BBC's Strictly Come Dancing announcement is an early Christmas present for fans
The BBC series is set to return in just a few weeks time
Strictly Come Dancing will soon be back on our screens
(Image: BBC)
We're just weeks away from the return of everyone's favourite dance competition, Strictly Come Dancing and fans are already eagerly counting down the days. The BBC have announced that their beloved ballroom dance competition will start with the annual pre-recorded launch show at Elstree Studios on September 27.
During the episode 15 celebrities will be paired up with their professional dance partners to be in with a chance of winning the prestigious glitter ball trophy. This year, fans of the show have something extra to look forward to as the BBC have treated audiences to an early Christmas present.
The Strictly Come Dancing live final is set to air on Saturday, December 20 - a mere five days before Christmas Day, what an early gift indeed for fans of the show. For the latest TV and showbiz gossip sign up to our newsletter
This is later than the last three seasons which finished the week earlier, so fans can not only look forward to the lead up to the holidays but also to find out if their fave pair has won the competition.
Until then, viewers can tune in every weekend from the launch on BBC One or catch up on BBC iPlayer.
The week after the launch night, on September 27, the main series of Saturday live shows will kick off.
In line with tradition, the first live show won't see a celebrity and their dance partner leaving the contest, and the first pre-recorded Sunday results show will be broadcast on Sunday, 5 October.
The first results show will tally up each routine's points from weeks one and two, as determined by judges Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, Shirley Ballas and Anton Du Beke, along with the viewers' votes. The duo with the fewest votes will bid farewell to Strictly Come Dancing.
The BBC has also confirmed that the show will make its much-anticipated return to the iconic Blackpool Tower Ballroom on Saturday, 22 November, before heading back to Elstree on Saturday, 29 November.
The show recently unveiled the 15 celebrities who will be vying for the coveted Glitterball trophy.
This year's celebrity contestants for Strictly Come Dancing include a rugby player, a drag queen, a social media influencer and a Game of Thrones actor.
(Image: BBC)
Among the line-up are Olympic sprinter Harry Aikines-Aryeetey, 36, also known as Nitro from BBC's Gladiators, Love Island's Dani Dyer, 29, retired footballer Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, 53, and Doctor Who actress Alex Kingston, 62.
Also preparing to shine on the dance floor are YouTuber and podcaster George Clarke, 25, EastEnders' Balvinder Sopal, 46, trailblazing model Ellie Goldstein, 23 - the first model with Down Syndrome to grace the cover of British Vogue - and RuPaul's Drag Race UK star La Voix, 45.
Joining them will be retired England rugby player Chris Robshaw, 39, The Apprentice 2019 candidate Thomas Skinner, 34, former Geordie Shore star Vicky Pattison, 37, and Neighbours legend Stefan Dennis, 66.
Completing this year's cast are Lorraine and Good Morning Britain's Los Angeles Correspondent Ross King, 63, former England women's football player Karen Carney, 38.
Unfortunately, Game of Thrones actor Kristian Nairn, 49 has had to withdrawn from the new series of Strictly Come Dancing, for medical reasons.
He said: "With a heavy heart, I have to step back from this season of Strictly Come Dancing due to unexpected medical reasons. I was truly looking forward to the journey, and I'm deeply sorry to disappoint anyone who was looking forward to seeing me on the dance floor. Thank you all for your support, and I will be back on my feet very soon, in every sense. Love to all, Kristian."
A new celebrity will be joining Strictly Come Dancing in Kristian's place. This will be announced tonight, August 21 on The One Show, on BBC One and BBC iPlayer from 7pm.
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