It’s that time of year again when the highlight of a Saturday night is sprawling on the sofa to watch a swathe of famous faces be put through their dancing paces on Strictly Come Dancing.
Yes, the beloved BBC show is back once again with all its glitz, glamour and fake tan as 15 new celebrities attempt to shimmy their way to victory on the dancefloor.
This year is the 21st instalment of the show and features the likes of Sherlock actor Amanda Abbington, TV presenter Les Dennis, Coronation Street star Ellie Leach, and broadcaster Angela Rippon – who at 78 is the oldest contestant to ever take part in the show – among the lineup.
Read more: Strictly’s Giovanni Pernice and Rose Ayling-Ellis reunited as she issues denial in message to fans
What is the Strictly TV schedule for 2023?
The new Strictly Come Dancing series for 2023 launched on BBC One and BBC iPlayer on Saturday, September 16, and saw the 15 celebrity contestants paired up with their professional partners for the first time.
The show also included a dance from reigning champions Hamza Yassin and Jowita Przystal who performed impressive salsa from last year’s competition, as well as a rendition of Free Yourself from British singer Jessie Ware.
The series, hosted by Tess Daly and Claudia Winkelman, will be broadcast live every Saturday night for 13 weeks, with the final due to take place on December 16 when the winning couple will be crowned.
The show usually starts between 6pm and 7pm, but may vary from week to week. This coming Saturday it is due to start at 6.15pm.
The Strictly Come Dancing results show, which sees the bottom two couples battle it out in an intense dance-off, is broadcast on Sundays. However, there is no elimination in the first week of the competition so the first results show won’t take place until October 1 at 7.15pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
Who are the Strictly celebrity couples this year?
The 15 celebrities were paired with their professional partners on Saturday’ launch show and this week will see the new couples battle it out on the dancefloor for the first time as they take on their first dance in the competition. The pairings for 2023 are:
- Amanda Abbington and Giovanni Pernice
- Zara McDermott and Graziano Di Prima
- Jody Cundy CBE and Jowita Przystal
- Krishnan Guru-Murthy and Lauren Oakley
- Angela Rippon CBE and Kai Widdrington
- Layton Williams and Nikita Kuzmin
- Nigel Harman and Katya Jones
- Bobby Brazier and Dianne Buswell
- Eddie Kadi and Karen Hauer
- Annabel Croft and Johannes Radebe
- Ellie Leach and Vito Coppola
- Adam Thomas and Luba Mushtuk
- Angela Scanlon and Carlos Gu
- Nikita Kanda and Gorka Marquez
- Les Dennis and Nancy Xu
Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, Anton Du Beke and head judge Shirley Ballas are all returning as the judging panel.
When does Strictly It Takes Two start?
For those who just can’t get enough Strictly action, there will be access to exclusive rehearsals footage, interviews and dancing gossip on Strictly It Takes Two as the show returns to TV screens next week.
The show will launch on BBC Two on September 25, hosted by former Strictly professional Janette Manrara and singer Fleur East, who reached the final in last year’s show. Rylan Clark has left the show and won’t be on It Takes Two any more, with Fleur taking over.
Fellow professional alumnus Joanne Clifton will also be back to front Choreography corner, but this time will be tag-teaming with her brother Kevin Clifton.
The siblings will be breaking down dances to help viewers recreate some Strictly magic at home, as well as analysing the weekends dance moves.
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