2026-09-19 · Evening Standard
🔮 After finding out she and Antonia would be the first all-female couple since 2022, Xu said she could not wait for the partnership and added she was “so happy”.
Antonia said: “I just feel so happy, we just like bonded instantly, like day one, we weren’t supposed to have a preference, and just every day was like, I kind of do.”
The launch show opened with a dance number from the professionals, judges and new hosts Emma Willis, Josh Widdicombe and Johannes Radebe, and showed the stars meet their partners for the first time on the dancefloor, rather than during a pre-recorded video.
Speaking during her introduction, Willis said: “It is our genuine honour to be here, and we cannot wait to spend the next 13 weeks with all of you.”
Radebe added: “It’s a brand new year in the ballroom, which means 15 new celebrities, 15 new partnerships, and four people they’re going to be desperate to impress.”
During the show, the trio presented in different combinations across both the dancefloor and in the auditorium.
After introducing the show, Willis said: “Never in a million years did I ever think I would get to dance with Strictly pros. assertive