The couples dance each week in a live show. The judges score each performance out of ten. After all the couples have danced they are then ranked according to the judges' scores and given points according to their rank, with the highest ranked couple receiving a number of points equal to the number of couples dancing that week, for instance, seven points where there are seven couples dancing. When there are no tied scores the lowest scored couple will receive one point. However, in the event of a tie where two or more couples obtain the same judges score, the couple below those in the tie will be awarded one point below the points awarded to each of the tied couples. For example, if two couples obtain the same rank and obtain seven points each, the couple immediately below them will be awarded six points. When couples are ranked equally by the judges the scoring of all other couples underneath will follow in the same descending order. Should there be any tied scores the lowest scored couple will therefore receive more than one point from the judges scores. The public are also invited to vote for their favourite couples, and the couples are ranked again according to the number of votes they receive, again receiving points; the couple with the most votes receiving the most points. Again in the unlikely event of a tie in the public vote the points are awarded in the same way as the points from the judges score.[2]
The points for judges' score and public vote are then added together, and the two couples with the fewest points are placed in the bottom two. If two couples have equal points, the points from the public vote are given precedence. As with the previous series, the bottom two couples have to perform a dance-off on the results show. Based on that performance alone, each judge then votes on which couple should stay and which couple should leave.[2] The casting vote in the dance-off is rotated, with a different judge making the decision each week.[3]
Production
Hosts and Judges of Strictly Come Dancing series 24
In October 2025, while the previous series was in production, hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman announced their departures from the show.[4] In a joint statement, they said "We have loved working as a duo and hosting Strictly Come Dancing has been an absolute dream. We were always going to leave together and now feels like the right time."[5][6] The BBC subsequently began holding auditions for new presenters, who subsequently held "chemistry tests" prior to the decision.[7] Several presenters and former contestants were rumoured to become new presenters, including former Strictly Come Dancing: It Takes Two host and series 3 contestant Zoe Ball, then It Takes Two host and series 20 contestant Fleur East, former It Takes Two host Rylan Clark, series 9 contestant and The One Show presenter Alex Jones, series 21 contestant Angela Scanlon, series 12 contestant Alison Hammond and series 23 contestant La Voix, as well as Bradley Walsh, Tom Allen and Emma Willis.[7] In May 2026, Ball confirmed she had auditioned as presenter, but was rejected for the role, stating that she had "worked through the 7 stages of rejection and grief".[8][9] Clark, Sara Cox, Clara Amfo, and Siân Welby all confirmed later that they had participated in screen tests for the roles, along with several others.[10][11][12][13] East also confirmed that she would not be presenting the series, stating that she felt she would be acceptable with "not doing it or not being considered for the job", but said she was "kind of bothered."[14]
On 19 May 2026, it was confirmed that Emma Willis, Josh Widdicombe and Johannes Radebe would present the series. Widdicombe previously appeared as a contestant on the 2024 Christmas Special, while Radebe had appeared as a professional dancer since the sixteenth series. It marks the first time that the show had been regularly presented by three hosts.[15] In August 2026, it was announced on Willis' BBC Radio 2 show that series 20 contestant Ellie Taylor would become the new presenter of the spin-off show Strictly Come Dancing: It Takes Two, replacing East and Janette Manrara.[16] It was later revealed that comedian Abi Clarke and series 20 contestant Tyler West would host Strictly: Lights Up, a new spin-off series which streams on BBC iPlayer after every Sunday results show. Clarke also hosted weekly training room episodes, where she visited different couples in rehearsals.[17]CBBC introduced Strictly Pro Dance Off, a dance tutorial and competition series featuring the professional dancers that is also broadcast as a segment on Saturday mornings during Saturday Mash-Up!.[18]
Professional dancers
In March 2026, it was reported that several professional dancers would be leaving the show.[19][20] Later that month, Karen Hauer, the show's longest serving female professional who had appeared since the tenth series, confirmed her departure and said that it was "the right time" to leave the show and focus on other projects.[21][22]Nadiya Bychkova, who had served as a professional since the fifteenth series was also announced to be leaving the show, and said in a statement that the show had "allowed [her] to discover new sides of [herself], develop new skills, and evolve as an artist in ways [she would] always be grateful for."[23][24]Luba Mushtuk, who joined the show during the sixteenth series, also confirmed her departure, and thanked the show for "the amazing opportunity and unforgettable memories" adding that "it [had] truly meant the world to [her]".[25][26]Michelle Tsiakkas, who joined during the twentieth series, subsequently confirmed she had been dismissed from the show. Tsiakkas said she was told via a Zoom call that her contract had not been renewed and said that her "dream was shattered", as well as that she was "grieving for her job".[27] She ultimately decided not to participate in Strictly: The Professionals tour.[28][29] The following month, Gorka Márquez, a professional since the fourteenth series, was the final professional to confirm to be leaving the show, following his reduced role the previous series due to his commitments as a judge on the Spanish version of the show Bailando con las estrellas.[30] Márquez said that being part of Strictly Come Dancing had been "so much more than just a professional opportunity", adding that "it allowed [him] to build a career from [his] passion", and that he would "forever be thankful."[31]
During the launch show, Neil Jones, Aleksandra Isaeva, Cristian Priori and Lethabo Monametsi did not receive a celebrity partner, while the rest were paired up, including new professionals Maddie Ingoldsby and Mark Karmalita.[35]
Couples
On 10 June 2026, Lacey Turner was announced as the first contestant to be competing in the series.[36] Following her withdrawal from the previous series prior to the first week due to an ankle injury, Dani Dyer was announced to be returning as a contestant for this series.[37] Celebrity reveals continued over the next two months, before the line-up was completed on 12 August 2026.[38]
The highest score each week is indicated in bold green with a dagger (†), while the lowest score each week is indicated in italicized red with a double-dagger (‡).
Each couple performed one unlearned dance to famous film songs. For the first time in the show's history, all couples participated in a themed week of the competition.[42]Craig Revel Horwood had the casting vote.[43]
Each couple performed one unlearned dance to a song by a popular musical icon, with the celebrity appearing in the guise of their icon. Shirley Ballas had the casting vote.[48]
Delta and Kai did not perform this week due to Delta suffering a rib injury during the previous week's rehearsals. Under the show's rules, they were granted a bye to the following week.[49][50] Delta was supposed to portray Olivia Newton-John as her icon and dance a cha-cha-cha to her song "Xanadu".[50]
Each couple performed one unlearned dance to Halloween themes.
For the first time in Strictly's history, the results show will feature a triple dance-off. The three couples with the lowest combined scores from the judges and public votes will go head-to-head against one another, before the judges vote for the one couple that will be eliminated.[55]
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