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 💃

No idea if he was or wasn’t in the running! I think he’d have been good on the show.

I’ve always liked Emma as she doesn’t seem too stuck up. I liked the other two presenters as well. Everyone jusy needs to give them all a chance.

I didn't know the other two presenters, apart from Johannes, who I love (I am a bit sad he is a presenter though, because I love his dancing so much, it was my favouritepart of Strictly).

Emma grew on me over the evening, her looks are so striking and her personality transcended what I initially perceived to be a slightly annoying voice. I think I am going to enjoy her. Josh, I am sad to say, I didn't like at all. But maybe he was very anxious and he will loosen up. I think they should have stuck with two presenters. This three person set up seems rather awkward to me. Well, we will see.

I think Jonathan Ross would have been a very bad choice, I can't imagine they considered him. The show would have become unbalanced and dominated by his personality. He is a brilliant host, comedian etc, but not for a show like this. He is way way too big. This is an ensemble type show. He would be the focus. And anyone they paired him with would have been overshadowed when on screen with him.

We don’t all like the same thing, my opinion is he’d have been good 😊 as he can ad lib and is used to interviewing people on his chat show.

We’ve no idea really who was in the running it’s all supposition and speculation I’d imagine a lot of people wanted the jobs.

Emma is fine. Not sure about Josh or Jojo but if one of them doesn't work out they can drop them.

One plus of three presenters when you only really need two is that if one is sick or otherwise engaged any given show they have cover with the other two.

It was all a bit over extended tonight but am now looking forward to next time.

All caught up now.
I don't generally like the pairing show, and that felt a bit messy.
Love Emma and JoJo, I like Josh so I think he will be OK.
Emma's dress wasn't great but how many times did we slag offTess's clothes choice.
The celebs are a really good mixed bunch.
I am more pleased than I expected 😊

Me too can't bear the man. It's not his thing thankfully

It was the colour of Emma's dress I didn't like, it just looked meh on her.

I really enjoyed the launch! 💃 🕺

Here are the official pairings -

• Actress Lacey Turner and Vito Coppola
• Reality TV star Dani Dyer and Nikita Kuzmin
• Hair stylist to the stars Chris Appleton and Amy Dowden
• Australian singer and actress Delta Goodrem and Kai Widdrington
• DJ and social media personality Cach Mercer and Maddie Ingoldsby
• TV and radio presenter Will Best and Dianne Buswell
• Paralympian Dame Sarah Storey and Julian Caillon
• Actress Jaime Winstone and Carlos Gu
• TV and stage actress Bethany Antonia and Nancy Xu
• Former England footballer Shaun Wright-Phillips and Alexis Warr
• Presenter and author Graeme Hall and Lauren Oakley
• Actor Lawrence Robb and Jowita Przystał
• Skeleton athlete Tabby Stoecker and Mark Karmalita
• YouTuber John Nellis and Katya Jones
• TV and stage actress Melanie Walters and Aljaž Škorjanec

I really enjoyed it. Emma took to it like a duck to water.
I didn't miss Tess in the slightest. She was pretty awful 😖

Does anyone have favourites already?

I think Tabby, Bethany and John (did not know the man existed before Strictly!) look like a lot of fun.
Looking forward to next Saturday's show, will need a nap beforehand and snacks!

I didn't catch all of it and couldn't follow the thread 😁 What I saw was fine - Emma is a safe pair of hands, Josh's laugh was annoying me a bit. Jowita seems too short for her partner? The jury is out on Kurly Kai!

Just watching the show as was out last night. Actually quite enjoying it, although they’re stretching it out a bit. I’ll miss Johannes dancing though as he was always superb and a joy to watch . Josh and Emma are actually doing okay, and I don’t feeling like I’m missing Tess and Claude (sorry). However, we’ll see what they’re like on a normal show next week.

I didnt much like the colour of Emma's dress, although I was filled with envy that she could still look good in a barely-there dress like that at her age. I couldn't have!

I did not miss Tess or Claudia at all
i think the show needed shaking up
I am fine with the judges remaining , even though I find Shirley a bit irritating
Motsi and Shirley looked great . Motsi’s ‘weight loss suits her
Craig looked refreshed

I really enjoyed it. Emma is a lovely presenter, JoJo was much better than I was expecting, and Josh was there to bring the laughs. Great stuff.

I’m a big fan of Claudia but she CHOSE to go she wasn’t pushed. We must move with the times.

I have just watched last night’s show!

I really enjoyed it and I’m going into it woth a positive, open mind.

However, am I the only one who noticed that Lacey seemed uncomfortable about her pairing with Vito when it was announced during the dance? She didn’t look happy when they all left the dance floor either. I just got the feeling that something was a bit “off” between them 🤷‍♀️ (from her side).

Mind you…. He’s always given me creepy vibes for some reason. He’s probably the male dancer I’d least
like to be paired with.

I agree , it comes across as very old fashioned - and I say this as a hater of
“ Contempowaft”.

I thought the same regarding Lacey. All the others looked thrilled. She looked less than pleased.

Me too. Nice dress but wrong colour.

Posted too soon ….

Thought Emma did very well, but I didn’t care for the colour of her dress . Wonder if it was to match the “ Mood board “ of the show as noticed a lot of bronze, gold and burgundy tones.
Wish Jojo was still dancing but he did better than I’d expected . Will reserve judgement on Josh for now.
The first show is sooooooo long though !

I kind of like that Emma didn’t look textbook Strictly & orange & thought her dress kind of reflected that.

I think that Lacey just isn’t an effusive, demonstrative personality. I can’t see her squealing and grinning her way through this process and gushing at every step about how she wanted Vito all along and how they’ll be friends for life.