Yahoo News Strictly Come Dancing judges unveil first look at 2023 launch show
Strictly Come Dancing 2023 launch show spoilers follow.
Strictly Come Dancing's judges have offered a sneak peek at the 2023 launch show's opening dance number.
First-look photos reveal an energetic kickoff to Saturday's (September 16) episode, where Shirley Ballas, Anton Du Beke, Craig Revel Horwood, and Motsi Mabuse will be joining the Strictly pro squad.
"The audience is in for a real treat, my dance shoes are back out and it feels amazing! I’ve been put through my paces, but to be dancing with my fellow Judges and the professional dancers is a feeling like no other," Shirley Ballas has promised.
Related: Strictly fans react as Dan Walker lets slip spoiler ahead of launch
This show-stopping dance number will be a homecoming of sorts for Anton Du Beke, since he featured in more than a decade of launch show opening dances before joining the judges.
"It's an amazingly brilliant number," Anton teased. "I’m really delighted that we’re doing something and my fellow Judges are on great form as well.
"Everyone is in great shape and everyone is dancing well and it's just a really fantastic number, it genuinely is. It felt a bit like being back in a pro number! I am on a podium, it’s exciting!”
Even the notorious grump Craig Revel Horwood seems excited about this year's opening dance number, especially because he will be trying a dance routine he's never done before.
"I'm doing an assisted backward walk-over darling, which I've never done before, it's when you drop into two boys' arms, flip over and land hopefully on your feet, so that'll be good fun," he previewed.
"It's really stylised, I really love the music and it's a compilation and it's all four Judges going up against each other!"
Motsi also dropped a hint about what she's up to: "You think you've retired and you're never going to dance again and you've done it all, but then Strictly calls and then the shoes are back on!
"I think that the audience loves to see the Judges dancing and it's going to be a big celebration."
The eye-catching opening will be followed by lots of intrigue as this year's class of celebrities find out which professionals they'll be dancing with.
Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman will be back in the BBC ballroom to reveal the exciting news throughout Saturday's launch.
Strictly Come Dancing returns for its launch special on September 16 on BBC One, while spin-off Strictly: It Takes Two airs on BBC Two. Both shows are available to stream on BBC iPlayer.
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