Excitement is at fever pitch as Strictly celebs prepare to waltz onto the dance floor! Tonight, 15 celebrity contestants and their professional partners will perform for the first time, kicking off this year's competition. The show is hoping to bounce back from last week’s ratings slump , which hit a historic low during the pairing reveal. This comes after a summer of scandal that saw popular pros Giovanni Pernice and Graziano Di Prima leave the show following bullying allegations.
Tonight's routines have been revealed, and the dance floor will be heating up with three Cha Chas, two Foxtrots, two Tangos, two Sambas, and a Viennese Waltz. Viewers are already buzzing about the sizzling chemistry between EastEnders star Jamie Borthwick, 30, and pro dancer Michelle Tsiakkas, tipping them as early favourites to win the coveted Glitterball trophy. Also taking to the floor for the first time are celebs Pete Wicks , Tasha Ghouri , Chris McCausland , and Nick Knowles .
The Strictly judges — Shirley Ballas , Craig Revel Horwood , Motsi Mabuse and Anton Du Beke — will be armed with their paddles, ready to hand out the scores. Will there be a perfect 10, or some classic scathing remarks from Craig? Strictly Come Dancing airs tonight at 7pm on BBC One. Stay tuned to our Strictly Come Dancing blog for all the latest updates .
.. 2 minutes ago By Callum Simpson Fans predict early exit from Strictly One Strictly contestant is already rubbing fans the wrong way , with some predicting she could be the first to leave the competition.
Despite her impressive 40-year career, Toyah Willcox, 66, has been the subject of criticism from viewers who claim she’s been dropping too many names. The music icon, who signed up for this season of the hit BBC One show, has found herself under fire after appearing on Richard Osman’s House of Games, where she shared memories of Princess Diana and other big names. On the studio show, she also wanted to remind viewers that he played with the likes of the late David Bowie .
The musician will be one of just six women taking part in the new series. In comparison, there are nine men taking part. Toyah Willcox will perform alongside professional dancer Neil Jones.
Credit: PA Copy link Copied 9 minutes ago By Callum Simpson Fans Rave Over Craig’s New Look Strictly viewers are buzzing about Craig Revel Horwood’s brand new beard! Taking to X (formerly Twitter), fans couldn’t help but share their thoughts, with one writing: “Bloomin’ hell, Craig Revel Horwood looks like he’s brand new!” Another added: “Not gonna lie, I find Craig very attractive with his new beard.” Craig will once again be joined on the judging panel by Shirley Ballas , Motsi Mabuse and Anton Du Beke . Copy link Copied 14 minutes ago By Callum Simpson Pairings recap Chris McCausland and Dianne Buswell Jamie Borthwick and Michelle Tsiakkas JB Gill and Amy Dowden MBE Montell Douglas and Johannes Radebe Nick Knowles and Luba Mushtuk Paul Merson and Karen Hauer Pete Wicks and Jowita Przystał Punam Krishan and Gorka Márquez Tasha Ghouri and Aljaž Škorjanec Tom Dean MBE and Nadiya Bychkova Toyah Willcox and Neil Jones Sam Quek MBE and Nikita Kuzmin Sarah Hadland and Vito Coppola Shayne Ward and Nancy Xu Wynne Evans and Katya Jones Credit: BBC Copy link Copied 16 minutes ago By Callum Simpson Welcome to our Strictly Come Dancing live blog! This evening, all 15 celebrity contestants and their professional dance partners will take to the famous ballroom floor to perform for the first time in this year’s competition.
The glitz, the glamour, and, of course, those killer moves are back – and it’s shaping up to be an exciting night! We’ll bring you all the action as it happens, from dazzling performances to the judges' critiques, backstage gossip, and everything in between. Who will impress with their footwork? And who will stumble under the glitterball spotlight? Stay tuned to our Strictly Come Dancing blog for all the latest updates! Credit: Getty Copy link Copied.
