Overview

• Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman addressed Dyer’s withdrawal on air and introduced Amber Davies as Nikita Kuzmin’s new partner.
• Davies performed in week one after only brief preparation, with the programme following its usual format of no elimination in the opening round.
• A decades‑themed set piece by the judges, filmed in advance, opened the show before all 15 couples received scores.
• Claudia Winkleman announced a change to voting, with viewers set to vote online only rather than by phone from next week.
• Bookmakers adjusted odds after the late cast changes, installing Lewis Cope as an early favourite and listing Davies among the leading contenders.