Overview
- A pre-recorded launch show was filmed at Elstree and will air on Saturday 19 September with the new hosts performing a choreographed opening number and pairings revealed through three specially staged group dance routines.
- The BBC confirmed five new professional dancers for the 2026 series, increasing turnover in the professional roster as producers work through the revamped launch mechanics.
- The three hosts will share presenting duties fluidly rather than adopting fixed roles, with on-set chemistry tests and rehearsals used to decide how responsibilities are rotated during shows.
- Emma Willis and her co-hosts say they expect criticism from viewers but will not engage with online abuse, and senior figures on the show have defended the changes as a way to refresh the long-running format.
- Producers used the launch recording to trial pacing and role swaps, including multiple retakes and emotional moments on set, which means the immediate focus will be on whether the new format wins over audiences when the series begins.