A first glimpse behind the scenes of the upcoming Strictly Come Dancing launch show reveals Emma Willis alongside her new co-hosts, Josh Widdicombe and Johannes Radebe, as production for the new series gets under way. The newly appointed presenters of the BBC programme were pictured travelling together in a golf buggy ahead of the 2026 edition, filming an extravagant opening routine that will see the new hosts take to the dancefloor. In the preview images, Willis is seen gleefully waving the famous Strictly glitterball trophy.
The 50-year-old TV presenter channels ballroom glamour in a sequinned beige dress paired with matching heels, her short dark hair slicked back into a wet-look style. She sits flanked by her new colleagues in the buggy, with comedian Widdicombe striking a mischievous expression at the wheel while wearing an all-black suit and shirt, brightened up by a colourful, patterned tie. Former Strictly professional Radebe is all smiles as he perches at the back of the vehicle while showcasing a chic all-black ensemble, which has been dressed up with a matching sequinned belt and heeled boots.
The background has glimpses of classic cars and tropical imagery with palm trees, hanging fairy lights and floral displays, as well as hints of Strictly glitz and glamour with a sparkling silver star and disco ball. The first look at the upcoming series comes ahead of the release of the annual Strictly Come Dancing trailer, which is expected in the coming days. Strictly Come Dancing will return later this month with the trio at the helm as they take over from Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman, who announced they were leaving the show late last year.
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The snap was taken during filming for the launch show, which will feature a large opening number in which judges Shirley Ballas, Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse and Anton Du Beke will showcase their dance moves. Strictly recently revealed five new professional dancers joining the show this year: Aleksandra Isaeva, Cristian Priori, Lethabo Monametsi, Maddie Ingoldsby and Mark Karmalita. They will make their debut participating in the opening routine, along with the 14 returning professionals.
The show is speculated to launch on September 19, with the celebrities meeting their partners for the first time on the dancefloor, rather than during a pre-recorded video. The show is returning to how it operated before Covid, with the pairings being revealed through introductory videos filmed around the country since 2020. The upcoming series has a star-studded line-up including former Love Island winner Dani Dyer-Bowen, actress Melanie Walters, former England footballer Shaun Wright-Phillips and Australian singer Delta Goodrem.
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