Overview
- The pre-recorded launch show, which aired on Saturday 19 September, revealed all 15 celebrity–professional pairings on BBC One.
- Emma Willis, Josh Widdicombe and Johannes Radebe made their first appearances as a fluid three-person presenting team replacing Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman.
- Producers introduced a twist in which three specially choreographed routines had celebrities discover their partners in front of the studio audience.
- Five new professional dancers joined the 2026 line-up: Aleksandra Isaeva, Cristian Priori, Lethabo Monametsi, Maddie Ingoldsby and Mark Karmalita.
- Early reaction was mixed with strong praise for Emma Willis, criticism of the three-host format, and overnight ratings that peaked around 5.8 million and averaged about 5.3 million as the series moves to its first live show on 26 September.