Strictly Come Dancing makes a glittering return to Autumn TV schedules tonight. BBC bosses will be hoping to shake off the wave of controversy that has threatened to engulf their flagship show. Following last years series - won by Ellie Leach and Vito Coppola - an internal investigation was launched over the treatment of contestants on the show.
Allegations were made about Giovanni Pernice by former participant Amanda Abbington, which the professional has denied while his Graziano Di Prima was axed from the show after rehearsal footage stunned behind the scenes staff. Despite the drama, 1 5 celebrities have signed up to compete in this year's series - which marks the 20th anniversary of the hit show. The line-up includes soap stars, an Olympic athlete , and even a Gladiator .
The BBC has also turned a blind eye to their usual policy by allowing more reality stars to feature than ever before. Professional dancer Amy Dowden also makes a triumphant return to the competition tonight following her treatment for breast cancer. The star was forced to pull out of last year's series after being diagnosed in 2023.
Speaking before tonight's show, Amy said: "I literally can't keep still. I have to keep moving, I can't sit down. I'm like a bottle of pop waiting to burst with nerves and energy.
" Here's everything you need to know before series 22 kick starts this evening live on BBC One. Huge blow for one star hours before live show Strictly Come Dancing's Paul Merson has suffered a huge blow ahead of this weekend's first live show. The former footballer is set to take to the dancefloor this weekend where he will be performing with professional partner Karen Hauer.
It has been announced that he will be dancing an American Smooth but it seems his first dance wil be anything but smooth-sailing. According to the bookies , Paul is the favourite to be eliminated first this weekend. Bookmakers Ladbrokes have announced that he has odds of 9-4 to go.
Montell Douglas, JB Gill, Shayne Ward and Sam Quek are seemingly the safest names in the competition, with £0 being placed on any of them getting eliminated this weekend What are the first dances and song choices? The first song and dance choices for each couple have been revealed ahead of tonight's live show. Chris McCausland and Dianne Buswell - Cha Cha to Twist and Shout by The Beatles Jamie Borthwick and Michelle Tsiakkas - Viennese Waltz to Beautiful Things by Benson Boone JB Gill and Amy Dowden - Waltz to When I Need You by Leo Sayer Montell Douglas and Johannes Radebe - Foxtrot to Is You Is or Is You Ain’t My Baby by Dinah Washington Nick Knowles and Luba Mushtuk - Jive to We Built This City by Starship Paul Merson and Karen Hauer - American Smooth to Vindaloo by Fat Les Pete Wicks and Jowita Przystał - Paso Doble to Breathe by The Prodigy Punam Krishan and Gorka Márquez - Cha Cha to Love At First Sight by Kylie Minogue Sam Quek and Nikita Kuzmin - Foxtrot to Where Did Our Love Go by The Supremes Sarah Hadland and Vito Coppola - Quickstep to 9 to 5 by Dolly Parton Shayne Ward and Nancy Xu - Samba to Do I Do by Stevie Wonder Tasha Ghouri and Aljaz Škorjanec - Cha Cha to Espresso by Sabrina Carpenter Tom Dean and Nadiya Bychkova - Tango to Golden by Harry Styles Toyah Willcox and Neil Jones - Tango to Ray Of Light by Madonna Wynne Evans and Katya Jones - Samba to Help Yourself by Tom Jones What time does Strictly start tonight? After a year away, Strictly Come Dancing returns to air this weekend. Week one of Strictly Come Dancing series 22 launches tonight with 15 couples dancing live at the Elstree ballroom for the first time.
Fans will need to be ready at their TV screens to see the first comeptitive dances early this evening for a 2 hour 25 extravaganza. The show will air on BBC One and iPlayer at 7pm on Saturday September 21..
