BBC confirms Strictly Come Dancing Launch Show date

The BBC has confirmed that Strictly Come Dancing will return to our screens on Saturday September 8.

The 16th series of the popular dancing programme will kick off with the launch show, where we will discover which professional dancer the fifteen celebrity contestants have been paired up with. After all pairings are revealed, we will also get a first look at them in action with a spectacular group performance.

The Strictly launch show will also feature an opening performance from Nile Rodgers and Chic, whilst later on in the show they will be joined by Craig David and Stefflon Don to perform their new single.

Over the past few weeks, Strictly Come Dancing has revealed the fifteen celebrity contestants who will be taking to the dance floor this year. The line up consists of Katie Piper, Faye Tozer, Danny John-Jules, Joe Sugg, Vick Hope, Graeme Swann, Dr Ranj, Stacey Dooley, Ashley Roberts, Kate Silverton, Seann Walsh, Lee Ryan, Lauren Steadman, Charles Venn and Susannah Constantine.

They will each be paired up with one of this series’ eighteen professional dancers: AJ Pritchard, Aljaž Škorjanec, Amy Dowden, Anton Du Beke, Dianne Buswell, Giovanni Pernice, Gorka Marquez, Graziano Di Prima, Janette Manrara, Johannes Radebe, Karen Clifton, Katya Jones, Kevin Clifton, Luba Mushtuk, Nadiya Bychkova, Neil Jones, Oti Mabuse and Pasha Kovalev.

Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman will be hosting the show once more, whilst judges Shirley Ballas, Dame Darcey Bussell, Bruno Tonioli and Craig Revel Horwood will also be returning.

Earlier today, the first teaser for this year’s series was released on Twitter. Check out the fabulous dancing shoes video below.

Time to dust off your dancing shoes ? ??
Strictly is back on @BBCOne. Coming soon… pic.twitter.com/kIxbl1lBmf

— BBC Strictly ? (@bbcstrictly) August 24, 2018