Strictly Come Dancing 2024 Start Date Confirmed: The Wait Is Almost Over

Autumn is just around the corner, and with it comes a new season of Strictly Come Dancing. The BBC has officially announced the start date for this year’s series, which marks the show’s 20th anniversary.

The pre-recorded launch episode will air on 14 September, much to the delight of fans eagerly waiting to see how the producers have paired up this year’s celebrity contestants with Strictly‘s professional dancers.

The announcement was made on the show’s official Instagram account. The brief video clip featured new contestant Pete Wicks, a reality star known for shows like The Only Way is Essex. In the clip, Wicks held up score paddles with the numbers one and five. The caption read, “Your Strictly countdown is on! There are only 15 days till @p_wicks01 puts the tan in tango.”

The first live show of the new series is scheduled for the weekend following the launch, on 21 September. Viewers will get their first look at the new dance couples in action, followed by the first elimination in the week that ensues.

This year’s line-up includes a diverse array of celebrities. Former Love Island contestant Tasha Ghouri, JLS singer JB Gill, DIY SOS presenter Nick Knowles, and comedian Chris McCausland, who will be Strictly‘s first blind contestant, are among those participating.

Other contestants include footballer Paul Merson, soap star Jamie Borthwick, Olympian Tom Dean, X Factor winner Shayne Ward, Miranda actor Sarah Hadland, Morning Live GP Dr. Punam Krishan, and singers Toyah Willcox and Wynne Evans.

This year’s cohort features the fewest female contestants in the show’s history. The BBC has addressed this by stating, “there is no hard and fast rule regarding the gender split on the show and it’s never been about ticking boxes”.

Amid excitement for the new season, Strictly has also faced controversy recently due to concerns over the behavior of some of its professional dancers.

Two longtime pros, Giovanni Pernice and Graziano Di Prima, have left the show following allegations concerning their training styles. Pernice has strongly denied accusations of “threatening and abusive behavior”, and an investigation’s verdict is still pending. Di Prima admitted to kicking his celebrity partner Zara McDermott during a rehearsal last year. He expressed deep regret, citing his “intense passion and determination to win” as the cause for his behavior.

In response to these issues, the BBC has confirmed that chaperones will be present at all times during rehearsals for the latest series.

Fans will also welcome back professional dancer Amy Dowden, who missed last year’s competition while undergoing treatment for breast cancer. Her return will be marked with a special routine, emphasizing the show’s enduring spirit and sense of community.