro Maddie Ingoldsby, as he was hoping for a strict partner. "I'm a little bit strict, but not too strict," Maddie says.

Graeme Hall says getting Lauren Oakley is like "getting four tens".

But enough chat.

"On Monday morning, training begins," says Johannes.

Time is flying, we're already onto our last batch of celebrities.

It's an all-male group that heads onto the ballroom floor to find out their fates last. From Will Best's hyper-focused expression, to Graeme Hall's diligent sashaying - they're a very conscientious bunch.

Judge Craig Revel-Horwood, couldn't resist a jibe at Will Best's hip action: "Call in the paramedics darling, dislocation - my goodness."

Let's take a look at the last group of couples:

• Hair stylist to the stars Chris Appleton and Amy Dowden
• DJ and social media personality Cach Mercer and Maddie Ingoldsby
• TV and radio presenter Will Best and Dianne Buswell
• Presenter and author Graeme Hall and Lauren Oakley
• YouTuber John Nellis and Katya Jones

And now for a chat with our final five celebrities before they take to the dancefloor.

Will Best says he feels terrified, with the pre-show nerves coming in waves. And although Cach Mercer posts dance videos online, he describes Latin and Ballroom as something "I've never tapped into in my life before".

Hollywood hairstylist Chris Appleton says his kids are hugely excited for him to do the show. YouTuber John Nellis says he's manifesting a perfect score by stencilling a 10 onto his back in spray tan.

But Graeme Hall reveals he's one-upped him...

Back for one final dance is the reigning Strictly champion, Karen Carney.

Even sporting the same bedazzled football shirt, it's déjà vu for regular watchers of the show, as Carney and pro partner Carlos Gu perform their memorable Jive from week one of last series.

"I absolutely feel like I'm at home," she says - between gasps - catching up with Emma Willis after the dance.

In 13 weeks time, she'll have to surrender that glitterball trophy for good.

On the sofas with Emma and Josh, our latest pairs take a moment to breathe.

Shaun Wright-Phillips says he had "raw passion" on the dancefloor. Asked how long it would take him to reach pro level, his new partner Alexis Warr says: "He might already be there!"

Bethany Antonia says she and partner Nancy Xu "bonded instantly" on the first day. "We weren't supposed to have a preference and every day I was like, I kind of do!" she admits.

The two of them have become the third two-woman couple to dance in the main competition.

It's poignant for Bethany. Before the dance, she said watching boxer Nicola Adams and Katya Jones in the 2020 series was a "big part of my coming out journey".

It's time for the next batch of five celebrities to have a go on the match-up merry-go-round.

As we learn from a preview video, the five went for a first spin on the dancefloor with the professionals earlier in the week - an experience Shaun Wright-Phillips likens to "speed dating".

This musical chairs round is a bit more pacey, with orders to "change partners" coming thick and fast - host Johannes Radebe is running a tight ship. There are whoops and air punches as the couples are announced.

Let's take a look at the next five couples:

• Former England footballer Shaun Wright-Phillips and Alexis Warr
• TV and stage actress Bethany Antonia and Nancy Xu
• Skeleton athlete Tabby Stoecker and Mark Karmalita
• Actor Lawrence Robb and Jowita Przystał
• Australian singer and actress Delta Goodrem and Kai Widdrington

Now it's time for our next five celebrities to find out who they will be dancing with for the series.

Olympian Tabby Stoecker says she has always aspired to be on Strictly from the start of her career.

Former England footballer Shaun Wright-Phillips is also aiming high. He says he's come on Strictly Come Dancing "to try and be as good as the pros".

"I like to enter things and want to be as good as possible, and the pros are the margin," he says. Josh Widdicome jokes that Shaun is a "proper sportsman" but also a "deluded sportsman".

Lawrence Robb is in the shadow of previous Emmerdale stars who have done very well on Strictly. "I guess I can empathise with you guys with filling Claudia and Tess's boots," he quips.

Delta Goodrem says she hasn't stopped touring since her stint representing Australia on Eurovision earlier this year. But now she's ready to stay put. The UK is "really feeling like a home away from home," she says, adding she's already been for a Sunday roast.

Bethany Antonia has a strong claim to be the "official Strictly superfan" of the cast, Emma Willis says. Her and one of her best friends have tried to get into the studio audience for years, without success. This year, she will be here, Bethany says.

Next, host Johannes Radebe says he wants to welcome "five incredibly talented people" - this series' new professional dancers.

They are Aleksandra Isaeva, Cristian Priori, Lethabo Monametsi, Maddie Ingoldsby, and Mark Karmalita.

Hailing from the UK, South Africa, Italy, Ukraine, and Canada; they're a globetrotting bunch.

It's a high-impact entrance for the fab five - who we first see spinning around inside a glass box which is strikingly reminiscent of the set for singer Olly Alexander's Eurovision performance in 2024.

Our new pairs head back up for a debrief with Josh and Johannes.

"How jammy that I got picked first so I did barely any dancing!" says Lacey Turner, sat beside her new partner Vito Coppola.

Dame Sarah Storey says she is "really pleased" to be paired with Julian Caillon.

One pair who won't need to get to know each other are Dani Dyer and Nikita Kuzmin - who are the first couple in Strictly history to be paired up twice.

The pair were clearly overjoyed to be reunited after their time was cut short last year. "I'm just over the moon, I'm so, so happy," Dani says.

Nikita says he had "tears of joy" the moment their pairing was revealed.

We were wondering how this pairing-up dance shenanigans would work.

Well, it was something like a musical chairs with host Emma Willis instructing the celebrities to change partners.

Each time the music stopped - Dua Lipa's jaunty Barbie movie anthem Dance the Night - one of the couples would be declared.

And now we have our first five pairs:

• Actress Lacey Turner and Vito Coppola
• Reality TV star Dani Dyer and Nikita Kuzmin
• Paralympian Dame Sarah Storey and Julian Caillon
• Actress Jaime Winstone and Carlos Gu
• TV and stage actress Melanie Walters and Aljaž Škorjanec

Our first five celebrities to find out their professional partners are Lacey Turner, Dani Dyer, Melanie Walters, Dame Sarah Story and Jaime Winstone.

Chatting to the presenters before they head into the lions' den (ballroom), we find out that one celebrity has been a bit distracted on set.

"I found a little wood workshop," says actress Lacey Turner. "I was over the moon I've been in there loads."

Conspiratorially, Josh Widdicombe asks Dame Sarah Storey which fake tan shade she opted for. The answer: "venetian glow".

"I went 'venetian glow' as well," exclaims Widdicombe.

And there's an emotional moment when Dani Dyer - who had to drop out of last series after an injury - shares that she locked herself in her room "for days" afterwards.

"I was devastated, I was heartbroken," she says. "So when they asked me to come back, I was like yes please."

We're all waiting to see if Dyer gets reunited with her partner from last year, Nikita Kuzmin.

Our three hosts have just teased the first curveball of the evening: A new way of pairing up the celebrities and professionals.

"Spoiler alert, there is quite the twist," says Emma Willis.

"Tonight, our celebrities will be finding out their professional partners through the medium of dance," Johannes Radebe adds.

Each celebrity and professional will discover the identity of their partner in front of the Strictly studio audience via three specially-choreographed group dance routines.

And here they are... our Strictly judges.

Returning for another year are Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, Shirely Ballas and Anton Du Beke.

"It's like TV royalty, I feel like we should be curtseying," says Emma.

Johannes says he's been trying to convince the other new hosts that the judges aren't scary at all.

"There's nothing scary about me - I'm easily pleased!" says Anton.

With the new hosts, the "whole thing feels ultra-exciting", Shirley says.

Motsi says the judging panel has been looking forward to this moment.

As for what Craig thinks of the new hosting line-up: "I have one symbol for each of you, darlings. Fab-u-lous!"

We're now hearing from our new hosting trio - Josh Widdicombe, Emma Willis and Johannes Radebe.

"Josh, you've got moves," quips Radebe.

"It's a little bit overwhelming to be here, but we are so delighted," says Widdicombe.

While Willis tells the audience that they "cannot wait to spend the next 13 weeks with all of you".

The show has kicked off with an all bells and whistles dance number, featuring the judges, the pros, the all-new hosting trio and the contestants.

The prop department has gone all out - we've seen everything from disco balls to sledgehammers.

Here we go.

Strictly Come Dancing 2026 is now officially under way and it's time for three brand new hosts to welcome this year's celebrities.

You can watch live at the top of this page, or on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.

We'll be bringing you live updates from tonight's show, stay with us.