Is the Strictly launch show live? BBC programme returns for new series

The nights are drawing in, it's definitely feeling a bit cooler and Christmas things have already started to appear in shops, which m means one thing - Strictly Come Dancing season is here. And the new series will kick off with Saturday's launch show, when this year's couples will be revealed.

Strictly celebrates its 20th birthday this year, having launched with much curiosity back in the summer of 2024, as a new talent show inspired by legendary BBC competition series Come Dancing. Since newsreader Natasha Kaplinsky took victory in the first ever Strictly final, a ever growing list of celebrities have followed in her footsteps, including Harry Judd, Abbey Clancy, Louis Smith, the late Caroline Flack and reigning champion Ellie Leach, who took home the Glitterball with Vito Coppola last year.

Over the last few months, Strictly has found itself in the headlines for the wrong reasons, due to the controversy surrounding the 'bullying' accusations levelled at pro dancer Giovanni Pernice, by his 2023 celeb partner Amanda Abbington. Giovanni will play no part in the new series, with fan favourite Aljaz Škorjanec making a shock return to the line-up.

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The Strictly 2024 launch show will raise the curtain on this year's contest and get going at 7.20pm.

Is the Strictly Come Dancing launch show live?

The short answer is no. While it might air 'as live' much like the weekly Strictly results show, the 2024 launch was pre-recorded on September 4, meaning that, in reality, the celebrities found out their pro partners weeks ago and have already been busy with training.

This year's live shows will begin next Saturday, September 21 and be hosted, as they always are, by Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman, with the good news for the couple being that there is no elimination on week one.