Strictly 2026 launch show LIVE: Couples lineup, guest stars and fan reaction

The articles discuss the 24th season launch of the British television dancing competition "Strictly Come Dancing." Here are key points from these articles:

• New hosting trio: Emma Willis (broadcaster), Josh Widdicombe (comedian), and Johannes Radebe (former Strictly professional) debuted as hosts, replacing Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman.

• Celebrity contestants:
• Lacey Turner
• Dani Dyer
• Chris Appleton
• Delta Goodrem
• Cach Mercer
• Will Best
• Dame Sarah Storey
• Jaime Winstone
• Bethany Antonia
• Shaun Wright-Phillips
• Graeme Hall
• Lawrence Robb
• Tabby Stoecker
• John Nellis
• Melanie Walters

• New format: Celebrity and pro pairings were revealed through dance routines rather than pre-recorded video segments.

• Notable pairings:
• Dani Dyer reunited with Nikita Kuzmin after last year's partnership was cut short due to injury.
• Bethany Antonia and Nancy Xu formed the third all-female pairing in Strictly history.

• Judges returned including Craig Revel Horwood, Shirley Ballas, and Motsi Mabuse.

• Viewers reacted positively on social media, particularly to the same-sex pairings and new hosting lineup.

• The show aims to impress viewers with 15 celebrity contestants paired with pro dancers over 13 weeks of competition.

This marks a significant change for Strictly as it introduces new hosts while maintaining its iconic format of pairing celebrities with professional dancers in ballroom dancing competitions.