Strictly 2026 : THE LAUNCH SHOW 19.25hrs How will our new presenters fare ? NO SPOILERS

[EineReiseDurchDieZeit]

A shiny new thread for a shiny new series. Please bring your dancing shoes over here.

Not sure whether I am doing weekly threads or not yet. Yet to decide, but I’m doing one for the first episode anyway.

The preshow chat thread has been quiet and I’m wondering if lots of people aren’t watching due to the departure of Tess and Claude. I have my reservations about the new presenting team but I’m willing to give them a chance.

KEEP DANCING 💃

I don't really care if I don't know who they are. They just become the dancers to me.

That dress really washed Emma out. I hope she goes for a bit of colour from now on. She is stunning.

Emma is beautiful

Disappointing start to the series.
I only know a few of the "celebrities" but that doesn't really matter as I'm just interested to see how people progress over time.

It's the presenting trio that seem so weak. Unlike many viewers I have heard of Emma Willis but have never seen any programme she has presented. What is supposed to be so special about her? Yes she's beautiful but she has a very grating voice, no depth to her tone and seems bland and lightweight, no personality coming through.

Johannes is a brilliant dancer but should have stayed doing that. His voice isn't clear and his accent is so strong it's difficult to understand.
Josh Widdecombe has such an irritating laugh, he's a comedian and I can't see what he's bringing to the role.

I'm wondering if I'm missing something because months ago when the presenters were announced the BBC said the chemistry of the 3 of them together was fantastic, etc etc. but I'm not seeing any of that.
I really think that Zoe Ball would have been much better and even Rylan. Hopefully they will all improve as time goes on.

I can't understand why Josh is here? He's so un-strictly! What next, Shirley Ballas presenting Last Leg?
Pairings ok though Robb and Jowita look a little odd together height wise.
Lauren looks like Betty Boop. Maybe she should have got will and Dianne got dog guy, didn't he hint he wanted an Aussie?
Can't think of anything else for now.

I thought it looked like her nan's petticoat

I have not watched strictly in yonks! I am marking my place. Cach looked a lot more handsome than I remember from Love Island. I love that Graeme from Dogs Behaving Badly- love that show and I have never had a dog.

Also love Emma Willis! So I am in!

I enjoyed all of it.

Julian is my guilty pleasure. He was so sweet with Balvinder, so I wonder how he'll go on with someone driven enough to get 19 medals.

I think Shaun Wright-Phillips is going to regret his comment about getting as good as the pros.

Definitely not. Loads of competition and never write off soap actor competitors.

Was going to switch it off after 30 mins - felt forced, presenters too casual, Josh annoying, endless boring filler. Been a fan for years so felt disappointed and flat. Really wished it was Zoe and Emma presenting.

But stuck with it and it grew on me. Josh settled a bit and was quite funny with some of his chat. Emma was great and a big improvement on Tess. Johannes warmed up. Enjoyed the music and costumes of the second two "pairings" dances. Craig made me smile.

So I will be back next week. One or two good dances will make it all worthwhile, as always! Still think Zoe would've been great as a presenter though.

Completely agree. She’s fabulous but that dress was just rubbish

Well, I liked it much more than I expected to. Three of them upstairs worked, having one dealing with each group of five worked, having a handful of new dancers plus the trio made it feel like quite a revamp. I think it needed one after the recent accusations kerfuffle (not minimising but not going there) and Tess & Claud going. It was either change it a lot or pack it in and for now it’s working. Emma was as professional as ever, Josh threw in the odd funny comment and Jojo was able to talk to the dancers with some background understanding. Side note - has Diane’s face changed?

'I really think that Zoe Ball would have been much better and even Rylan'

Was really hoping they would both get it. Zoe in the Tess role, Rylan in the Claudia role

Thought Emma was good, agree the dress wasn't the best. Don't get the guys at all. Josh is good at the sarcastic smart arse stuff on Last Leg, don't see him doing the glam and earnestness on Strictly. Johannes is a fabulous dancer, wasted as a presenter - so far ...

I was out so just finished watching, i really enjoyed it I loved the formation dancing to pick the partners thought the presenters aced it, and i didn't miss really miss Tess and Claudia.

Re Diannes face @Pinkbox i think she might have stopped the "tweaks" since she had the baby and is a little fuller in the face.

Thought she looked a little fuller all over, understsndably

I think you’ve got to allow these things to bed in - the chemistry with the presenters and everyone feeling relaxed etc. I remember when Bruce was too ill to present and they first had Claudia & Tess together and it felt icky and awkward. But look how successful they became as a presenting duo.

Emma is an absolute pro always, and to the person saying they didn’t notice anything special about her, she really is lovely and always comes across as so warm and twinkly and utterly sincere, so I just know she’ll be fanastic at handling all the emotional / nervous celebs.

The pre-recorded format was a bit dry and I didn’t like the pairing idea, there was too much “how are you feeling” in the interviews before getting a partner and then back again to ask the same question afterwards. It was a bit dull so looking forward to the proper start.

Right, I’ve deliberately not read this thread before posting because, as a good teacher, I don’t want the opinions of others influencing my own professional judgement. 😂
(I’ll go back and read it now…)

BUT I ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT. ❤️

I genuinely smiled from start to finish. The new presenters were brilliant — warm, funny, natural — and the whole show felt fresher, more relaxed and, dare I say it, properly authentic and not so ‘try hard’ and contrived.

It felt like Strictly being about Strictly, but without forcing the sparkle quite so hard.

Right, I’m now going to read the thread and see how spectacularly wrong I’ve managed to be. 😂

I've not seen any other of Emma's shows but as the new "Tess" she makes perfect sense - plainly has a ton of good live type experience. Wardrobe obviously hate her already - hideous dress which didn't even fit properly.

Jojo I initially thought was nervous and wooden but notably when engaged with the pros/celebs seemed to relax and was much more engaging. I think he could be good in that role but agree some voice coaching might help with the presenting role.

Josh irritated the tits off me. A noisy, irritating and unnecessary spare wheel. To think Zoe Ball was overlooked for this.

I recognised less celebs than ever this year - they seem to be struggling to get any notable names to balance the soap stars and retired sports bods/tv presenters. I thought the announcing of partnerships via dances was more interesting than the awful cliched nonsense of recent years.

I liked the launch show, and it felt more about the dancing with the format of dances revealing the partnerships. Much better than artsy meet-ups in random locations and all the emotional gushing.

No idea who the celebrities are (apart from Delta), but DS recognised a youtuber, but I'll get to know them as they go through as usual.

I'm looking forwards to the autumn evenings being glittered up.

Yeah she has been at home with the baby for 6/7 months so understandable

I meant to say Melanie isn't as Welsh as Gwen is, confused me a little bit

Thank you, @EineReiseDurchDieZeit, for the thread.

Well, I enjoyed it all, more than usual for the pairings show. I recognised more celebrities than I expected (I only knew Gwen) and liked the swopping couples dances, especially when they switched quickly.

I particularly like contestants who are Olympians, or sportspeople to a lesser degree, because they are used to hard physical training.

Has Johannes always been that tall? 😉 It’s the contrast with Josh W I think.
In the opening number I thought he was dancing in high heeled boots, having got used to them in Kinky Boots. Later he seemed to be wearing shoes with a low block heel - Cuban?

I could understand everything anyone said, but it helps that I always have subtitles switched on.

Hanging up my stilettos.
Watched the launch.
It was okay. I got bored at times.
Emma is decent. Josh and JoJo don't do it for me.
Wasn't inspired by the pair up dances.
Liked Nancy and Bethany best but Nancy always ruins it for me in interviews.
Think Mark is far too short for Tabby.
Will can't dance.
Wanted the new black female pro to have a partner rather than Maddie. Hope she doesn't end up like Chloe/Cameron.
Hope you all enjoyed it. Will read your comments now x

I loved it. I thought it had a great new energy. Tess and Claudia just lacked energy in recent series. I hated all the shite in the Claudatorium so contrived.

JoJo was way better than I expected. Josh was nervous but I think he’ll settle. Emma was strong but the dress was terrible.

Looking forward to this season.