Overview

• The launch episode airs tonight at 6:40pm on BBC One and iPlayer, revealing this year’s celebrity–professional pairings alongside a pros’ group routine and a guest performance by Jessie J.
• Dianne Buswell returns to the ballroom while pregnant and features prominently in first-look images, including a lift sequence during the professionals’ number.
• Two new professionals, Alexis Warr and Julian Caillon, join the returning pro lineup, with last year’s champions Dianne Buswell and Chris McCausland also performing in the opener.
• Following previous concerns, the BBC has strengthened welfare measures with monitored rehearsals, dedicated welfare producers and extra crew training, and has moved audience voting to online-only after the phone service was discontinued.
• Live competition begins Saturday 27 September, with a Blackpool special on 22 November, the final expected on 20 December, and spin-off It Takes Two returning on 29 September.