- Published
Strictly Come Dancing has returned to the small screen for its 24th series, in a new era for the show as it moves forward with a revamped presenting line up.
asserted
it → publish → up
Broadcaster Emma Willis, comedian Josh Widdicombe and former Strictly professional Johannes Radebe made their presenting debut on Saturday, taking over from long-running hosting duo Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman, who left the show last year.
asserted
who → make → show
A fresh cohort of famous faces – including actress Melanie Walters and former England footballer Shaun Wright-Phillips – also stepped onto the ballroom floor for the first time.
asserted
cohort → include → time
During the launch show, it was revealed which professional dancers they were paired with.
asserted
they → reveal → dancers
Stepping out onto the ballroom floor after a huge all-cast opening dance routine, Willis said presenting Strictly was a "genuine honour".
asserted
presenting → step → routine
"Josh, you've got moves," proclaimed Radebe, a former professional on the show.
asserted
Radebe → get → show
While Widdicombe added that it was "a little bit overwhelming" but he was "delighted" to be there.
asserted
he → add → ?
In a first for the show, celebrity and pro pairings were revealed via three dance routines.
asserted
pairings → reveal → routines
It functioned as a musical chairs of sorts, in which the contestants switched partners until the music was paused, and a couple was announced.
asserted
couple → function → partners
Actress Lacey Turner and Vito Coppola
Reality TV star Dani Dyer and Nikita Kuzmin
Hair stylist to the stars Chris Appleton and Amy Dowden
Australian singer and actress Delta Goodrem and Kai Widdrington
DJ and social media personality Cach Mercer and Maddie Ingoldsby
TV and radio presenter Will Best and Dianne Buswell
Paralympian Dame Sarah Storey and Julian Caillon
Actress Jaime Winstone and Carlos Gu
TV and stage actress Bethany Antonia and Nancy Xu
Former England footballer Shaun Wright-Phillips and Alexis Warr
Presenter and author Graeme Hall and Lauren Oakley
Actor Lawrence Robb and Jowita Przystał
Skeleton athlete Tabby Stoecker and Mark Karmalita
YouTuber John Nellis and Katya Jones
TV and stage actress Melanie Walters and Aljaž Škorjanec
One pair who won't need to get to know each other are reality TV star Dani Dyer and Nikita Kuzmin.
asserted
who → need → other
Dyer is back to compete for a second time, having withdrawn from last year's series due to a fractured ankle.
asserted
Dyer → compete → ankle
I'm so, so happy," she said after the pairing, while Kuzmin added that he had "tears of joy" in his eyes.
asserted
he → say → eyes
Meanwhile, actress Bethany Antonia and professional Nancy Xu became the third two-woman couple to compete in the show.
asserted
Antonia → become → show
In a poignant moment, Antonia revealed that watching boxer Nicola Adams and Katya Jones performing together in Strictly's 2020 series was a "big part of my coming out journey".
asserted
Adams → reveal → journey
Also back on the dancefloor for a final spin was reigning Strictly champion, former Lionness Karen Carney.
asserted
champion → reign → spin
Clad in the same diamante-encrusted football shirt, Carney recreated the Jive that first marked her out as a contender of her series, alongside dance partner Carlos Gu.
asserted
that → clothe → Gu
"I absolutely feel like I'm at home," Carney told Willis after the routine, as she paid tribute to her pro partner.
asserted
she → feel → partner
In 13 weeks time, she'll have to surrender that glitterball trophy to a new victor.
asserted
she → have → victor
And it is not just presenters and celebrities navigating the ballroom for the first time: Aleksandra Isaeva, Cristian Priori, Lethabo Monametsi, Maddie Ingoldsby, and Mark Karmalita are the five new professionals joining the Strictly cast this series.
asserted
Isaeva → navigate → cast
They hail from the UK, Canada, Italy, South Africa and Ukraine.
asserted
They → hail → UK
The five made a high-impact entrance, performing a searing routine that kicked off on top of an enormous encaged disco ball.
asserted
that → make → ball
Saturday's show was a more paired back role for Craig Revel Horwood and his fellow judges - Motsi Mabuse, Shirley Ballas and Anton Du Beke - who featured less.
But there was still time for resident villain Horwood to direct a jibe at broadcaster Will Best's hip action: "Call in the paramedics darling, dislocation - my goodness."
asserted
Horwood → pair → paramedics
And some other traditions remain intact.
asserted
traditions → remain → ?
Once all the dance routines were wrapped, the pairings announced, and the chats in the "Clauditorium" concluded, it was time for the show's three new hosts to bid farewell with the customary order to "staaart dancing!"
asserted
hosts → wrap → dancing
The Aporia
