Strictly fans shocked as leak sees celebrity pairings revealed week before launch show

Strictly Come Dancing star Oti Mabuse, who sadly decided to quit her role as a professional dancer on the BBC One show last year, has opened up on the real reason for her departure. In an emotional new interview, the talented TV favourite, who is now a judge on Dancing On Ice alongside Ashley Banjo and ice skating superstars Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean, admitted she spent days overwhelmed by the experience. Oti, 33, also revealed that she'd spent days "crying in the shower" as she struggled to cope with the intensity of trying to train her partners and help them to improve.

Former Strictly Come Dancing fan-favourite Kevin Clifton has made a surprise return to the competition with a special role as this year's stars are already hard at work on the dance floor. It was revealed on Monday night's very first 2023 edition of spin-off series It Takes Two that the show star, who won with documentarian Stacey Dooley, 36, during the 2018 series, would be taking over some of his sister Joanne Clifton's episode. Professional dancer Joanne, 39, is currently on tour with the UK production of Shrek the Musical, in which she plays the iconic Princess Fiona.

Strictly Come Dancing fans say they spotted an awkward moment between EastEnders star Bobby Brazier and Dianne Buswell during the end credits of Saturday night's episode. Fans of the show claim they spotted the clanger after Bobby was seemingly caught getting confused about when he would next perform.

Strictly Come Dancing was back on our screens for the first live show of the series on Saturday evening, during which 15 hopeful celebs took to the floor with their professional partners.

Picture the scene. You're a teenager, the sounds of Titanic are still ringing in your ears from the sixth time you've visited the cinema to see it, and floppy haired blonde heartthrobs cover your bedroom wall. You're in your crop top from Tammy Girl era and velvet hair scrunchies from Claire's Accessories are all the rage.

Strictly Come Dancing kicked off on Saturday, 23rd September, with the first show of the 2023 series. Glitterballs and sparkles were aplenty as usual but a first-show injury was not as professional dancer, Nancy Xu, was spotted with smears down the side of her neck.The 31 year old dancer had fun, chatting and laughing with Tess Daly, but as she turned to the side, fans spotted what looked like blood down her jawline and onto her neck.

Despite the duo wowing with their first live performance, Strictly Come Dancing viewers were distracted by an odd detail while watching Bobby Brazier and Dianne Buswell's dance on Saturday night, 23 September. EastEnders actor Bobby, 20, and professional dancer Dianne, 34, performed the Foxtrot to McFly's All About You which won them huge praise from the judges and an impressive score of 29 points, landing them near to the top of the leaderboard.

Adam Thomas has seen his odds of winning Strictly Come Dancing dramatically plummet, just as viewers enjoy the first live show of the 2023 series.The ex-Emmerdale actor, 35, took to the iconic Strictly dance floor on Saturday night alongside professional dance partner Luba Mushtuk for the first time, but it looks like he really needs to impress viewers at home if he wants to bag the Glitterball trophy. In odds provided by William Hill to the Express, Adam and Luba's odds of winning the show have dropped, along with Zara McDermott, whose chances of being crowned the winner have also been slashed.

It seems that the magic of the dance floor on the BBC's Strictly Come Dancing extends beyond the glitz and glamour, as several couples who met on the show have ended up starting families together. These heartwarming stories show that the connections formed on the Strictly Come Dancing stage can lead to beautiful and lasting partnerships beyond the dance floor. Let's take a look at all the Strictly bundles of joy that have come from the show.

Strictly Come Dancing pro, Giovanni Pernice, has broken his silence amid claims that he and his dancing partner, actress Amanda Abbington have not been seeing eye to eye. It had been reported that the Sherlock star threatened to quit before the first live show of the new series.

The much anticipated new series of Strictly Come Dancing has returned to our screens in spectacular fashion. And this Saturday (September 23) will see the 2023 celebrities perform for the first time in their couples.

Adam Thomas may have been having the instructions given to him this week as he trained for his first performance on Strictly Come Dancing but the Waterloo Road star ended up having an instruction for his dance partner. Adam and Luba Mushtuk will be seen properly in the ballroom for the first time on Saturday night (September 23).

Strictly's head judge Shirley Ballas sent fans into panic when she revealed she was ill in bed after returning from a trip to Rome.The 63-year-old ballroom legend said she suspected she'd picked up a bug on her holiday but was hoping a bit of rest would see her fighting fit in time for Saturday night's show.The Queen of Latin luckily had her devoted mum Audrey, 86, on hand to take care of her, bringing her some comfort food to her sick bed. Filming herself in a dark room wearing a dressing gown in bed, Shirley revealed she was using her resting time wisely - researching "the best air fryers". “What a difference a day makes," she said.

Strictly Come Dancing judge Motsi Mabuse has sweetly discussed dancing with her husband, Evgenij Voznyuk, as the hit show returns to our screens. Ahead of her first judging stint of the series on Saturday night, Motsi, 42, has opened up on all of her favourite things about the hit BBC show. She also opened up on which one dance she would do if she was only able to do one for the rest of her life - and it is all to do with her husband, who she renewed her vows to earlier this year.

EastEnders fans had to do a double take on Monday as Lola Pearce lookalike Nadine arrived in Albert Square, following her tragic death earlier this year. Newcomer Nadine looked the spitting image of Lola, who died from a brain tumour, with her blonde locks tied up in a ponytail and a pair of oversized hoop earrings - Lola's signature look. Her arrival in Walford on Monday, 18 September, took Jay Brown - Lola's widower - by surprise and he later got chatting to Nadine in the Queen Vic before walking her to the tube station.

Strictly Come Dancing burst back onto our screens on Saturday night as this year's celebrities made their debuts with their dancing partner, but there's already been a savage prediction made by fans. Among the likes of Love Island star, Zara McDermott, EastEnders actor Bobby Brazier and TV presenter Annabel Croft are the talented professional dancers hoping to help their partner take home this year's Glitterball trophy. The BBC One show returned on Saturday, 16 September for its pre-recorded launch show where we found out the partners and got our first glimpse of their moves.

Strictly Come Dancing viewers were left 'sobbing' during Saturday night's launch show, as stars of the BBC show paid tribute to the late Len Goodman. Professional dancer Len, who was Strictly's head judge from 2004 until 2016, sadly passed away at the age of 78 in April after battling bone cancer.The first show of Strictly's 2023 series aired on 16 September and a touching tribute to Len was aired, with judges Craig Revel Horwood and Anton Du Beke both sharing emotional messages about their late friend. "If you asked me a question 'was Len one of your best friends?' I'd say 'absolutely'.

We can't even mention Strictly Come Dancing without bursting into a chorus of 'Da-da-da-da-da-da-daah' and the show's earworm of a theme tune will officially be back in our lives from this Saturday night (September 16) right up until Christmas.

There's not much long to wait until Strictly Come Dancing officially launches its 2023 run and the BBC has offered fans a sneak peak at the launch show as the judges are set to go up "against each other".

Strictly Come Dancing's judges wil go up “against each other” to do a big dance number alongside the professionals, a sneak peek has revealed. Dressed in black, judges Shirley Ballas, Anton Du Beke, Craig Revel Horwood and Motsi Mabuse show the contestants what they are looking for as the celebrity dancing show returns to TV on Saturday, 16 September.