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 💃

So glad it's back. It means autumn is officially here 🙌💃 It took some time to get used to the new presenters but think it should work well

It's one thing to know what you're doing and quite another to present that in a way that delivers on a flagship bbc Saturday night show. Two entirely different skills. Time will tell I guess. He looked as nervous as all hell to me last night, which is understandable but I don't really want to watch someone looking out of their depth and like a rabbit in headlights. It feels so awkward. I'm not a massive Emma fan but she was polished and comfortable and delivered.

Also, Lawrence 6ft 1 and Jowita 5ft!

I'd Keep Anton and ditch the others
Craig's schtick is old, motsi isn't constructive enough and screechy and while Shirley can give good technical feedback she's also not good at hiding her favourites

Did Lawrence get Jowita? Surely he is too tall for her?

Yes thinking the same.

Same as my reasoning for getting rid of Shirley,
I don’t find her professional at all. Or her lusting over some of the male celebs.

Morning all. Going to let this thread run down before starting another, as, due to the weird glitch about 5 threads ended up running last night. Apologies for the break in service! IT WASNT ME!

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

Got to agree @C8H10N4O2

Although I DO think they’ve all got to be given 2 weeks grace on the live shows

Nice to see you, to see you nice @SequinsandSlippers

I like Emma , love Johannes ! On the fence with Josh thought he looked rabbit in the headlights last night . Don't miss Claudia her pretending to be thick act had got very stale

I’m Team Josh! I love him anyway - been a Parenting Hell listener since lockdown - and he told Rob how nervous he was about the launch show on the podcast. He’ll settle in, as they all will, and I’m looking forward to this series more than the last few.

A shame that 3 of the new pros have been benched, it does seem pointless to bring them in, give them a showcase dance and then nothing. It would have been understandable to bench Dianne for this year and give someone else a chance and I don’t get the show runners’ love affair with Amy. Yes I understand she’s had a horrible time with her health and seems a lovely person, but she obviously struggled so much last year and her choreography just leaves me a bit “meh”.

I also loved Johannes, he was much better at presenting than I was expecting and I think it i great to have one of the presenters with actual experience of what the dancers and celebrities are going through/talking about. Emma was a steady hand, but I do not understand the need for Josh in there at all. The very beginning of the show when all three of them were talking to the judges and contestants were really awkward and jarring for me, so hopefully they keep them mostly split up for interviews. Glad that it is back on the telly anyway.

Amy

She could have been got rid of instead of Karen and I wouldn’t have cared @CaveMum

I’m still catching up and they have just announced the first 5 couples.

Anyone else feel Dani and Nikita pairing up again is a bit of an advantage.

Hope no one who started one minds but I’ve asked for the extra threads to be withdrawn as I thought that so many at once was confusing

I really like the combination of Emma, Johannes and Josh. Josh just needs to calm that manic laughing down a bit (think that was due to nerves) and all will be great.
I do not miss Tess and Claudia one bit. The old format had got very stale and the new one looks like it will be fresh and fun.

Thank you @EineReiseDurchDieZeit for the thread and housekeeping.

I love Amy I wasn't keen on Karen and Carlos makes me cringe ! I guess we cannot all like the same people it's healthy competition . Oh and I love Vito

I find her choreography a bit twee and lacking in any sexiness @Betterbeingdead

He's very used to talking to people on live TV every week. I think once he settles, he'll be fine.

That would have felt like a right kick in the teeth given what she's been through though.

You’re welcome 😇

It shouldn’t be based on feeling sorry for someone - it’s a professional decision

I DO feel sorry for what she’s been through, obviously, but she’s not my favourite dancer by a long way regardless of her circumstances

He didn't look it , oddly! They looked well matched.

Just read a review of the show and people are saying WTF is a content creator? As did I.

That's not a proper job and it doesn't make them a celebrity.

I have no interest in following "content creators" or vacuous airheads "influencers". By scraping the "celebrity" barrel the show is going to lose any integrity it might have had.