Strictly Come Dancing 2026 kicks off with first live show

The 2026 series of Strictly Come Dancing has commenced with its first live show, featuring 15 celebrity contestants and a new presenting trio of Emma Willis, Josh Widdicombe, and Johannes Radebe. The debut broadcast saw social media personality John Nellis and partner Katya Jones top the leaderboard with 31 points for their foxtrot. Delta Goodrem followed in second place with 29 points.

At the lower end of the scores, Shaun Wright-Phillips, Melanie Walters, and Dame Sarah Storey each received 15 points. As it is the first week of the competition, no contestants were eliminated; instead, all scores will carry over to the following week to be combined with a second dance and the public vote.

The new hosting format, which splits responsibilities between the dancefloor and the auditorium, has received mixed reactions from viewers on social media. While the judges—Shirley Ballas, Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, and Anton Du Beke—remained the same, the transition from a duo to a trio of presenters has been a primary point of discussion among the audience.