Fans have been gearing up for weeks and it's now time for Strictly Come Dancing , with it kicking off its 20th anniversary special this week. Hosted by the beloved duo Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman, the BBC show will also be seeing the return of cherished judges Shirley Ballas , Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, and Anton Du Beke. The lineup this season features a diverse group of celebrities, including comedian Chris McCausland, former JLS member JB Gill, and renowned Welsh tenor Wynne Evans.
Joining them are iconic figures like singer Toyah Willcox and former X Factor winner Shayne Ward. The show officially returns to the screens tonight on BBC1 at 7pm on September, 21. It will see the return of beloved professional dancer Aljaž Škorjanec, 34, who previously stepped away from the show in 2022 to focus on new projects and spend more time with his family.
He has been married to fellow professional dancer Janette Manrara since 2017, and they welcomed their first child, Lyra, back in July 2023. The dancer was said to have no bad blood with the BBC when he chose to leave the show. A source told The Sun: "He chose to leave the show in 2022 of his own accord but he has always loved Strictly and was delighted to be asked back.
" Meanwhile, Neil Jones, who has been without a partner in recent series, has been paired with Toyah Willcox. The 66-year-old is a beloved singer, actress, and songwriter, known for her iconic contributions to the music scene since the 1980s. As the dan.