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Our Strictly stars™
Our 15 couples come out for welcome waves. Fancy dress includes frills, florals, corsages, hats, wigs and Thomas Skinner in a pair of Bacofoil slacks. Sweaty gusset alert.
By jove, it’s the judges
The paddle-raising quartet of Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, Anton Du Beke and Shirley Ballas are in the building. Cue discotheque rug-cutting and the usual synchronised sit-down. But in the wrong chairs. With Anton arriving late.
Frockwatch
Here come our hostesses with the mostesses, so time for the customary fashion face-off. Tess Daly is in a red velvet tux. Claudia Winkleman in a sparkly black one. A rare win for Tess?
And we're off!
Have you got a favourite bit of the new-look title sequence yet? Harry’s he-vage? The Aussie couple’s kangaroo hops? La Voix shoving Aljaž out of shot?
Pre-credits montage to build tension! Slo-mo! Time lapse! Totes emosh!
Charge your glasses and open a grab-bag of Nice ’n’ Spicy Nik-Naks. We’re about to go live to Elstree Studios…
Amanda Holden-hosted quiz show The Celebrity Inner Circle wrapping up on BBC1 now. This episode features a pair of Strictly alumna in Kaye Adams and Zara McDermott. Mere minutes to wait now…
Male celebs tipped for early exit
After finishing rock bottom of the week one scoreboard with just 10 points, poor old Ross King is still odds-on bookies’ favourite for the first elimination. Thomas Skinner is tipped to face him in the dance-off. Just behind are Chris Robshaw and Stefan Dennis.
Can the four fellas raise their hoofing game? Five minutes until we hear that ba-ba-da theme tune…
Star billing announced for Movie Week
It’s been confirmed that next week’s film-themed special is upping the star wattage with Wicked star Cynthia Erivo returning as guest judge. She’ll also be a “guest mentor” to the couples, giving them tips on how to inhabit their characters and raise their performance levels. Presumably by painting their face green and “holding space”.
Just 10 minutes left on the choreographic countdown, campers.
On your dance cards
Tonight’s 15 routines are an eclectic mix with only a few overlaps. We’ll see 11 different dance styles, including two sambas, two waltzes, two cha-chas and two Viennese waltzes.
We will also be treated to the first salsa, tango and Charleston of the series. A mere 15 minutes until the glitterball starts spinning…
Let’s play Strictly week 2 bingo
Tick them off when you spot them on-screen! Take a drink for each! Enjoy a kitchen disco and annoy the neighbours! Here’s your 10-point spotter’s checklist for tonight:
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An in-house face from a fellow BBC show pops up on the balcony to read out the voting Ts&Cs
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Head judge Shirley Ballas whips out her tiny Victorian ghost-child’s shoes
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Couple get a rousing ovation and Tess exclaims “They’re on their feet!”
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Celebrity plays the nan/cute kid/dog/crying card in blatant bid for votes
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Female pro barking instructions to male celeb all the way through their routine
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Zeitgeisty reference to Taylor Swift’s new album/Celebrity Traitors
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Dance-off is described as “dreaded” and its mere mention gets an “ooh!” from studio audience
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Overlong plug for spin-off show It Takes Two/a BBC podcast/social media account
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Mention of “comfort zone” or “showcasing a different side of myself”
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Stefan Dennis and Dianne Buswell bang on about being Team Aussie. We get it, ya flamin’ galahs
Half the training time but higher stakes
Last-minute replacement Amber Davies aside, the class of 2025 had two weeks to learn their first dance. This time, it was just a week but they still need to show improvement.
Last Saturday saw scores range from 2s to 8s. A huge 20-point gap opened up between the top and bottom of the leaderboard. Just 20 minutes until the shimmery curtain comes up…
Who goes? You decide
Sorry, wrong show. But Strictly viewers can have their say for the first time tonight. Remember the phone vote has been dropped, so voting is now online-only. You’ll just need to register for a BBC account, if you haven’t got one already, then sign in and you’re good to go all series.
Last week’s will be combined with tonight’s and the viewer vote, before the bottom two couples dance-off for survival in tomorrow’s inaugural results show.
Male celebrities occupied the bottom three spots on the opening scoreboard, with Ross King, Thomas Skinner and Chris Robshaw all in danger. They’ll need to raise their games tonight to secure safety. It’s 25 minutes until choreographic kick-off…
Strictly becomes a dance of survival
Buckle up, ballroom fans, because Strictly is about to get serious – and viewers will get their say for the first time. Good evening and welcome to the first elimination weekend of Strictly Come Dancing 2025. I’m Michael, your cyber dance partner for tonight’s action. You are cordially invited to watch along with me as we go live for the second time this year.
After last week’s inaugural live show, our 15 pro-celebrity pairs will hit the Elstree Studios floor once again. Sure, there will be fewer first-night nerves. However, they’ve had half the training time and the stakes are higher, with the first departure from the dancefloor looming.
That’s right, 15 will soon become 14. Last week’s scores will be carried over and combined with tonight’s. Add in the first public vote, then the bottom two couples will hoof for survival on Sunday night. So who’ll be consigned to this year’s first dreaded dance-off? And who’ll be sent home with the sparkly-handled wooden spoon of shame?
It’s showtime at 6.20pm on BBC One. I’ll be liveblogging from 5.50pm, providing build-up, rolling coverage, analysis, reaction and glittery gags. So draw the curtains on Storm Amy (Dowden), slip into your cosiest dancing slippers and I’ll see you on the sofa.
As always, I’d love to hear from you too. You can tweet me @michaelhogan, contact me on Bluesky or Threads @michaelhogan100, email me [email protected] and the comments section below is back open for ballroom business. I’ll matador knee-walk down there every now and again to gauge your reactions and report on your comments, so please do share your thoughts.
We’re about get down to proper ballroom business. Nearly time to staaaaaart dancing for survival!
