Table of Contents
The launch date for Strictly Come Dancing has been confirmed to be just days away, with the first show set to air on BBC One on Saturday 14 September.
The first concert will take place the following week, on September 21st.
With just a week until the pros and celebrities take to the screen, Dianne Buswell led the stars heading to Elstree Studios on Wednesday for last-minute rehearsals.
The red-headed ballroom dancer, 35, looked like she meant business as she left her London hotel in a pair of jeans and a tight black top.
She completed her look with a brown leather bag and slung a black, neon pink and red jacket over her arm.
Strictly Come Dancing’s Dianne Buswell, 35, looked sensational as she headed to filming at Elstree Studios on Wednesday after the show’s launch date was confirmed.
![Strictly launch date REVEALED as stars including Dianne Buswell and Shayne Ward are seen heading to last-minute rehearsals 7 Also spotted entering the studios was Coronation Street singer-turned-actor Shayne Ward, 39, looking ready for a workout in a blue T-shirt and matching tracksuit bottoms.](https://whatsnew2day.com/wp-content/uploads/cwv-webp-images/2024/09/1725462404_580_Strictly-launch-date-REVEALED-as-stars-including-Dianne-Buswell-and.jpg.webp)
Also spotted entering the studios was Coronation Street singer-turned-actor Shayne Ward, 39, looking ready for a workout in a blue T-shirt and matching tracksuit bottoms.
Also seen entering was Coronation Street singer and actor Shayne Ward.
The 39-year-old amateur dancer looked ready for a workout in a blue tank top, matching sweatpants and carrying a kit bag.
She pulled her curly brown hair back with a headband and added a mint green cardigan to her casual look as she gave a thumbs up to fans outside.
Pete Wicks cut a casual figure as he joined his fellow contestants for a day of rehearsals and filming.
The former TOWIE star, 36, wore a pair of paint-splattered grey trousers and a white T-shirt underneath a ripped black leather jacket.
She covered her eyes with a pair of brown sunglasses as she carried a silver suitcase and a black and grey duffel bag out of the London hotel.
Toya Wilcox, 66, was dressed all in black with a neon pink jacket tied around her waist as she was spotted getting out of a car.
The presenter went without makeup to greet the stars before the competition.
Dr. Punam Krishan was all smiles as she stepped out in a pair of black leggings and an oversized T-shirt underneath a light denim jacket.
The TV presenter and GP carried a large cream-coloured handbag over her shoulder as she joined her cast mates.
![Strictly launch date REVEALED as stars including Dianne Buswell and Shayne Ward are seen heading to last-minute rehearsals 9 Pete Wicks, 36, donned a pair of paint-splattered grey trousers and a white T-shirt under a ripped black leather jacket as he carried two bags outside his London hotel.](https://whatsnew2day.com/wp-content/uploads/cwv-webp-images/2024/09/1725462410_244_Strictly-launch-date-REVEALED-as-stars-including-Dianne-Buswell-and.jpg.webp)
Pete Wicks, 36, donned a pair of paint-splattered grey trousers and a white T-shirt under a ripped black leather jacket as he carried two bags outside his London hotel.
![Strictly launch date REVEALED as stars including Dianne Buswell and Shayne Ward are seen heading to last-minute rehearsals 11 Toya Wilcox, 66, appeared makeup-free in her all-black outfit with a neon pink jacket tied around her waist as she was seen exiting a car.](https://whatsnew2day.com/wp-content/uploads/cwv-webp-images/2024/09/1725462416_536_Strictly-launch-date-REVEALED-as-stars-including-Dianne-Buswell-and.jpg.webp)
Toya Wilcox, 66, appeared makeup-free in her all-black outfit with a neon pink jacket tied around her waist as she was seen exiting a car.
![Strictly launch date REVEALED as stars including Dianne Buswell and Shayne Ward are seen heading to last-minute rehearsals 13 Dr. Punam Krishan was all smiles as she stepped out in a pair of black leggings and an oversized T-shirt underneath a light denim jacket.](https://whatsnew2day.com/wp-content/uploads/cwv-webp-images/2024/09/1725462423_712_Strictly-launch-date-REVEALED-as-stars-including-Dianne-Buswell-and.jpg.webp)
Dr. Punam Krishan was all smiles as she stepped out in a pair of black leggings and an oversized T-shirt underneath a light denim jacket.
![Strictly launch date REVEALED as stars including Dianne Buswell and Shayne Ward are seen heading to last-minute rehearsals 15 Aljaž Škorjanec looked cheerful as he arrived in a Paris Olympics T-shirt, giving a thumbs-up to photographers as he headed to the car still wearing his white hotel slippers.](https://whatsnew2day.com/wp-content/uploads/cwv-webp-images/2024/09/1725462429_831_Strictly-launch-date-REVEALED-as-stars-including-Dianne-Buswell-and.jpg.webp)
Aljaž Škorjanec looked cheerful as he arrived in a Paris Olympics T-shirt, giving a thumbs-up to photographers as he headed to the car still wearing his white hotel slippers.
![Strictly launch date REVEALED as stars including Dianne Buswell and Shayne Ward are seen heading to last-minute rehearsals 17 Nancy Xu looked chic in an oversized blue utility jacket and cream pants as she clutched a cup of coffee and her phone as she made her way toward the contestants.](https://whatsnew2day.com/wp-content/uploads/cwv-webp-images/2024/09/1725462435_578_Strictly-launch-date-REVEALED-as-stars-including-Dianne-Buswell-and.jpg.webp)
Nancy Xu looked chic in an oversized blue utility jacket and cream pants as she clutched a cup of coffee and her phone as she made her way toward the contestants.
Meanwhile, Aljaž Škorjanec looked cheerful as he arrived in a Paris Olympics T-shirt, giving photographers a thumbs-up as he headed to his car still wearing his white hotel slippers.
The BBC’s flagship show has been plagued for months by allegations of bullying and abuse by former professionals Giovanni Pernice and Graziano Di Prima towards their celebrity partners Amanda Abbington and Zara McDermott.
The BBC has launched an investigation into allegations made about Giovanni by former contestant Amanda, the results of which have not yet been made public. Pernice denies the allegations.
His fellow dancer Graziano also left the show.
As a result, this year’s featured professionals include last year’s winner Vito Coppola, Dianne Buswell, Nadiya Bychkova, Karen Hauer, Neil Jones, Katya Jones and Nikita Kuzmin.
Gorka Márquez, Luba Mushtuk, Jowita Przystal, Johannes Radebe, Nancy Xu, Carlos Gu, Lauren Oakley and Michelle Tsiakkas complete the lineup.
Amy Dowden is set to return to the show after being diagnosed with breast cancer in May 2023, when she found a lump the day before her honeymoon and missed out on the chance to have a celebrity partner on that year’s series of Strictly.
The 34-year-old actress announced in February that she would return to the show this year, after a mastectomy and chemotherapy left her with “no evidence of disease” according to tests.
The launch show for Strictly’s 20th anniversary series will see dancers perform an “empowering” routine to celebrate Amy’s return, and will also see its celebrity contestants paired with their dance partners.
The Strictly launch show will air on Saturday 14 September at 7.20pm on BBC One and iPlayer.