Strictly has played a blinder ...Middle East

A few seconds into Strictly Come Dancing 2026’s opening number and I was sold.

Eleven months of asking how Strictly could survive without Tess and Claudia, whether their departure spelled its demise, whether any replacement could have what it takes to steer the course, and what it meant for the BBC and all it took was one dance – a sublimely thrilling, playful opener loaded with details for superfans – to forget what all the fuss was about. When Dianne Buswell, who danced pregnant last year, pushed a pram across the dancefloor and Peter Gabriel’s “Sledgehammer” exploded into Bad Bunny, my worries fell away. Strictly is so much bigger than its hosts. Pingu could have been presenting and it would still be the slickest programme on television.

As anybody who watches Strictly knows, the launch show is usually a bit of a waste of time. The celebs say how nervous they are, the pros, hosts and judges say how excited they are to be back, nearly two hours are spent dragging out the ceremony of announcing the new couples, who walk down the stairs and jiggle uncomfortably on the dancefloor, and afterwards they all say how happy they are because they had secretly always hoped they’d be matched with Aljaz/Katya/Nikita/brand new dancer they’ve never heard of until two weeks ago.

I usually give it a miss and wait until the live launch, where the dancing begins in earnest. But this was our first glimpse of Emma Willis, Josh Widdicombe and Johannes Radebe. I don’t know anyone who was skipping the opportunity to give their verdict. Mine? Strictly has played a blinder.

Because this – the BBC’s most highly-anticipated rebrand in decades – was not about the hosts. There were no introductions, there was little fanfare, they did not lean too heavily on the “learning the ropes” and “new job” shtick, they didn’t even gush about being lifelong Strictly fans, so grateful for the gig of a lifetime, blah blah blah. They just got on with the job. And while they looked a little awkward as a three at times, and Emma and Josh could take a few tips from Johannes on showmanship (shoulders up, smile with your eyes, tits and teeth, etc!), not for a second was their command in doubt.

In fact, there was a masterstroke in this launch show that made sure there were much more interesting things to talk about than the new presenters. Instead of the couples descending the staircase like debutantes being presented to society, this year they were matched in front of our eyes. The celebs performed a routine they’d been taught by a group of pros, who rotated dancing with each of them and one by one the partnerships were announced, as the dancers continued switching and the tension built.

This might sound like a gimmick, like the dance-offs or the Sambathon, but in fact made the process exciting and interactive for everyone at home, allowing lots of suspense to build while we guessed who’d be matched together. Everyone hoped Dani Dyer, replaced by Amber Davies last year before the live shows because of an ankle injury, would be reunited with her would-be partner Nikita Kuzmin, and of course she was.

I had enormous fun declaring that last year’s winner Carlos Gu would be a great match for good-time girl Jaime Winstone, that Aljaž and Gavin and Stacey’s Melanie Walters was a good fit because he is a veteran and a Boomer fave, that Alexis Warr had a long series last year so might get paired with someone less likely to go the distance like footballer Shaun Wright-Philips (male footballers never fare well). They must be expecting Lacey Turner to endear herself to audiences if she’s been put with fan-favourite pro Vito Coppola, I announced with authority.

On and on it – and I – went analysing and chucking out my theories and “expertise”. How nice is it to see Amy Dowden back, after cancer treatment! How incredible is it that we don’t even blink at a same-sex Strictly couple anymore! Isn’t Katya lovely! It feels ridiculous to imagine we were ever worried about this series of Strictly when its history and identity runs so deep. There are dozens of characters who give Strictly its soul. Its hosts are the people we have the fewest opinions about.

At least not when they are willing slot in so easily. On first impressions, Emma is a complete natural – warm, quick to laugh, genuine, and instantly put me at ease. Josh has always been a bit side-eye heavy but he got some good gags in and I think he’ll relax. Johannes was promisingly platitude-free and connected easily with the dancers and celebs – after all, he knows exactly how they’re feeling. Until I see how their roles work in the live shows, I’m still wary that three presenters in an already enormously busy production may feel a bit chaotic, but I’ll give them the benefit of the doubt. Especially since their real job has not yet begun.

When the dances are live, when the celebrities are vulnerable and disappointed, when their hearts are broken and when the exhaustion and the scrutiny threaten to crush them all – that is when the hosts really matter. But I have faith. This strident, reassuring opener was confirmation that Strictly knows exactly what it’s doing. It’s gambled on exactly the right amount of change and I’m not just relieved – I’m excited.

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