Strictly launch date confirmed as BBC also reveals when Blackpool live show will air

August 20, 2025

THE launch date for this year’s Strictly Come Dancing has been revealed.

The BBC has confirmed when fans of the show will be able to tune in to see this year’s crop of celebs hitting the dancefloor.

Strictly Come Dancing judges Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, Shirley Ballas, and Anton Du Beke holding score paddles. — The Strictly launch date for this year has been revealedCredit: PA

Professional dancers performing a tango on Strictly Come Dancing. — Fans also know when to tune in for BlackpoolCredit: PA

This year, the show will kick off on Saturday 20th September with the usual pre-recorded launch show.

This will see the stars paired up with their professional partners for the very first time as well as taking on a group routine to show off their moves.

The main run of Saturday live shows will then kick off exactly a week later.

As is usual, the first live show won’t feature anyone leaving the contest and as such, the first pre-recorded Sunday results show will be screened on Sunday 5th October.

The Beeb have also unveiled that the final will take place just DAYS before Christmas on Saturday 20th December.

Strictly fans will also be able to mark the infamous Blackpool week on their calendar with schedules also revealing just when the celebs will be hitting up the famous Tower Ballroom.

The programme will be live from Blackpool on Saturday 22nd November.

All 15 celebrities for this year’s competition have now been revealed.

Love Island winner Dani Dyer, reality TV star Vicky Pattison and rugby ace Chris Robshaw lead this year’s pack.

And whilst no partnerships have been revealed, some think that TikTok and YouTube star George Clarke has already leaked who he will be dancing with.

Strictly star reveals he’s struggling just ONE day into training

However, in a chat on his podcast The Useless Hotline with Max Balegde, the excited George may have spilled the beans.

Explaining the audition process, George revealed that he was partnered with a pro – and rehearsed with her for an hour.

“I’ve not met anyone apart from, I believe her name’s Lauren [Oakley], who was the pro that I met,” he said. “Because when we had a interview for it, so it’s like an hour long interview, and then like an hour long dance session.”

Lauren has been on the show since 2022, and so far has competed with two stars – Krishnan Guru-Murthy, who placed 8th, and JB Gill last year, taking over from fellow pro Amy Dowden mid-season after she was forced to withdraw due to injury.