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Strictly Come Dancing season 23

BBC's Strictly Come Dancing 23rd season with coverage of judge decisions, casting announcements, ratings concerns, and show format developments.

Monday 2 November 2026

Strictly Christmas special 2026 to feature six returning celebrity couples

The BBC has confirmed this year's Strictly Come Dancing Christmas special will have six couples, all celebrities from past series. The Daily Express, citing a Sun insider, names possible contestants and links the change to backlash over a triple dance-off.

3 outlets
Sunday 1 November 2026

Strictly: Lawrence Robb and Jowita Przystał out after first three-couple dance-off

Emmerdale actor Lawrence Robb and professional partner Jowita Przystał were eliminated from Strictly Come Dancing on 1 November after the show's first-ever three-couple dance-off. Ten couples remain.

6 outlets
Sunday 1 November 2026

Strictly's first three-way dance-off sends Lawrence Robb home; fans criticise twist

Strictly Come Dancing held its first three-couple dance-off, with judges choosing who to eliminate rather than save, and Lawrence Robb left. Viewers criticised the format on social media, and the Daily Express reported the result had been spoiled online beforehand.

2 outlets
Sunday 1 November 2026

BBC reportedly plans crisis talks over Strictly ratings and new presenting line-up

The Mail on Sunday reported that BBC bosses will hold a crisis meeting on Strictly Come Dancing's falling ratings and criticism of its new presenters. The Evening Standard repeated the report and added bookmaker odds on Josh Widdicombe leaving.

3 outlets
Saturday 31 October 2026

Strictly viewers criticise judges' scores in Halloween special, with Shirley Ballas singled out

During the Halloween episode of Strictly Come Dancing on 31 October, viewers on social media criticised the judges' marking. The Daily Express focuses on Shirley Ballas and the female contestants, while Radio Times focuses on Tabby Stoecker and Mark Karmalita's score.

3 outlets
Saturday 31 October 2026

Strictly's Jaime Winstone says dad Ray cries at her performances and backs her through dance-offs

In interviews published on 31 October, Strictly Come Dancing contestant Jaime Winstone said her father, actor Ray Winstone, has been moved to tears and is proud of her. She also spoke about dance-offs, her clubbing past and her famous friends' reactions.

3 outlets
Wednesday 28 October 2026

Shirley Ballas says she is staying on Strictly while guest-judging Dancing With the Stars

Strictly Come Dancing judge Shirley Ballas told Prima magazine she is "100% not leaving Strictly" while taking a one-off Halloween guest-judge slot on the US show Dancing With the Stars, where Ballas's son Mark is a professional.

6 outlets
Tuesday 27 October 2026

Strictly's Shirley Ballas says she is "100% not leaving" amid exit rumours

Reports about whether Strictly Come Dancing judges Shirley Ballas and Motsi Mabuse will return next year conflict: the Daily Express cites an insider saying they have no plans to leave, and Ballas told Prima she is staying.

2 outlets
Sunday 25 October 2026

BBC calls reports of Strictly host changes 'pure and utter speculation'

Anonymous sources told the Daily Mail the BBC has decided to change Strictly Come Dancing's three-person presenting line-up next year. The BBC called the claim "pure and utter speculation".

3 outlets
Monday 12 October 2026

Delta Goodrem pulls out of Strictly live show with rib injury

Delta Goodrem will miss this weekend's Strictly Come Dancing (Icons Week) on doctors' advice after a rib injury. She and partner Kai Widdrington get a bye to next week.

7 outlets
Monday 12 October 2026

Strictly's Cach Mercer posts and deletes "made it through" video before results show aired

Love Island winner Cach Mercer posted a celebration of surviving the Strictly Come Dancing results before the pre-recorded show was broadcast, then deleted it after followers pointed out the mistake.

2 outlets
Sunday 11 October 2026

Melanie Walters and Aljaz Skorjanec voted out of Strictly in week-three dance-off

Gavin and Stacey actor Melanie Walters and partner Aljaz Skorjanec became the second couple eliminated from Strictly Come Dancing 2026, losing a dance-off to Shaun Wright-Phillips and Alexis Warr.

7 outlets
Sunday 11 October 2026

BBC says Strictly edited Bethany Antonia's 'Protect the Dolls' T-shirt under branding rules

Viewers noticed that a "Protect the Dolls" T-shirt worn by Strictly contestant Bethany Antonia in rehearsal footage on 10 October appeared plain white in the broadcast. The BBC says it routinely reduces overt branding and slogans on entertainment shows.

10 outlets
Saturday 10 October 2026

Strictly week three: viewers react to Couple's Choice, presenting line-up and Motsi Mabuse

During the third live Strictly Come Dancing show on 10 October, viewers on X commented on the Couple's Choice dance, the new presenting line-up and judge Motsi Mabuse. Two right-leaning UK outlets, the Daily Express and Daily Mail, covered it.

7 outlets
Sunday 4 October 2026

Strictly: Appleton and Dowden out first; Brendan Cole's criticism of Dowden draws backlash

Chris Appleton and Amy Dowden were the first couple eliminated from Strictly 2026 on 4 October, after an Express report that the result had leaked. Coverage then turned to ex-professional Brendan Cole's criticism of Dowden and her widely praised social media reply.

7 outlets
Saturday 3 October 2026

Strictly viewers split on presenting trio as results show pairs Willis and Radebe

After the week-two Movie Week show on 3 October, outlets reported viewer complaints on the unchanged presenting trio and judges' interplay. On 4 October, a results show that paired Emma Willis with Johannes Radebe drew praise from most viewers quoted, but not in the Express.

6 outlets
Saturday 3 October 2026

Strictly's new three-host line-up draws criticism as viewing figures fall

The 2026 series of Strictly Come Dancing, with Emma Willis, Josh Widdicombe and Johannes Radebe replacing Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman, has had a mixed reception and lower ratings than last year. Commentators quoted by the Daily Express and Daily Mail blame the hosts, the long running time and a lack of famous contestants.

4 outlets
Wednesday 30 September 2026

Janette Manrara says missing Strictly presenting job left her devastated

Janette Manrara told a podcast she was devastated after losing the Strictly Come Dancing presenting job to Emma Willis, Josh Widdicombe and Johannes Radebe. Outlets differ on whether she sobbed for a week or for weeks.

3 outlets
Wednesday 30 September 2026

BBC presenter Ed James defends Josh Widdicombe over Strictly hosting backlash

After Josh Widdicombe's first live show as a Strictly Come Dancing co-host, fans criticised him online. BBC local presenter Ed James urged critics to be kinder, while a GB News columnist said the blame lies with BBC bosses.

4 outlets
Wednesday 30 September 2026

Strictly Come Dancing reveals first Movie Week dances; week moved earlier than usual

Strictly Come Dancing has announced some of its Movie Week dances and songs, with the themed week coming earlier than usual in 2026. Johannes Radebe says the move lets every contestant take part in a themed week before elimination.

4 outlets
Wednesday 30 September 2026

Emma Willis posts 'judged either way' quote amid criticism of Strictly's new hosting line-up

After Strictly's first live show, Emma Willis shared an Instagram quote about being judged, which outlets read as a reply to criticism of the new three-host format. Coverage differs on whether the focus is the format, the co-hosts or ratings.

5 outlets
Tuesday 29 September 2026

Richard Osman says Strictly's new presenter roles aren't working, suggests a reshuffle

After the first live show of the new series, Richard Osman said on The Rest is Entertainment podcast that Strictly's three-presenter roles need changing, and set out how he would rearrange them. The show's ratings fell from last year.

4 outlets
Tuesday 29 September 2026

Josh Widdicombe limits social media after criticism of Strictly live debut

Strictly Come Dancing's new co-host Josh Widdicombe said on a podcast that they are limiting their social media use, days after online criticism of their live debut. The two outlets covering it differ in how much they say the criticism was aimed at Widdicombe.

3 outlets