Manchester Evening News
·23 Aug 2026
Strictly Come Dancing Star Teases Launch Night 'Shake-Up' Ahead of 2026 Series
The 2026 series of Strictly Come Dancing will reportedly announce celebrity-professional pairings live during the launch show, abandoning the pre-recorded reveal segments used in recent years. Contestant Graeme Hall said neither celebrities nor professional dancers will have any say in their pairings. The series will also feature new presenters Emma Willis, Josh Widdicombe and Johannes Radebe, Ellie Taylor as host of It Takes Two, five new professional dancers, and several departing professionals. Strictly is scheduled to return to BBC One and iPlayer in September 2026.