Strictly Come Dancing returned for its twenty-fourth series with a launch show broadcast on 19 September 2026 on BBC One, with the live shows beginning a week later. Emma Willis, Josh Widdicombe and Johannes Radebe replaced Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman as hosts, following their departures after the previous series, whilst Ellie Taylor became the new presenter of Strictly Come Dancing: It Takes Two, replacing Fleur East and Janette Manrara. Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, Shirley Ballas and Anton Du Beke returned to the judging panel. The series marked a notable revamp within the show's history, with a replacement of the presenters and the first time the logo had changed since the eighth series.
Format
The couples dance each week in a live show. The judges score each performance out of ten. After all the couples have danced they are then ranked according to the judges' scores and given points according to their rank, with the highest ranked couple receiving a number of points equal to the number of couples dancing that week e.g. 7 points where there are seven couples dancing. When there are no tied scores the lowest scored couple will receive one point. However, in the event of a tie where two or more couples obtain the same judges score, the couple below those in the tie will be awarded one point below the points awarded to each of the tied couples. So, for example, if two couples obtain the same rank and obtain 7 points each, the couple immediately below them will be awarded 6 points. When couples are ranked equally by the judges the scoring of all other couples underneath will follow in the same descending order. Should there be any tied scores the lowest scored couple will therefore receive more than one point from the judges scores. The public are also invited to vote for their favourite couples, and the couples are ranked again according to the number of votes they receive, again receiving points; The couple with the most votes receiving the most points. Again in the unlikely event of a tie in the public vote the points are awarded in the same way as the points from the judges score.
The points for judges' score and public vote are then added together, and the two couples with the fewest points are placed in the bottom two. If two couples have equal points, the points from the public vote are given precedence. As with the previous series, the bottom two couples have to perform a dance-off on the results show. Based on that performance alone, each judge then votes on which couple should stay and which couple should leave. The casting vote was not made solely by the head judge in the dance-off and was instead rotated, with a different judge making the decision each week.
Production
In October 2025, while the previous series was in production, hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman announced their departures from the show. In a joint statement, they said "We have loved working as a duo and hosting Strictly Come Dancing has been an absolute dream. We were always going to leave together and now feels like the right time." The BBC subsequently began holding auditions for new presenters, who subsequently held "chemistry tests" prior to the decision. Several presenters and former contestants were rumoured to become new presenters, including former Strictly Come Dancing: It Takes Two host and series 3 contestant Zoe Ball, current It Takes Two host and series 20 contestant Fleur East, former It Takes Two host Rylan Clark, series 9 contestant and The One Show presenter Alex Jones, series 21 contestant Angela Scanlon, series 12 contestant Alison Hammond and series 23 contestant La Voix, as well as Bradley Walsh, Tom Allen and Emma Willis. In May 2026, Ball confirmed she had auditioned as presenter, but was rejected for the role, stating that she had "worked through the 7 stages of rejection and grief". Clark, Sara Cox, Clara Amfo, and Siân Welby all confirmed later that they had participated in screen tests for the roles, along with several others. East also confirmed that she would not be presenting the series, stating that she felt she would be acceptable with "not doing it or not being considered for the job", but said she was "kind of bothered."
On 19 May 2026, it was confirmed that Emma Willis, Josh Widdicombe and Johannes Radebe would present the series. Widdicombe previously appeared as a contestant on the 2024 Christmas Special, while Radebe had appeared as a professional dancer since the sixteenth series. It marks the first time that the show will be regularly presented by three hosts. In August 2026, it was announced on Willis' BBC Radio 2 show that series 20 contestant Ellie Taylor would be taking over the role of presenting the spin-off show Strictly Come Dancing: It Takes Two, replacing East and Janette Manrara. It was later revealed that comedian Abi Clarke and series 20 contestant Tyler West would host Strictly: Lights Up, a new spin-off series which will be aired on BBC iPlayer after every Sunday results show. Clarke also hosted weekly training room episodes, where she visited different couples in rehearsals. CBBC introduced Strictly Pro Dance Off, a dance tutorial and competition series featuring the professional dancers that is also broadcast as a segment on Saturday mornings during Saturday Mash-Up!.
Professional dancers In March 2026, it was reported that several professional dancers would be leaving the show. Later that month, Karen Hauer, the show's longest serving female professional who had appeared since the tenth series, confirmed her departure and said that it was "the right time" to leave the show and focus on other projects. Nadiya Bychkova, who had served as a professional since the fifteenth series was also announced to be leaving the show, and said in a statement that the show had "allowed [her] to discover new sides of [herself], develop new skills, and evolve as an artist in ways [she would] always be grateful for." Luba Mushtuk, who joined the show during the sixteenth series, also confirmed her departure, and thanked the show for "the amazing opportunity and unforgettable memories" adding that "it [had] truly meant the world to [her]". Michelle Tsiakkas, who joined during the twentieth series, subsequently confirmed she had been dismissed from the show. Tsiakkas said she was told via a Zoom call that her contract had not been renewed and said that her "dream was shattered", as well as that she was "grieving for her job". She ultimately decided not to participate in Strictly: The Professionals tour. The following month, Gorka Márquez, a professional since the fourteenth series, was the final professional to confirm to be leaving the show, following his reduced role the previous series due to his commitments as a judge on the Spanish version of the show . Márquez said that being part of Strictly Come Dancing had been "so much more than just a professional opportunity", adding that "it allowed [him] to build a career from [his] passion", and that he would "forever be thankful."
In May 2026, the BBC confirmed that Dianne Buswell, Julian Caillon, Vito Coppola, Amy Dowden, Carlos Gu, Katya Jones, Neil Jones, Nikita Kuzmin, Lauren Oakley, Jowita Przystał, Johannes Radebe, Aljaž Škorjanec, Alexis Warr, Kai Widdrington and Nancy Xu would all be returning for this series. Radebe was later confirmed to be co-presenting the show. In July 2026, five new professional dancers were announced for the series: Aleksandra Isaeva, Maddie Ingoldsby, Mark Karmalita, Lethabo Monametsi and Cristian Priori.
During the launch show, Neil Jones, Aleksandra Isaeva, Cristian Priori and Lethabo Monametsi did not receive a celebrity partner, whilst the rest were paired up, including new professionals Maddie Ingoldsby and Mark Karmalita.
Couples On 10 June 2026, Lacey Turner was announced as the first contestant to be competing in the series. Following her withdrawal from the previous series prior to the first week due to an ankle injury, Dani Dyer was announced to be returning as a contestant for this series. Celebrity reveals continued over the next two months, before the line-up was completed on 12 August 2026.
Celebrity Notability Professional partner Status Chris Appleton Celebrity hairstylist Amy DowdenEliminated 1st Bethany Antonia House of the Dragon actress Nancy Xu Participating Cach Mercer Love Island winner Participating Dani Dyer Television personality Nikita Kuzmin Participating Delta Goodrem Singer-songwriter & actress Kai Widdrington Participating Graeme Hall Dogs Behaving (Very) Badly trainer Lauren Oakley Participating Jaime Winstone Film & television actress Carlos Gu Participating John Nellis Social media personality Katya Jones Participating Lacey Turner EastEnders actress Vito Coppola Participating Lawrence Robb Emmerdale actor Jowita Przystał Participating Melanie Walters Gavin & Stacey actress Aljaž Škorjanec Participating Sarah Storey Paralympic cyclist & swimmer Julian Caillon Participating England footballer & pundit Alexis Warr Participating Tabby Stoecker Olympic skeleton racer Mark Karmalita Participating Will Best Television & radio presenter Dianne Buswell Participating
Scoring chart The highest score each week is indicated in with a dagger (), while the lowest score each week is indicated in with a double-dagger ().
Color key:
+Strictly Come Dancing series 24 - Weekly scores Couple Week 1 2 1+2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Bethany & Nancy 26 27 53 Cach & Maddie 20 29 49 Dani & Nikita 22 23 45 Delta & Kai 29 30 Graeme & Lauren 24 55 Jaime & Carlos 21 21 42 John & Katya 23 54 Lacey & Vito 27 28 55 20 19 39 Melanie & Aljaž Sarah & Julian 24 39 Shaun & Alexis 25 40 Tabby & Mark 22 28 50 Will & Dianne 18 19 37 Chris & Amy 15th 16 17 33
Average chart This table only counts for dances scored on a 40-points scale.
Couple Rank byaverage Place Totalpoints Number ofdances Totalaverage Delta & Kai 1 59 2 29.5 Graeme & Lauren 2 55 2 27.5 Lacey & Vito 2 55 2 27.5 John & Katya 4 54 2 27.0 Bethany & Nancy 5 53 2 26.5 Tabby & Mark 6 50 2 25.0 Cach & Maddie 7 49 2 24.5 Dani & Nikita 8 45 2 22.5 Jaime & Carlos 9 42 2 21.0 Shaun & Alexis 10 40 2 20.0 Lawrence & Jowita 11 39 2 19.5 Sarah & Julian 11 39 2 19.5 Will & Dianne 13 37 2 18.5 Chris & Amy 14 15th 33 2 16.5 Melanie & Aljaž 15 30 2 15.0
Weekly scores Unless indicated otherwise, individual judges scores in the charts below (given in parentheses) are listed in this order from left to right: Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, Shirley Ballas, Anton Du Beke.
Week 1 Each couple performed one unlearned dance. There was no elimination this week; all scores carried over to the following week.
Couples are listed in the order they performed.
CoupleScoresDanceMusic Will & Dianne 18 (4, 5, 4, 5) Samba "Rock DJ" — Robbie Williams Tabby & Mark 22 (4, 6, 5, 7) Jive "Animal" — Katseye Sarah & Julian 15 (3, 4, 4, 4) Quickstep "C'est Magnifique" — Kay Starr Lawrence & Jowita 20 (4, 5, 5, 6) Paso doble "Aperture" — Harry Styles Shaun & Alexis 15 (2, 4, 4, 5) Cha-cha-cha "Lil Boo Thang" — Paul Russell Bethany & Nancy 26 (6, 7, 6, 7) Quickstep "Stop This Flame" — Celeste Lacey & Vito 27 (7, 6, 7, 7) Cha-cha-cha "How Will I Know" — Whitney Houston Chris & Amy 16 (3, 4, 4, 5) Tango "No Roots" — Alice Merton Melanie & Aljaž 15 (2, 4, 4, 5) Cha-cha-cha "Don't Go Breaking My Heart" — Elton John & Kiki Dee Cach & Maddie 20 (3, 6, 5, 6) Quickstep "I Just Might" — Bruno Mars Graeme & Lauren 24 (6, 6, 6, 6) Cha-cha-cha "Hound Dog" — from Smokey Joe's Cafe Jaime & Carlos 21 (5, 5, 5, 6) Tango "I Feel Love" — Donna Summer Dani & Nikita 22 (6, 5, 5, 6) Samba "Lush Life" — Zara Larsson John & Katya 31 (7, 8, 8, 8) Foxtrot "Ordinary" — Alex Warren Delta & Kai 29 (7, 8, 7, 7) Samba "Baianá" — Barbatuques
Week 2: Movie Week Musical guests: Tim Minchin — "Quiet" (from Matilda the Musical)